I guess at 54 I'm now an Old Dude 😎.... Living on a 37 foot Ketch..... totally peaceful.... Landlubbers are a different species, especially post Pandemic....I'm loving every moment of it....I have learned alot about myself and learned a ton of nee skills....A GREAT INEXPENSIVE WAY TO LIVE....GOD BLESS
When you say inexpensive I suppose it depends on your boat and weather you live at anchor more than marinas? Do you mind if I ask if you bought an older boat that was in good shape or a more modern production type boat? More room on modern boats but not sure I'd want to take the ground in them or hit a submerged object! I mean I wouldn't want to do that in any boat but especially these lightly built boats. I don't have direct experience so I maybe overthinking this issue.
Hi Norm , I wish i had found you earlier. Your advise would have come in handy. I sold the house 8 months ago , bought a 42ft power boat and with very little experience, put it in Noosa river to live on anchor . After 5 months of some hair raising times, like dragging anchor late at night , in the pouring rain, and it blowing a gale . I learnt a LOT , and quickly . Mostly about the boat , but also a lot about myself . Lucky for me, I absolutely love the life . Im currently in a Marina as i needed to get some of the systems looked at , and quite honesty needed to get some sleep . Lol . It may be the bravest thing i have ever done or the stupidest. Im a single woman of 68, so it's definitely one of the most adventurous . Once i get more confident, im going to get out there and motor up and down the coast . I really appreciate your videos , thank you .
Hi Dude. Yep I think it is a big thing to do, especially for a woman. Glad you're still enjoying the life and hope you get things sorted and get out and cruise. Hope to see you out there somewhere.
You're gettin' wisdom by watching videos and actual experience. I hope you get better and better safely. Just to brief, avoid storms and high waves until you know you know what you're doin'.
hey if you need a crew member or helper im a retired diesel mechanic and master of many trades with the same dream, I am a great fisherman, I dont get sea sick, i dont need pay and i wont eat much lol. Give me a sea trial lol
I was a big sufferer of sea sickness when I bought my boat! First time at sea I was terribly sick. My whole life I experienced sea sickness although it was only at the few times I went to sea. After buying my boat I moved onboard in Port Stephens sheltered waters and avoided sea sickness, however just being on the water my body adjusted to the movement, then after a few years when I went to sea. No more sea sickness, not at all, even in big seas
Hi Norm, Thankyou for all the information you provide in your videos. It's blokes like you that make Utube a wealth of information for learners like me. You're a legend ❤
The best cure for sea sickness is, Sit under a tree. Always works 100%. It is terrible when you get it. If you are the Captain you are better off to find sheltered water and settle down for a while. If you are the crew you are usually doomed for a bad day. I used to get it really bad and it spoilt my day on the reef. Travelling was fine but anchored in the swell sent me off. Once on the move all was well. I bought a smaller tinnie and stuck to the creeks for a while and worked up my resistance to it, and changed my eating habits before going out. It worked for me and enjoyed a lot better. Now, I still have the tinnie and have got rid of the bigger boat as I was not using it much, as it was too hard to handle by myself. Kids were always working etc. Good advice as always Norm.
Former Govt sailor who gets sea sick here. First 3 days to a week I take dramamine, after that I am fine as long as it doesn't get rough. Watch the weather and if rough seas are on the way take another dose BEFORE it gets rough. Eventually I got over needing it, until I got on land for years and got it back.
God bless you. You have a wonderful life and have a pragmatic and methodical approach to possible problems. You would make an excellent politician if you weren't so honest. I salute you from the UK Sir.👍👍👍
Dual purpose motorcycle and an electric bicycle with a milk crate on the back works for me. I keep the motorcycle and or the bicycle at a $50 a month storage facility. If I'm a bit further from town (I'm moored on an inland river) I park the motorcycle out front of the boat on an adjacent dirt track. If I'm moored close to town I just use the electric bicycle.
I'm 49 years old and have cruised on Royal Caribbean enough to get to Diamond loyalty status. My original plan was to retire to a cruise ship and cruise 40 weeks a year, spending 12 weeks on land until I came across some of these solo sailing vlogs. One of my favorite things to look at when on a ship is the coastline of all of the places I've gone so far. I have decided that I want to try sailing / live aboard for at least a couple of years before selling the house to validate what I want out of it and to improve my captaining skills. The idea of sailing along the coast or across the ocean, dropping anchor and spending however much time I want to spend in places is extremely appealing to me. I like your advice on taking on crew and always having a week long trial period. Thank you for being here and producing this kind of content!
Well done ! I built my own 69 foot ketch (a ferro cement) and outfitted it and sailed it around the world back in the early 80's . Now 50 years later I am thinking of retiring on a boat . Something 40 footish (not fetish ) hehe . I like your sensible approach as I know what the real deal is . Times have changed and live aboarding has been capitalized and is not quite as cheap as it used to be . Anchoring and preparing to be as self sufficient as possible still seams viable if done correctly . Starlink would certainly be an asset for weather planning ect.
@@MotorSailingforOldDudes your very welcome , but I am 70 years old and don't cotton to being called dude . It is just not a term from my age group and I feel no desire to seem 'hip' . I certainly do enjoy your sailing perspective .
Hey Norm, awesome video as always! Really liked your idea about doing a course together. That's perfect timing, my wife and I are two years out from making this our permanent lifestyle too. Here's what I like about your channel: it's packed with information and a refreshing change from the usual format on other channels. Been a fan for a couple of years now, keep up the great work!
Thanks Norm good tips, as usual, I sure understand about labour costs I am close to completion of a total upgrade of a well built 43 Carver. I have paid all the way a professional shipwright and engineer, being in a fortunate position of still having a good retirement income, otherwise it would have been unaffordable with hourly rates $90-$140.00 per hour! The guys have been fantastic with a great work ethic I purchased the vessel as a 'project' and now a great and safe liveaboard with a final sea trial in about a week!
