Saturday, August 29, 2009

Dog Water Toys

Why do boating dogs need toys? Dogs, especially when confined in a small space, such as on a boat, can become destructive. It's your job to keep your beloved pet happy and safe. A busy dog is a happy dog and a happy dog will not chew dangerous electronics or your valuable built-in boat furniture.


Dogs and boats go together; dogs and toys go together. Water toys for your pet to enjoy while you both are enjoying the water are essential to your pet's health and well-being. Here we offer a selection of tried and true doggie toys that your dog will love as he/she keeps you amused for hours while playing on the water.


Check out these water toys and enjoy play time with your Salty Dog.

















Friday, August 28, 2009

Dog Health Care Tips

Cruising with your dog can present you with some items you may not have considered. As you cruise, there will be times when you do not have access to a veterinarian.
It is your responsibility to see that your dog is in good health and top condition before you set sail.

Your Dog's Teeth


Dogs need regular dental care. Buildup of tartar can cause inflamed, swollen gums and secondary infection that can lead to serious health problems. Dogs, one to three years old, should have their teeth brushed once a week. Dogs over three years old should have their teeth brushed three times a week.

Use a toothbrush that is made especially for dogs. They have long handles which allow you to brush the dog's back teeth. Never use human toothpaste, use an enzyme toothpaste specifically made for your dog.

There are specially treated dental cleaning pads which can be wiped over the surface of the dog's teeth. The enzymes in the pad do the cleaning.

Ear Care

Ear care is an often overlooked, but important area. Dirt and debris in the ear canal can lead to inflammation and infection. Routine ear care, using products which cleanse the ear of debris, help to dry the ear canal and assist in preventing otitis, a chronic inflammation and infection of the external ear canal.

Ear mites are small parasites which can invade your dog's ears. These mites typically cause a dry, dark brown debris to form in the ears of dogs. Ear mite treatments kills only the adult mites, not the nymphs, (pre-adults). Effective ear mite treatment includes an initial series of treatments to kill the adult mites followed 10 to 14 days later by a second series of treatments to kill the newly matured adults.

Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements

On occasion your dog may benefit from vitamins and nutritional supplements. Older or sick pets may not consume enough food to provide adequate nutrition. Dogs recovering from surgery or chronic illness may need nutritional supplements in order to heal well. Even hard working dogs, such as guide dogs, may require supplements to say at their best level of fitness.

Sore and Irritated Skin

Dogs can suffer from skin problems associated with allergic reactions, skin diseases or wounds. We recommend the use of a "complete healing system" to provide deep healing for sore or irritated skin. This system is as follows:

Your dog should be shampooed with an anti-itch shampoo to cleanse and soothe the affected area and to prevent the spread of skin disease through bacterial infection. To start the healing process, it is vital that the scab or flaking skin be gently removed by using a medicated cleansing product. Trimming the hair from around the area allows the medication to reach the skin.

Watch for the formation of new tissue which will appear shiny and pink in color. This is an indication that the healing process is well under way. However, as the skin begins to heal, itching will increase. Use a skin relief spray to stop the itching and pain so that the delicate new tissue is not damaged by scratching.

Continue to promote deep healing with the use of hydrocortisone cream containing aloe vera and vitamins B and E which soothes and nourishes the healing skin.

Hot Spots

Hot spots are localized areas of acute, moist and inflamed skin. Hot spots are usually set off by flea bite irritation, allergies or Survey with an irritating substance such as chemicals or harsh soaps. These spots are extremely itchy, causing the dog to constantly lick and scratch, making the spot worse.

The most important step in treatment of hot spots is to immediately stop your dog from further licking and chewing of the spot. A skin relief spray will help stop the itching and pain.

Moderate to severe hot spots, as well as re-occurring hot spots require veterinary attention.


Note: You should not rely on the veterinary advice or information provided on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any specific situation. Always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the medical condition or treatment of your own pet or animal.






Thursday, August 27, 2009

Getting the Dog Boat-Ready




You may feel ready to abandon life on land, cut the lines and move onboard a boat. Knowing what you want, does not mean your dog is automatically ready to cruise, and for liveaboard life. Before you take your dog onboard, you will need to learn a lot about yourselves, your boat, and your relationship with your dog.