Hi Norm I’m surprised to hear that marina costs are $1000 to $ 2000 a month in Australia. We have gone down the syndicate path with boat ownership, with a 11.4 motor cruiser on the French canals; with access to 8000ks of waterways in Europe. Mooring cost in a marina is about AUD $20 per night including electricity and about $100 a month. I suppose the downside of the equation is the plane ticket from OZ. I enjoyed your video……thanks Jim
No probs Jim. Thanks for watching. The canal thing would be great to do, but those long plane trips are a killer. The marinas are pretty expensive here in Oz. The further north you go the worse it gets.
Hello. My name is Andy. I live on a 40 ft Viking made in 1976. It’s a powerboat built to live on and offshore fish. Winter I keep it at the marina but summers I cruise. I’m still working but the boat should be completely reffited about the time I retire. I have taken her a lot of places but can’t wait until I don’t have a clock. Love your videos and admit I’m a bit jealous. Fair winds my friend. Andy
Robert Schluter Hi Norm, I agree with everything you said! My wife and I lived on our 46ft Sea ranger aft cabin for 3 years until medical reasons forced us to go back to land. 10 years on we are looking to buying another live aboard. Hope to see you on the water sometime. Cheers Robert
My wife and i have been living-aboard/cruising full-time on our sailboat for 22 years. Your video is exactly on point and fit the coastal USA (where we are) experience. We agree with every part of your video. Actually, we have many shared experiences. I did sailboat deliveries for years and my wife ran the service dept at a full-service marina. Were slowing down now, im 78 shes 77, but were still doing thousands of miles a year. "We'll do it til we cant". Anyway, great job. Take care. Steve&Judy s/v Norne Gaest
We had a LOT of guys who suffered from sea sickness in the navy. No one ever died, got transferred, or discharged, (although plenty tried!! Lol) and EVERYONE got over it. A couple solid days of hurling usually did the trick!! Oh, and thats not sick leave hurling, thats be on time for work carry bucket with you if need be.. but work you will.
Very nice to meet you Norm. I'm selling everything to sail everywhere. I'm 60 this June and want to go while the going can happen. Pondering the end of my 7-10yr journey I had not really considered keeping the boat but I have recently given it more thought. Your information is very helpful to consider my options. I am very handy so being a marina employee back at home could be a possible option when my end days are closer. Good on you sir for being the nomad you were mean't to be. I am that kindred spirit. Home is wherever I am.
Good onya dude. I wouldn't change my life or lifestyle for anything and a great idea to get into it when a bit younger. The boat life will keep you young. Thanks for the comment
Very informative. Thanks. Hopefully I will be able to enjoy a similar lifestyle. I'm halfway through building an alloy boat to retire on and looking forward to the days when I can have that freedom and some adventures. Enjoying your vids.
My advice, from first-hand experience, is to make sure you have working heating and air conditioning on board. I have done a winter sail from New England to Florida and also a 5-month summer sail in the Caribbean through the peak of summer. You'll take a beating with your body and mind. You can do it, but it will wear you thin. It's always best to increase endurance by controlling your environment from time to time. Always think long-term! - When you reach the point where you prefer water over land, you'll know you're more than halfway there.
Very useful info here! I can see myself on a small yacht, anchoring rather than marinas with Sealink and maybe a crewperson. But I will probably try it first.
My regular fuel use at anchor is the generator to run an evaporative cooler during summer. I have a solar set up for everything else except for cooking gas.
Thanks for that, I've been following for a couple of months now. Planning to sell my property in 18 months and really keen on motor sailing for retirement. Your videos are insightful.
I bought a boat 2 years ago and I'm keeping it at a marina until I retire. The biggest good surprise about owning the boat is the people I get to meet on the dock. Generally, extremely nice group of people to be around. The worse people experience I've had I just trying to get someone to to the boat to do some work on it. Just got to be patient...
Well I'm already living on my boat which is great. Up on the 'hard' at Beachmere presently finishing a fit-out. Your comment about doing stuff yourself is very true, besides the expense of getting trades in there is the added drawback of finding someone. Lot's of rough and readies who say they can fix or build stuff and haven't got a clue.. If you can do-it-yourself at least you will know the quality of the work. There are a lot of GOOD trade dudes out there also, so get some reviews..
great video Norm i curently own my house and boat and would like to retire doing what you are doing but im not at retirment age yet . You said if boaters could do most if not all mataince them selves are very true words to save truck loads of money i know this as i work as a shipwright boat repairer the boss mite charge $100 an hour but i dont get payed any where near that witch makes me wonder if there is a small income there in retirment as the penchin pays bugger all anyway food for thought
Great Vid Norm. Loved the comments regarding couples and selling the house to buy the boat, I see a number of single blokes living aboard on the Gippsland Lakes for many reasons, see very few couples or single women living aboard.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom. Personally, I was never a very good financial business person. I always seemed to live from day to day even though I've lived in some very expensive places and sailed on some great ships. I've slept in a truck many times as I made my living doing that for many years also, and it is great living at times in only a very small space. So, I usually adapt to the living quarters well. To go back to sea will require some thinking and planning, I don't want to try it alone -- too dangerous sleeping out in the ocean with no one on the helm.
Thank you for this video, Norm! This covered so many practical topics and you clearly have some wisdom as well on how to live a bit adventurously while still planning for any circumstances that could be life-altering if one was not prepared. Could you talk a bit more about the best way to anchor in the open ocean (what does out in the pick mean?) rather than in a marina? Also, what kind of boat is yours? Did you say you always have to motor? It sounds like you do and the sail is just to enhance your experience? Thanks for all this great information!
Thanks for commenting. Yep the boat motors all the time, the sail adds a bit of speed and a lot of stability. Out on the pick means..at anchor. Don't anchor in open ocean very much. Usually behind a headland or in a bay out of the wind and swell. Crossing bars usually gives more protection in a river, but care is needed when crossing. Here is a link about Peggy Anne ruclips.net/video/LPXNX6D521Q/видео.html
I’m 65 years old and April 25 I’m going to learn how to sail a sailboat and eventually buy one not too expensive. I’m a full-time RV yes I’m gonna keep my RV. I’m thinking about just selling four months out of the year and the rest of the time I’m being RV, living my RV
Started sailing at 30. Its a young mans game for sure. I would recommend at least learning when you're younger and more energetic. If you are not, look at catamarans and trawlers.
@@AmericanNeanderthal don’t let the likes of me talk you out of it! It’s my dream as well. Just taking baby steps to get there. I’ve heard horror stories of folks cashing out to buy their dream liveaboard only to realize they hate it.
Thoroughly enjoyed your video brother. Just stumble upon your channel and have subscribed. I'm planning to get a sailboat and can't say I'd ever make it to Australia, but if I do, I'll reach out to you. God speed to you and your adventures!!
Yes there any rules on we’re you can or can’t drop anchor! Saw a program on people on house boats were the locals who pay top dollar to have water front houses & were going crooked at people on houseboats pay no rates& sit in the water a 100 yds away ! I think it’s just a matter of time that they will be tolded to move on or start paying rates? Think that time will happen anywhere down the track! 👍
I’m 5 years away from retirement, but my partner is quite a bit younger at 40 and has no plans to retire anytime soon. That being said, I live in the heart of wilderness cruising territory on British Columbia’s mid coast at the doorstep to the Broughton archipelago. I think I’ll be fine disappearing for the odd week on a weekend sailer. 😁
Off to start this new journey in three weeks. Bought an older 57’ motor boat. Navigation off the paper charts is like learning Latin to pass your law degree. Maintenance is the part that concerns me most.
Youtoob is a great resource for learning and get yourself a plotter. Knowing how to do it on paper is a great skill to master though. Enjoy the journey dude.
I've lived aboard my sailboat since 1992. I have lived from Texas to Alaska. I'm now retired and cannot imagine being land based ever again. All you said is so true and the safety is relaxing. Clothes are never an issue since fellow boaters feel the same and nothing is formal. I'm now 72 and will be onboard the rest of my life. Fair winds from SV Miss Kaytlin.
Already took that decision over 8 years, now I'm retired but my mum needs care. When is al clear will sell all I have, will keep one watch and towels, kitchen pans the basics . Find the best sailboat i can with my boat money, and have some left to go on. Watch sunsets having a beer is far from an everyday thing. Will have to work on the boat, mind and body everyday, if the universe is on my side one go around the world, Places only a vessel can reach, hope to have the chance or die doing. It all comes down to age, if i feel my body can't. Will retire travelling by plane, car and see the parts of our planet i never been. There are not so much left, but knowing me will be easy .
At 13:20 did he say $8500 a week in fuel cost when traveling? That seams expensive to me . Am I'm missing something here? I know absolutely nothing about libeaboard costs or living. Sure learned a lot with this video. Thanks for taking the time to film it all. Thumbing up 👍
I'm a 61 year old single male, ex-Armyofficer. I owned two sailboats of about 22 feet long but I didn’t get to use them much because of work. I currently work for the US Federal government and I'm thinking of buying a 40' Island Marine Trader ($30,000 USD) which is a motor sailor located on the island of Culebra Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. I'm thinking of using it to live aboard and travel the Caribbean. I hope to follow your lifestyle soon!
um. one of the horrible sounds on a boat is the sound of water running without knowing where it is coming from or going to, It gives me chills. and stress. I really liked this episode. Great job. But at the end, when i heard the water running in the end of the episode I ran to the bilge, then the head, and the sink, etc. in a panic. Could you just play some Jimmy Buffett or something on the exit? save an old guy a heart attack? Cheers!
I lived on a 35ft cruiser for 5 years, excluding winters and found it very boring, this was a 1963 wooden top and there wasn't enough to do.. I built a campervan and took a drive out to Portugal, bought a cheap house and the campervan gets me out into Europe. The house and camper keep me business in partial retirement.
@@MotorSailingforOldDudes An old friend of mine lives on the Gold Coast and has a sailing boat, he does some racing, which suprised me, since he is an old dude, overweight and a businessman. You never can tell. I lived in Oz for 3 years and loved the Gold Coast, so do get it.
Hi Norm. Great video. So much really sound information. I was wandering, do you rent, is it allowed - your marina berth? Thanks for sharing so much information.
Thanks Norm for the really useful advice. You've got me interested but I wonder how best to fund the lifestyle My plan is I go ahead would be to invest in some good quality shares with hopefully enough income to stay on the water. I think the marina berth is a smart move. Cheers mate
Yeah Andrew. Shares sound good. Great access cheaply to internet now with Starlink, so opens up a few more opportunities for making a buck. Thanks for watching dude.
So you're based in Hope Island Marina. Do you think owning a marina berth today is a good investment. I was looking at it about 5 years ago but couldn't get the missus on board with the idea. Cheers...
Motor sailing. Be honest. Between the motor & the sail, which do you use more? I watch sail boat videos & there isn't enough wind & they use the motor!
@@MotorSailingforOldDudes At first I didn't get a good look at your boat, It's weird, it looks like a power cat & somebody put a sail in it as as after thought or after market! In the US cats haven't caught on. I like cats. Sail boats are cool, but that don't make them practical if you use the motor more than the sail. So my problem is cool ain't always useful!
Hey norm , my and wifey renovating a 40ft cruisecat at cabbage tree point should be finished in 12months . We have been boating our whole life (50) The only time we may feel sea sick is if the boat stops at sea and is rolling around , when we are travelling everything is generally ok . We plan to do coastal cruising and anchor inshore . Would you still class this as a sea sickness risk ? Thanks mate
If you can cross the bars, you'll get lots of swell protection. In open roadsteads, it can be a bit swelly. All bars are doable, as long as conditions are right and you Dudes are prepared to wait for them.
I like what you said about not selling your home and to buy a boat that’s a smart thing to do not to do is sell your house and jump onto $1 million boat because you’re not gonna get $1 million out of it and you’re not gonna get a house againI see people do that here in America in California especially the bio RV cost $1 million and they decided like living on an RV full-time with it
@@MotorSailingforOldDudesNorm, does this mean you catch the rain water when you say, " I store 600lts and catch off roof?" I am not familiar with some of the Aussie sayings. Would that be possible to do that?