Cabin Train Your Dog -Begin by bringing the dog to your boat long before you make the big move. Have a designated place for the dog's bed, food, water, and a few water toys.

icon


We use this Dog Food Kit
and did not have to lug bags of dog food and bowls when first boating with our dog.Storing enough dog food for a long cruise could be a problem on some boats, so do have a fall-back plan, such as boiled rice with some meat.


Once the dog is comfortable with the inside of your boat, start up the engines or if a sail boat, turn on the motor, so doggie can get used to the sound and feel of being underway.
Deck Train Your Dog before you go cruising. Some liveaboards try a little box of sod or a fake grass mat for the dog to use when they cannot get the dog to land; nothing worked with our dog until we got a heads up from a liveaboard with 3 dogs. She put us on to the Pet-a-Potty.

   

 We purchased one on the internet, and it worked right away. We keep it topside, and when Bandit needs it, she does use it. What a relief! This wonderful item allows us to cruise to Catalina Island and other wonderful spots where there are no slips, just moorings.
For small dogs get the PETaPOTTY Mini.
We would not cruise without it.

If your dog will be playing in the water, rig a ramp that the dog can use to get back on the boat. Train the dog to use it. Leave the ramp down (except when you are underway) so if the dog falls in, it can self-rescue.

Click Here to Check it Out

SEE RAMP IN ACTION - WATCH VIDEO -



Rig a tether to keep your dog from going overboard accidentally. This is especially important if you leave the dog on the deck when you are not aboard, and when you are cruising. You must have a dog life jacket that fits and use it when appropriate. If the life jacket is off, a harness is a better handle than a collar. I had to rescue a neighbor's dog who jumped off his boat and fell in when the owners were not there. Because the frightened dog was trapped between the side of the boat and the dock, I could not get him out of the water without help. If he'd had on a life vest with a handle or harness, I could have rescued him myself.

If you are going to choose a liveaboard dog, consider some desirable attributes. A small dog is easier to get on and off the boat and requires less food to store. All dogs need exercise, but a breed that doesn’t require a lot or an older pet might be preferable. A toy breed might get enough exercise just playing with a toy in the cabin.


A female or neutered male may get along better with new dogs they meet. A non-shedding breed would be a good idea. Poodles, Schnauzers, and Portuguese Waterdogs are some of these breeds.

Check with your vet to be sure the dog is healthy enough to go cruising.  Be sure to get a Serious First Aid Kit For Your Pet. Hopefully you will never need it, but it is best to be prepared, especially if you are off cruising and days away from a veterinarian.

Becoming a Galley Cook




Forget most things you know about cooking; it's a whole new world preparing meals on a boat. First of all, you will have a smaller stove, a Galley Range has
fewer burners and a much smaller oven and if you're lucky, a broiler. Most likely, you will not have a dishwasher other than yourself, so you will need kitchen items that clean up easily. I picked up a dish scrubber that holds dishsoap in the handle and it works well. Buy a mini dish drainer at a Target or WalMart and not at a boat supply store where it will cost much more.


Remember, counter and kitchen storage space will be at a premium, so whenever possible, search for items that can serve more than one purpose; I have done much of the work for you, and will direct you to the best kitchen items it took me years to discover.

It took me over 5 years to get the cooking-in-a-galley thing down to a smooth science, and now I pass the hard-earned wisdom on to you.

As a galley cook, you must submit to two important new culinary rules:

(1)   glass baking pans, mixing bowls and anything breakable are not a boating cook's friend.

(2)  a pot can also be used as a pan.

You may have to buy new cookware, dishware, and some small appliances. Pack away anything breakable, and start over. Keep in mind that some galley items should be purchased at a boating supply store and not a discount store, because you need non-skid bottoms on mixing bowls and dishware and you will only be able to get them at a boating supply store.



  My wedding china is now packed away and maybe I'll see it again some day, but Lenox China has no place in a galley kitchen. What you will need is a set of non-breakable plates with a rubber rim bottoms.

Acrylic, glassware can be found anywhere, however, I prefer unbreakable Makrolon, a polycarbonate that's molded into thick, heavy forms and specially hand finished to stand up to the hard use it will get on a boat.

I cannot stress enough how important storage space is in the galley. Instead of putting my chef's knives away in a drawer, I use this


Stainless Steel 10-in. Magnetic Knife Holder




It comes in different lengths from 10-in to 20-in depending on how many knives you have and how much space you can find to put it up. This knife holder is a clever use of space, and a great safety factor when the boat is a-rockin'.



At first, I found preparing larger meals on my 3-burner electric range to be an inconvenience because I have only three small burners. While some feel no big pans will fit the stovetop properly, I have learned to adapt. However, one great plus is the bi-fold cover that when up provides a handy shelf, and when the stovetop is not in use, folds down to provide extra counter space. If I need to cook several things at the same time, I use the main burner (in back) for my largest pot or pan, and cook the additional items in other liveaboard necessities: An Electric Fry Pan, a Toaster Oven and a Crock-Pot. I could not keep my family well-fed without these appliances.


Now that I have imparted my galley set-up wisdom and experience upon you, I have several cookbooks you may find useful, I know I did:  



  • Cruising Chef Cookbook


  • The Great Cruising Cookbook: An International Galley Guide


  • Bon Appetit!

    Liveaboard Lifestyle

    Are you flexible? Flexible, not of body, but of mind and spirit; If change is your thing, living aboard a boat may just be the right fit for you. One of the best parts of living on a boat for the humans is No Yard Work.


    The best part for the dog is tons of birds and ducks on the dock to chase. One of the worst parts of liveaboard life for you is lack of storage space. The worst part for the dog is no grass or bushes right outside the door.

    If you, your family, and your dog can cope with those items - Welcome Aboard -


    Almost everyone, after another hard week in the corporate pressure cooker of a polluted and over-crowded city, has thought about trying the liveaboard lifestyle. A few will do it, and love it and would never go back to land. Some will try and hate it. Some will never try at all.

    This rush of urbanites seeking a home on the water is a becoming a worldwide phenomenon, and studies show that a good half of those wanting to buy into a dockside lifestyle have never even owned a boat.

    If you never try, you will never know what joy and freedom awaits.live on a Boat Blog is here to inform you about the good and the bad and to guide you over, under, around, and through the pitfalls, so your liveaboard adventure will be a soaring success.



    If your budget is the main concern, the boat you buy should be the smallest one that meets your needs, not the biggest one you can afford. Don't overestimate the space you will need for a comfortable living situation. Buy your boat for the space you and your family needs, not for the needs of guests. Guests will love to have you cruise them around, cook them a meal, but then send them to a hotel.



    It is cheaper to buy a boat than to buy a house, although you cannot just compare the cost of boat vs. the cost of a house. You also must consider the cost of running a boat and its upkeep. The average couple thinking about life aboard may feel they will need a boat in the 35-40 foot range. However, a boat this size, especially a power boat may be excessive for just two people, even with a dog, A well designed 25-30 footer might do just as well, once you understand the real essentials of living aboard.




     
     
     
     


    There is a couple in our marina who raised 2 kids on a 35' sailboat. All worked out well, the kids just graduated from college and doing well in their chosen professions, and the parents still live on that same small boat and all the money they have saved over the years is being salted away for a wonderful retirement.

    We have yet another liveaboard couple here in our marina who bought a 70' wooden motor-yacht, 1950's vintage for almost nothing, and are restoring it themselves. It has a huge living space, yet I must admit, I would not be up to the restoration work that they seem to love. So you see, if money is keeping you from realizing your liveaboard dream, the dream can be realized for less financial burden than you might suspect.


    Yet, no matter how much or how little you are able to invest in your liveaboard boat, you will truly be buying a wonderful and unique new lifestyle. Liveaboards are a community unto themselves, a friendly and helpful group who are always accepting of a newcomer.




    While the realization of your liveaboard aspirations may be a few years off, now is the time to make your plans, save your dollars, and bring those dreams
    to fruition. Unlike those adolescent fantasies of an adventure on a island paradise, this is one dream from which you’ll never have to wake.

    Tuesday, August 25, 2009

    How We Did it

    How It All Began

    "Honey, it's not just a boat...it's a lifestyle!" That quote came from my husband the day he came home with what turned out to be the first of three boats we would own along our journey to becoming a liveaboard family.


    I came face-to-face with my future "lifestyle" on a boat trailer hitched to the back of our truck. It was a 17' SeaRay Sundancer bowrider. It was cute, and my husband got it for a great price, but he had never owned a boat or done much boating.