Hey, Can you give us an average cost of fuel on a 40 ft motor boat daily? Let's say once a week we wanna travel 100 miles by sea. Locating different areas
A lot would impact on that average dude. Eg size of boat, type of hull, size of motor..motors. My boat uses 6.4 litres per hour for both motors, which gives me about 5.5 knots speed. Hope that helps.
Do you have auto pilot on the boat? If you want to break for a cup of tea do you have to weigh anchor or can you switch to auto or just leave boat on course?
Hello. Very good advice in this video. I have a quick question - if you sell the house and buy a marina berth, do you know if you can you use the marina address for registering your boat with AMSA, and for other things like mobile phone account, bank accounts etc? Many thanks.
Yeah Mick, I do with mine. Most of my mail is emailed, but any post goes to the marina address. Handy when you need to put an address on a computer generated form.
I just ran across your channel. Maybe you’ve addressed this so just point me to the episode. How have you thought about a motor sailer vs a trawler? I’ve been avoiding sailboats because of the effort required (I’m an old dude!). Thanks.
Like the idea if a motor sailor as it steadies the boat and saves a bit of fuel. No specific vids on the subject, but browse the channel and I'm sure you'll get lots of info. Thanks for watching dude.
It's common that in the tropics (hot places) many living on the hook leave the boat and seek shade during the day. How do you deal with the extreme heat?
@@MotorSailingforOldDudes Thank you for your reply! I have seen some boats make a huge boat shade, or they buy them, but some people say it doesn't help.. I like your thinking..go where it's comfortable to begin with.
I guess at 54 I'm now an Old Dude 😎.... Living on a 37 foot Ketch..... totally peaceful.... Landlubbers are a different species, especially post Pandemic....I'm loving every moment of it....I have learned alot about myself and learned a ton of nee skills....A GREAT INEXPENSIVE WAY TO LIVE....GOD BLESS
Thanks for the comment Dude. I agree.
Don't say inexpensive too loud! 😮
When you say inexpensive I suppose it depends on your boat and weather you live at anchor more than marinas? Do you mind if I ask if you bought an older boat that was in good shape or a more modern production type boat? More room on modern boats but not sure I'd want to take the ground in them or hit a submerged object! I mean I wouldn't want to do that in any boat but especially these lightly built boats. I don't have direct experience so I maybe overthinking this issue.
@@seanmurray8051 a solidly built full fiberglass Hull a 47 year old Endeavor Ketch....powered by a 50 HP Perkins Engine
@@SAILINGDIRTYBIRD sounds like a great boat
Hi Norm , I wish i had found you earlier. Your advise would have come in handy. I sold the house 8 months ago , bought a 42ft power boat and with very little experience, put it in Noosa river to live on anchor . After 5 months of some hair raising times, like dragging anchor late at night , in the pouring rain, and it blowing a gale . I learnt a LOT , and quickly . Mostly about the boat , but also a lot about myself . Lucky for me, I absolutely love the life . Im currently in a Marina as i needed to get some of the systems looked at , and quite honesty needed to get some sleep . Lol . It may be the bravest thing i have ever done or the stupidest.
Im a single woman of 68, so it's definitely one of the most adventurous . Once i get more confident, im going to get out there and motor up and down the coast . I really appreciate your videos , thank you .
Hi Dude.
Yep I think it is a big thing to do, especially for a woman. Glad you're still enjoying the life and hope you get things sorted and get out and cruise.
Hope to see you out there somewhere.
@vic2e652 I wish you good luck on your adventure!
I think its a brave and worthwhile move whatever the outcome, enjoy.
You're gettin' wisdom by watching videos and actual experience. I hope you get better and better safely. Just to brief, avoid storms and high waves until you know you know what you're doin'.
hey if you need a crew member or helper im a retired diesel mechanic and master of many trades with the same dream, I am a great fisherman, I dont get sea sick, i dont need pay and i wont eat much lol. Give me a sea trial lol
I was a big sufferer of sea sickness when I bought my boat! First time at sea I was terribly sick. My whole life I experienced sea sickness although it was only at the few times I went to sea. After buying my boat I moved onboard in Port Stephens sheltered waters and avoided sea sickness, however just being on the water my body adjusted to the movement, then after a few years when I went to sea. No more sea sickness, not at all, even in big seas
Great to hear dude.
What a great way to cure it.
Scopolamine patches fix 90% + of seasickness btw
@user-bz4tl3dj3s Don't think available in Aus any more.
Hi Norm, Thankyou for all the information you provide in your videos. It's blokes like you that make Utube a wealth of information for learners like me. You're a legend ❤
You are very welcome. Glad to pass on a few smarts.
At last someone who is honest about the sailing live style !!
10 out of ten u tubers sell it as the ultimate lifestyle and ignoring the downsides.
Thanks for the comment Dude.
The best cure for sea sickness is, Sit under a tree. Always works 100%. It is terrible when you get it. If you are the Captain you are better off to find sheltered water and settle down for a while. If you are the crew you are usually doomed for a bad day. I used to get it really bad and it spoilt my day on the reef. Travelling was fine but anchored in the swell sent me off. Once on the move all was well. I bought a smaller tinnie and stuck to the creeks for a while and worked up my resistance to it, and changed my eating habits before going out. It worked for me and enjoyed a lot better. Now, I still have the tinnie and have got rid of the bigger boat as I was not using it much, as it was too hard to handle by myself. Kids were always working etc. Good advice as always Norm.
Thanks for the tips dude.
Glad I don't get crook, but being on the water is definitely better than sitting under a tree.
First eat an orange or anything acidity then eat bread or crackers that'll absorb the acidity.. that will help also
What got me over seasickness is Lay’s potato chips “sea salt & vinegar”
Former Govt sailor who gets sea sick here. First 3 days to a week I take dramamine, after that I am fine as long as it doesn't get rough. Watch the weather and if rough seas are on the way take another dose BEFORE it gets rough. Eventually I got over needing it, until I got on land for years and got it back.
Going below deck while under sail ALWAYS triggers my motion sickness.
God bless you. You have a wonderful life and have a pragmatic and methodical approach to possible problems. You would make an excellent politician if you weren't so honest. I salute you from the UK Sir.👍👍👍
Thank you. Politicians are the same the world over.
Dual purpose motorcycle and an electric bicycle with a milk crate on the back works for me. I keep the motorcycle and or the bicycle at a $50 a month storage facility. If I'm a bit further from town (I'm moored on an inland river) I park the motorcycle out front of the boat on an adjacent dirt track. If I'm moored close to town I just use the electric bicycle.
Yeah dude. Sounds good. I like to use the legs, but it takes longer.
I'm 49 years old and have cruised on Royal Caribbean enough to get to Diamond loyalty status. My original plan was to retire to a cruise ship and cruise 40 weeks a year, spending 12 weeks on land until I came across some of these solo sailing vlogs. One of my favorite things to look at when on a ship is the coastline of all of the places I've gone so far. I have decided that I want to try sailing / live aboard for at least a couple of years before selling the house to validate what I want out of it and to improve my captaining skills. The idea of sailing along the coast or across the ocean, dropping anchor and spending however much time I want to spend in places is extremely appealing to me. I like your advice on taking on crew and always having a week long trial period. Thank you for being here and producing this kind of content!
No problems Dude. I like your idea of trying it ... before you sell the house.
Good luck with your plans
Well done ! I built my own 69 foot ketch (a ferro cement) and outfitted it and sailed it around the world back in the early 80's . Now 50 years later I am thinking of retiring on a boat . Something 40 footish (not fetish ) hehe . I like your sensible approach as I know what the real deal is . Times have changed and live aboarding has been capitalized and is not quite as cheap as it used to be . Anchoring and preparing to be as self sufficient as possible still seams viable if done correctly . Starlink would certainly be an asset for weather planning ect.
Starlink is great and self sufficient saves heaps.
Good luck with the retirement plan Dude.
Thanks for watching.
@@MotorSailingforOldDudes your very welcome , but I am 70 years old and don't cotton to being called dude . It is just not a term from my age group and I feel no desire to seem 'hip' . I certainly do enjoy your sailing perspective .
Sounds like great advice. Thanks
Glad it was helpful dude. Thanks for watching.
Hey Norm, awesome video as always! Really liked your idea about doing a course together. That's perfect timing, my wife and I are two years out from making this our permanent lifestyle too.
Here's what I like about your channel: it's packed with information and a refreshing change from the usual format on other channels. Been a fan for a couple of years now, keep up the great work!
Thanks Dudes. Glad it helps. Thanks for watching.
Thanks Norm good tips, as usual, I sure understand about labour costs I am close to completion of a total upgrade of a well built 43 Carver. I have paid all the way a professional shipwright and engineer, being in a fortunate position of still having a good retirement income, otherwise it would have been unaffordable with hourly rates $90-$140.00 per hour!
The guys have been fantastic with a great work ethic I purchased the vessel as a 'project' and now a great and safe liveaboard with a final sea trial in about a week!
Great Dude.
Time to get out and enjoy it.
Out on the pick and punch the weather. Nice expressions.
Great that you understand.
Very informative and practical advice Thanks
Glad it was helpful. Thanks for comments.
Hi Norm
I’m surprised to hear that marina costs are $1000 to $ 2000 a month in Australia.
We have gone down the syndicate path with boat ownership, with a 11.4 motor cruiser on the French canals; with access to 8000ks of waterways in Europe.
Mooring cost in a marina is about AUD $20 per night including electricity and about $100 a month.
I suppose the downside of the equation is the plane ticket from OZ.
I enjoyed your video……thanks
Jim
No probs Jim. Thanks for watching. The canal thing would be great to do, but those long plane trips are a killer. The marinas are pretty expensive here in Oz. The further north you go the worse it gets.
Hello. My name is Andy. I live on a 40 ft Viking made in 1976. It’s a powerboat built to live on and offshore fish. Winter I keep it at the marina but summers I cruise. I’m still working but the boat should be completely reffited about the time I retire. I have taken her a lot of places but can’t wait until I don’t have a clock. Love your videos and admit I’m a bit jealous. Fair winds my friend. Andy
Good luck with the project Andy. A great way to retire.
Robert Schluter
Hi Norm, I agree with everything you said! My wife and I lived on our 46ft Sea ranger aft cabin for 3 years until medical reasons forced us to go back to land.
10 years on we are looking to buying another live aboard. Hope to see you on the water sometime. Cheers Robert
Good on ya Robert.
Health problems can definitely impact on the lifestyle.
Good luck with gettin back onboard.
you seem to have a very good head on your shoulders - good attitude and insight. Glad I found your channel. Steve in Vancouver BC.
Thanks for your thoughts Steve I knew a lot of Canadians in my younger days. Believe it or not...played ice hockey here for about 15 years.
Great information enjoyed it . Have a great week and look after yourself. Brian
Thanks Brian.
Getting closer to heading north dude.
My wife and i have been living-aboard/cruising full-time on our sailboat for 22 years. Your video is exactly on point and fit the coastal USA (where we are) experience. We agree with every part of your video. Actually, we have many shared experiences. I did sailboat deliveries for years and my wife ran the service dept at a full-service marina. Were slowing down now, im 78 shes 77, but were still doing thousands of miles a year.
"We'll do it til we cant".
Anyway, great job. Take care.
Steve&Judy
s/v Norne Gaest
Good onya Dudes.
Thanks for the kind comments.
Great to hear your story.
It is the best life anyone can have.
We had a LOT of guys who suffered from sea sickness in the navy.
No one ever died, got transferred, or discharged, (although plenty tried!! Lol) and EVERYONE got over it.
A couple solid days of hurling usually did the trick!!
Oh, and thats not sick leave hurling, thats be on time for work carry bucket with you if need be..
but work you will.
Yeah. They say you spend a day thinking you're gonna die and the next two, wishing you had.
A nasty thing dude.