    Granted, we loved this little boat, drove it to every lake or ocean boat-ramp within hundreds of miles, but soon we outgrew it. It was during this trial marriage, my spouse decided he wanted "more power" and off to the various boat shows we went in the pursuit of power.



    "Honey, it's not such a little a boat...this one really is a lifestyle!" That quote came from my husband the day he drove me to a marina about 80 miles from our home, stood me in front of another Sea Ray and grinned and pointed. Indeed, this boat was larger, it was a 30'Sea Ray Sundancer with the outrageously arrogant name of "Bodacious".



    We bought it He bought it, and soon my husband became the captain of "more power." Now this boating thing was getting serious; by serious, I mean monthly payments, slip fees, and upkeep. Our new and bigger lifestyle could not sit on a trailer in the yard; this baby needed a slip

    We soon learned an important lesson:secure a slip before you buy the boat. Thank goodness the boat brokerage that sold us the boat was able to keep the boat at their sales dock until we got a slip. We had known the size boat we wanted and the area we liked long before we bought, if we had just made sure there was a slip available, we would have saved a lot of time and worry.

    We did manage to get a slip at a local hotel resort marina.
    Now we were in the big-time of boat ownership. We had to find professionals to help us with day-to-day upkeep and rely on the marina dockmaster. Learning about the boat and how to operate her kept us busy for quite awhile.

    In the beginning we loved having our boat at the hotel marina but this was only a temporary solution, although a good one, because we were only able to sublease the slip (via the dockmaster) from a boat owner who had his boat in Mexico for the winter and would return in a few months.

    Again, we began the hunt for a boat slip. We put ourselves on every waiting list for a permanent slip and the waiting game began. The hotel marina was great, lots of sweet amenities and full use of all hotel facilities such as the pool, discounts at the restaurants and bars and lots of grassy areas for the dog. This was where we spent our weekends and holidays living on our new (yet previously owned) 30' floating condo. I learned how to cook on a miniature stove, how to sleep in a V-berth, and deal with little closet or storage space. And Loved it.

    Our name finally cleared a waitlist and we were offered a permanent slip at a huge marina. It took us about 30 minutes to pack up, stow stuff below deck, rev up the engines and cruise our floating condo to our new neighborhood. The new marina was wonderful, although quite large with over 500 slips; it too had a hotel and restaurants and tons of amenities. At this point, I think our dog Bandit was the most pleased with the move as this place boasted 11 acres of lush grounds and plenty of dog friendly space.

    Our family loved coming to the boat for weekends during the year, and full weeks during the summer when school was out. We loved staying on the boat, and adapted to it so well an idea began to germinate: maybe we should think about getting a bigger boat and live on it. The game of "what if", became a part of our cruising weekends and over a period of several years, we were actually making plans to become liveaboards.

    Slowly, we began learning how to actually become a liveaboard family and seeking information on the best type of boat for the three of us and our dog. My husband took every boating course he could find and, once again, we began attending boat shows. We sought advice from every liveaboard family we could find and questioned every boat broker around.

    We finally settled on the perfect type of boat:
    a Bluewater Motor Yacht
    and knowing a brand new boat was out of the question, we finally located a boat broker in San Francisco who bought and sold previous owned Bluewater boats. Knowing our search for the right size (we wanted 50' at least) at the right price (must be practically a give-away) would take a long time, we set our liveaboard plan in motion.

    To become liveaboards, we could no longer live on our working horse ranch. We sold off our livestock, lined up a property management company as we would lease out our ranch, not sell it, until we knew for sure the liveaboard life was totally for us. At this point, my husband became so involved in the boating world that he decided not only to change our lifestyle, but to change his career as well.

    He became a professional boat captain! Now that may be a bit of overkill for the average person who wants to liveaboard, but my husband went back to school and earned his
    U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Captain's license.
    He then lined up a part-time boat captain's job here in San Diego and worked weekends, while using our 30' boat as his base. We were nearly ready to go, all we now had to do was wait until we found the right boat and for our son to graduate middle school.

    In the Winter of 2000 our broker found our boat, on a lake in Texas of all places, and off we flew to check it out. We loved it, the price was right (to this day it is still worth more that we originally paid), and at 60' it was much bigger than we ever hoped.

    The deal was made, our 30' Sea Ray sold and our new boat was trucked from Texas to a boat yard in San Diego.