Thanks for sharing 😊
Great advice - thanks for sharing your experience & will definitely heed your warnings
Glad it was helpful Simon.
Very nice to meet you Norm. I'm selling everything to sail everywhere. I'm 60 this June and want to go while the going can happen. Pondering the end of my 7-10yr journey I had not really considered keeping the boat but I have recently given it more thought. Your information is very helpful to consider my options. I am very handy so being a marina employee back at home could be a possible option when my end days are closer. Good on you sir for being the nomad you were mean't to be. I am that kindred spirit. Home is wherever I am.
Good onya dude. I wouldn't change my life or lifestyle for anything and a great idea to get into it when a bit younger. The boat life will keep you young.
Thanks for the comment
Thanks for your perspective Norm.
Thanks for commenting dude.
Very informative. Thanks. Hopefully I will be able to enjoy a similar lifestyle. I'm halfway through building an alloy boat to retire on and looking forward to the days when I can have that freedom and some adventures. Enjoying your vids.
Good luck with the build dude. See you out there
My advice, from first-hand experience, is to make sure you have working heating and air conditioning on board. I have done a winter sail from New England to Florida and also a 5-month summer sail in the Caribbean through the peak of summer. You'll take a beating with your body and mind. You can do it, but it will wear you thin. It's always best to increase endurance by controlling your environment from time to time. Always think long-term! - When you reach the point where you prefer water over land, you'll know you're more than halfway there.
Thanks for the comments dude. All good points.
Sounds like good advice. Smooth sailingband fair winds.
Thanks dude.
Thank you. Great and informative video. Much appreciated.
Thanks for watching dude.
I wish ,how wonderful!
Very useful information. Thanks mate.
Thanks for watching dude.
Very useful info here! I can see myself on a small yacht, anchoring rather than marinas with Sealink and maybe a crewperson. But I will probably try it first.
A good idea Dude.
Make sure it's the life for you, before you invest in it.
Thanks for the comment.
My regular fuel use at anchor is the generator to run an evaporative cooler during summer. I have a solar set up for everything else except for cooking gas.
Sounds good dude.
Thanks for that, I've been following for a couple of months now. Planning to sell my property in 18 months and really keen on motor sailing for retirement. Your videos are insightful.
Thanks Dude.
Love the idea, thanks for sharing.
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching.
New subscriber here. Thanks for the great insight and advice. I plan on watching all your videos.
Thanks for that dude.
There are a fair few to get through, but thanks for the sub. and watching.
I bought a boat 2 years ago and I'm keeping it at a marina until I retire. The biggest good surprise about owning the boat is the people I get to meet on the dock. Generally, extremely nice group of people to be around. The worse people experience I've had I just trying to get someone to to the boat to do some work on it. Just got to be patient...
Yeah dude. Most of the booties I have met just want to help and share info. A great community.
I hope to retire on the boat as well. Very informative video. Thanks for sharing.
You can do it dude. Thanks for the comment.
😅thanks for share cobber, love the vids
Glad you like em Dude. Thanks for commenting.
Great video thanks for sharing your knowledge
Thanks for watching dude.
Great vid and insight mate.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting.
Well I'm already living on my boat which is great. Up on the 'hard' at Beachmere presently finishing a fit-out. Your comment about doing stuff yourself is very true, besides the expense of getting trades in there is the added drawback of finding someone. Lot's of rough and readies who say they can fix or build stuff and haven't got a clue.. If you can do-it-yourself at least you will know the quality of the work. There are a lot of GOOD trade dudes out there also, so get some reviews..
Good comments dude. Thanks for watching.
great video Norm i curently own my house and boat and would like to retire doing what you are doing but im not at retirment age yet . You said if boaters could do most if not all mataince them selves are very true words to save truck loads of money i know this as i work as a shipwright boat repairer the boss mite charge $100 an hour but i dont get payed any where near that witch makes me wonder if there is a small income there in retirment as the penchin pays bugger all anyway food for thought
Yeah dude. A shipwright living on a boat. You should have as much work as you want. Rent the house and semi retire early. (Just a thought)
Great Vid Norm. Loved the comments regarding couples and selling the house to buy the boat, I see a number of single blokes living aboard on the Gippsland Lakes for many reasons, see very few couples or single women living aboard.
Yeah dude.
Think it is a bit of a blokey pastime.
Good show
Thanks for watching Paul.
Thank you!
No probs dude.
Another great video Norm, I look forward to meeting you on the water sometime. Keep up the good work, Cheers
Yeah dude. Give me ahoy anytime.
I've talked about doing this with my wife, my idea was a 40' sailboat cruiser. She was concerned about the small living space. I wouldn't mind it.
Sounds good Dude.
40 is a good size. Cheaper in marinas and to maintain.
I like the small areas, not as much to clean.
Good luck with the plan
Thanks for sharing your wisdom. Personally, I was never a very good financial business person. I always seemed to live from day to day even though I've lived in some very expensive places and sailed on some great ships. I've slept in a truck many times as I made my living doing that for many years also, and it is great living at times in only a very small space. So, I usually adapt to the living quarters well. To go back to sea will require some thinking and planning, I don't want to try it alone -- too dangerous sleeping out in the ocean with no one on the helm.
Yeah ...and you don't really sleep...just catnap.
Thank you for this video, Norm! This covered so many practical topics and you clearly have some wisdom as well on how to live a bit adventurously while still planning for any circumstances that could be life-altering if one was not prepared. Could you talk a bit more about the best way to anchor in the open ocean (what does out in the pick mean?) rather than in a marina? Also, what kind of boat is yours? Did you say you always have to motor? It sounds like you do and the sail is just to enhance your experience? Thanks for all this great information!
Thanks for commenting.
Yep the boat motors all the time, the sail adds a bit of speed and a lot of stability. Out on the pick means..at anchor.
Don't anchor in open ocean very much. Usually behind a headland or in a bay out of the wind and swell.
Crossing bars usually gives more protection in a river, but care is needed when crossing.
Here is a link about Peggy Anne
ruclips.net/video/LPXNX6D521Q/видео.html
Thanks for the video Norm. My Father always said that the root cause of sea sickness is fear.
Could be dude.
Not sure what causes it..but glad I don't get it.
I’m 65 years old and April 25 I’m going to learn how to sail a sailboat and eventually buy one not too expensive. I’m a full-time RV yes I’m gonna keep my RV. I’m thinking about just selling four months out of the year and the rest of the time I’m being RV, living my RV
Sounds like a plan Dude.
Started sailing at 30. Its a young mans game for sure. I would recommend at least learning when you're younger and more energetic. If you are not, look at catamarans and trawlers.
Yep..It gets harder as the years go by for sure.
Well crap, at 50 I would love to learn to sail! The idea of retiring to a boat seems ideal!
@@AmericanNeanderthal don’t let the likes of me talk you out of it! It’s my dream as well. Just taking baby steps to get there. I’ve heard horror stories of folks cashing out to buy their dream liveaboard only to realize they hate it.
It's a great life. Dude.
Yep..Not a great way to do it.
Very informative. Thanks dude.
Glad it was helpful Dude. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for watching dude.
Thoroughly enjoyed your video brother. Just stumble upon your channel and have subscribed. I'm planning to get a sailboat and can't say I'd ever make it to Australia, but if I do, I'll reach out to you. God speed to you and your adventures!!
Thanks dude.
Same in Europe; we always help eachother 😊
It's a great community.
Yes there any rules on we’re you can or can’t drop anchor! Saw a program on people on house boats were the locals who pay top dollar to have water front houses & were going crooked at people on houseboats pay no rates& sit in the water a 100 yds away ! I think it’s just a matter of time that they will be tolded to move on or start paying rates? Think that time will happen anywhere down the track! 👍
Maybe Dude.
They should be happy they have boats to look at…..
Great video Norm very sound advice 👍
Thanks dude.
The best decision ever made..
Gday norm
Thanks for your videos
Atlast a bloke if a similar vintage and In australia
Thanks for watching dude.
great advice !
Glad you think so dude.
I’m 5 years away from retirement, but my partner is quite a bit younger at 40 and has no plans to retire anytime soon. That being said, I live in the heart of wilderness cruising territory on British Columbia’s mid coast at the doorstep to the Broughton archipelago. I think I’ll be fine disappearing for the odd week on a weekend sailer. 😁
Sounds like a plan. I guess you'll have to watch out for bears dude.
What a great video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video
Thanks for the visit dude.
Off to start this new journey in three weeks. Bought an older 57’ motor boat. Navigation off the paper charts is like learning Latin to pass your law degree. Maintenance is the part that concerns me most.
Youtoob is a great resource for learning and get yourself a plotter. Knowing how to do it on paper is a great skill to master though. Enjoy the journey dude.
Great video Norm and some good sound advice👍
Thanks Dude👍
Thanks Stephen
I've lived aboard my sailboat since 1992. I have lived from Texas to Alaska. I'm now retired and cannot imagine being land based ever again. All you said is so true and the safety is relaxing. Clothes are never an issue since fellow boaters feel the same and nothing is formal. I'm now 72 and will be onboard the rest of my life. Fair winds from SV Miss Kaytlin.
Good onya Miss Kaitlyn.
Me too. Thanks for commenting dude.
Thank you for the information 😂❤this is just what iam planning to do, iam 67 years old 😮trying to put something together. Thanks. Joe.
No problems Joe. Help it helps.
I also like the idea ... busy weighing up all the options.
Already took that decision over 8 years, now I'm retired but my mum needs care. When is al clear will sell all I have, will keep one watch and towels, kitchen pans the basics . Find the best sailboat i can with my boat money, and have some left to go on. Watch sunsets having a beer is far from an everyday thing. Will have to work on the boat, mind and body everyday, if the universe is on my side one go around the world, Places only a vessel can reach, hope to have the chance or die doing. It all comes down to age, if i feel my body can't. Will retire travelling by plane, car and see the parts of our planet i never been. There are not so much left, but knowing me will be easy .
Good luck with the plan Dude.
@@MotorSailingforOldDudes Thanks my friend
At 13:20 did he say $8500 a week in fuel cost when traveling? That seams expensive to me . Am I'm missing something here? I know absolutely nothing about libeaboard costs or living.
Sure learned a lot with this video. Thanks for taking the time to film it all. Thumbing up 👍
Sorry Dudes.
I said Maybe.. $ 500 / week.
Bloody Aussie accent.
I'm a 61 year old single male, ex-Armyofficer. I owned two sailboats of about 22 feet long but I didn’t get to use them much because of work. I currently work for the US Federal government and I'm thinking of buying a 40' Island Marine Trader ($30,000 USD) which is a motor sailor located on the island of Culebra Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. I'm thinking of using it to live aboard and travel the Caribbean.
I hope to follow your lifestyle soon!
Sounds good dude. It's a great way to live
G'day Norm, another great video.Whats your opinion on cruising the coast with outboards,if it's at all possible, thanks Scott
Yeah Scott. Wouldn't be my first choice, but can do. Plenty of Sailing cats run ob,s as auxiliaries.
@@MotorSailingforOldDudes Thanks Norm, the issue would be the fuel range in a motor vessel using outboards full time
Thanks again
Always welcome dude.
um. one of the horrible sounds on a boat is the sound of water running without knowing where it is coming from or going to, It gives me chills. and stress. I really liked this episode. Great job.
But at the end, when i heard the water running in the end of the episode I ran to the bilge, then the head, and the sink, etc. in a panic. Could you just play some Jimmy Buffett or something on the exit? save an old guy a heart attack? Cheers!
Yeah me too dude. Didn't notice that.
Cruise on bud🎉
Yeah...that's the plan.
Thousands of miles... 🙏🤘😘
Yep..for sure dude.
In Hungary ,after 65 is a free public transport ,bus train tram.
That's pretty good Dude. We do get a discount here.
Jolly good show dude
Thank you dude 😀
thank you well done
Thanks dude.