    Once the boat got new bottom paint and a few fixes at the boat yard, we motored it to our new, and bigger liveaboard slip in the same marina. This time we did plan ahead and made arrangements for the slip in advance of the purchase. Once you are actually in a marina and proven to be a good tenant, it is much easier to move your slip around and change your status to liveaboard.

    In the Summer of 2001, with our ranch leased, our furniture in storage (where it still is to this day), our son signed up for high school in San Diego, and our Captain now working full-time, we officially moved aboard and have been enjoying our new "lifestyle" ever since.

    Best Liveaboard Books

    Below is a selection of books that I recommend for liveaboards.










    - LIVE ON A BOAT BOOKSTORE -
    THE ESSENTIALS of LIVING ABOARD A BOAT

    Mark Nicholas



    ISBN: 0939837668, Paperback - BUY



    The Definitive guide for liveaboards
















    STAYING AFLOAT: Life Aboard Houseboats, Barges, and Liveaboards

    Jeri Callahan



    ISBN: 159404001X, Paperback - BUY




    "...informative material about life afloat."--John Purcell, Houseboater

















    ALL IN THE SAME BOAT:Living Aboard and Cruising

    Tom Neale



    ISBN: 0071427910, Paperback - BUY



    "...pratctical step-by-step manual to help you prepare for the cruising livestyle."
















    Damn the Torpedoes:and Other Tales of Liveaboard Life

    Catherine Dook


    ISBN: 1894898060, Hardcover - BUY





    Tales of Liveaboard Life

















    THE LIVEABOARD REPORT

    Charlie Wing



    ISBN: 0070710910, Paperback - BUY



    A Boat Dweller's Guide to What Works and What Doesn't
















    The Complete Idiot's Guide to Boating and Sailing, Third Edition

    Frank Sargeant



    ISBN: 1592573231, Paperback - BUY



    Excellent overview of power boating and sailing. Solid material on buying a boat, the cost of ownership, technology and weather, safety, navigation, and boat handling. Don’t leave the dock without it!

















    CHANGING COURSE : A Woman's Guide to Choosing the Cruising Life

    Debra Ann Cantrell



    ISBN: 0071427899, Hardcover - BUY




    "Changing Course is the first book that honestly evaluates the transition to life afloat."--Beth Leonard, author of The Voyager's Handbook

















    Twenty Affordable Sailboats To Take You Anywhere

    Gregg Nestor


    ISBN: 0939837722, Hardcover - BUY




    ...truly helpful tool for those of you wading with trepidation into the murky waters of boat-buying. --John Vigor- Author,Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere"

















    THE ONBOARD MEDICAL GUIDE

    Paul G. Gil



    ISBN: 0070242747, Hardcover - BUY




    Complete Guide of First Aid and Emergency Medicine Afloat



















    100 FAST & EASY BOAT IMPROVEMENTS

    Don Casey


    ISBN: 0071440550, Hardcover - BUY




    Fast, Frugal, and Functional Boat Improvements Anyone Can Make

















    BOAT NAMING MADE SIMPLE - 3rd edtion

    Susan D. Artof



    ISBN: 1889198064, Paperback - BUY



    The most popular Boat Naming book available. How to document your boat, how to add graphics to your boat and the boat naming ceremony.

    Saturday, August 22, 2009

    Find a Liveaboard Boat


    Click here for the world's premiere source for Inflatable Boats


    While it's tempting to attend boat shows and want to buy a new boat, do not overlook the used boat industry. A boat purchase is much like is much like an automobile in the fact that its resale value drops like an anchor once you sign on the dotted line. If price is no object, go for the new boat, but if you, like us, are budget-minded, a used boat might be your best deal. They are more affordable, and you will often find them already well-equipped, and in live aboard condition.

    Many who choose to liveaboard are hoping to simplify their lives without the need for so many possessions and to experience a more relaxed lifestyle. The liveaboard life can bring you to the appreciation of the simpler things in life, and it can be quite relaxing, however, nothing is ever as it seems.