I lived on a 35ft cruiser for 5 years, excluding winters and found it very boring, this was a 1963 wooden top and there wasn't enough to do.. I built a campervan and took a drive out to Portugal, bought a cheap house and the campervan gets me out into Europe. The house and camper keep me business in partial retirement.
Whatever works dude.
@@MotorSailingforOldDudes An old friend of mine lives on the Gold Coast and has a sailing boat, he does some racing, which suprised me, since he is an old dude, overweight and a businessman. You never can tell. I lived in Oz for 3 years and loved the Gold Coast, so do get it.
Im loving your advice on this and other videos, thanks. What is the make / type of dinghy have you got? It looks like it is a hard version.
Called Spindrift. Roto moulded plastic. Not made any more, but I know a dude in Brisbane who has one for sale.
@@MotorSailingforOldDudes Thanks for that, but I'm in the UK. A solid dinghy makes sense to me and I'm surprised you see so few? Any idea why?
28:13 Oohh nice looking schooner...!
Yep. She is a one off for sure.
Hi Norm. Great video. So much really sound information. I was wandering, do you rent, is it allowed - your marina berth? Thanks for sharing so much information.
Hi Karen,
Yep I rent it. It is allowed as my berth is freehold, not leased.
Thanks Norm for the really useful advice. You've got me interested but I wonder how best to fund the lifestyle
My plan is I go ahead would be to invest in some good quality shares with hopefully enough income to stay on the water. I think the marina berth is a smart move. Cheers mate
Yeah Andrew. Shares sound good. Great access cheaply to internet now with Starlink, so opens up a few more opportunities for making a buck.
Thanks for watching dude.
I would love your life and hear's me dreaming of owning a sailing dinghy in the UK lol
Keep the dream going..the boats will get bigger.
Thanks for commenting dude.
I recon l would like to see some of your mud maps of cheeky anchorages
See what I can do Dude.
So you're based in Hope Island Marina. Do you think owning a marina berth today is a good investment. I was looking at it about 5 years ago but couldn't get the missus on board with the idea. Cheers...
Works for me dude. I rent it out when not using it and always have somewhere to leave the boat if needed. They are pretty hard to come by now.
Hope to be able to do the same thing one day.
Don't leave it too late dude.
@@MotorSailingforOldDudes yeah i hear you.
Motor sailing. Be honest. Between the motor & the sail, which do you use more? I watch sail boat videos & there isn't enough wind & they use the motor!
Agree that a lot of sailboats do a lot of motoring or motor sailing.
I Motor 100% and use the sail to help dude.
@@MotorSailingforOldDudes At first I didn't get a good look at your boat, It's weird, it looks like a power cat & somebody put a sail in it as as after thought or after market! In the US cats haven't caught on. I like cats. Sail boats are cool, but that don't make them practical if you use the motor more than the sail. So my problem is cool ain't always useful!
Hey norm , my and wifey renovating a 40ft cruisecat at cabbage tree point should be finished in 12months . We have been boating our whole life (50)
The only time we may feel sea sick is if the boat stops at sea and is rolling around , when we are travelling everything is generally ok . We plan to do coastal cruising and anchor inshore . Would you still class this as a sea sickness risk ?
Thanks mate
If you can cross the bars, you'll get lots of swell protection. In open roadsteads, it can be a bit swelly. All bars are doable, as long as conditions are right and you Dudes are prepared to wait for them.
Hi Norm. If you are not in a shipping channel can you anchor anywhere ?
Pretty much dude. There are some private waterways (canal developments usually) and some closed areas, but usually oK to anchor.
I like what you said about not selling your home and to buy a boat that’s a smart thing to do not to do is sell your house and jump onto $1 million boat because you’re not gonna get $1 million out of it and you’re not gonna get a house againI see people do that here in America in California especially the bio RV cost $1 million and they decided like living on an RV full-time with it
Yes, Boats and RVs don't evaluate the same way as property does.
Norm have you got a water maker? Thanks for videos!
No Alan. Have done without one so far. I store 600lts and catch off roof.
If I'm going to more remote areas I may get a portable unit.
@@MotorSailingforOldDudesNorm, does this mean you catch the rain water when you say, " I store 600lts and catch off roof?" I am not familiar with some of the Aussie sayings. Would that be possible to do that?
I'd recommend keeping house and renting it out, so pension plus 1000 a week, would make life easier
Probably a good plan Dude.
Hey,
Can you give us an average cost of fuel on a 40 ft motor boat daily?
Let's say once a week we wanna travel 100 miles by sea.
Locating different areas
A lot would impact on that average dude.
Eg size of boat, type of hull, size of motor..motors.
My boat uses 6.4 litres per hour for both motors, which gives me about 5.5 knots speed.
Hope that helps.
Do you have auto pilot on the boat? If you want to break for a cup of tea do you have to weigh anchor or can you switch to auto or just leave boat on course?
Yeah dude. Boat has auto pilot. The only time I really hand steer is in confined water or coming into dock.
Makes it easy to have a cuppa.
Hello. Very good advice in this video. I have a quick question - if you sell the house and buy a marina berth, do you know if you can you use the marina address for registering your boat with AMSA, and for other things like mobile phone account, bank accounts etc? Many thanks.
Yeah Mick, I do with mine. Most of my mail is emailed, but any post goes to the marina address. Handy when you need to put an address on a computer generated form.
I just ran across your channel. Maybe you’ve addressed this so just point me to the episode. How have you thought about a motor sailer vs a trawler? I’ve been avoiding sailboats because of the effort required (I’m an old dude!). Thanks.
Like the idea if a motor sailor as it steadies the boat and saves a bit of fuel.
No specific vids on the subject, but browse the channel and I'm sure you'll get lots of info.
Thanks for watching dude.
It's common that in the tropics (hot places) many living on the hook leave the boat and seek shade during the day. How do you deal with the extreme heat?
I try to be south away from the tropics in summer, but if not just have to adapt.
@@MotorSailingforOldDudes Thank you for your reply! I have seen some boats make a huge boat shade, or they buy them, but some people say it doesn't help.. I like your thinking..go where it's comfortable to begin with.