    - A great book about the transition from landlubber to liveaboard:
    Living Aboard
    -




    I recommend starting out with a good used smaller boat and use it as a weekender and dockside vacation home. This is what we did, and our trial-by-water was a 30' SeaRay Sundancer that we tried out for several years before we were confident enough to make the big move to becoming a liveaboard family. Keeping a smaller dockside boat gave us the opportunity to see how we liked living on a boat and how we liked the marina and the area. This step-by-step process helped our family of 3 humans and 1 Border Collie learn how to adapt to a liveaboard lifestyle by first learning the basics. We mastered those basics by taking every boating safety course offered by the U.S. Coast Guard.

    Read about the importance of choosing the right boat - Click Here -

    Steps You Need to Know to Find a Boat


    Step 1.

    Where do you want to live? This should be your first question so you can buy the right type of boat.
    Step 2.

    Before making any boat buying learn the difference between what you want from a liveaboard boat and what you actually need.

    Step 3.

    Finding a suitable boat will involve searching in many places. The best places to look are:

    Boat Shows
    Boating Websites
    Boat Brokerage offices
    Your Own Personal Boat Shopper - Try this if you don't have time to search yourself.

    Step 4.

    Viewing boats is time consuming and could involve some travel so you need to be sure it is worth the effort.
    We live in Southern California and bought our boat in Texas!
    We used a Boat Shipper and because we got the boat at such a reasonable price, it was well worth the shipping cost.

    Step 5.

    You should always have a Marine Survey on any boat you plan to buy.

    Step 6.
    Finance your new boat-

    Step 7.
    Name Your New Boat

    There you have it, a simple 7 step process to buying a boat. I hope you find this information useful in your search for your new boat and beginning a new lifestyle for you, your family, and your dog.


    Find the Right Marina



    OUR DOG ENJOYIN' A LIVEABOARD LIFESTYLE


    “Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently.”

    - William Arthur Ward


    Let the Adventure Begin:


    Where do you want to live, ocean front or lake front? Will you dock your boat at a private marina, municipal marina, or yacht club marina? Answer these questions and you are on your way to finding the right boat and the right marina.


    FINDING A MARINA: LEARN MORE

    Where do you want to live, ocean front or lake front? Will you dock your boat at a private marina, municipal marina, or yacht club marina? Answer these questions and you are on your way to finding the right boat and the right marina.
    Marina Finder Link


    Online Marinas Directory



    Once you've decided what size and type of boat you want to buy, you must choose a marina at which to dock it. Most marinas allow liveaboards, but those slips are limited and usually filled. Call around and see what size liveaboard slips are most plentiful and gear you boat purchase toward that size. Around our marina, anything under 50' is recommended and about 35'- 45'will give you the widest choise of liveaboard slips.

    Find several marinas in the area of your choice and get on their slip waiting lists ASAP. Buying a boat, and having no place to dock it is a nightmare. If you do locate an available liveaboard slip that seems the right size, take it! You can always move to another marina later.


    It shouldn't take more that a few months to find your boat, and most dock masters will work with you to rent out your empty slip to transient boats on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

    Once you locate the area where you want to live, first call the various marinas and if they do have liveaboard availibiliy or an open waitlist, visit and check it out. Ask the dock master if you can walk the slips and get a feel for the marina. Getting non-responsive, or curt answers to your questions is a sign of a bad dock master and the marina is only as good as its dock master.
    If the slips and the boats look in need of upkeep or repair, be very cautious. A marina that allows its facility and its boats to become rundown is a red-flag as what to expect from your new neighbors as they will likely reflect the neighborhood.

    Private or Public Marina

    There are differences in how public vs. private marinas accept and deal with liveaboards. They are more flexable in a private or yacht club marina than they are in a public or municipal marina. We have lived aboard at public, private, and yacht club marinas.



    Public marinas usually have many more slips than do private marinas, so your chance of securing a slip is at a higher ratio. However, many public marinas also restrict the number of slips alloted to liveaboards. Rules, that cannot bend or be manipulated also abound. Public marinas are governed by the rules of the municipality in which they reside. Squabbling among the City Commissioners can also create problems for liveaboards. Some think we are not "green" enough, and add to the pollution of their waterways. Nothing could be further from the truth, as liveaboards actually live in the marina and we are not about pollute our own neighborhood. Always be sure you check the environmental rules at any marina.






    Private marinas are most prevalent at hotels in our area. Hotel marinas are terrific and offer the same amenities the hotel guests receive. Many do offer liveaboard slips, but you will have to go on a waiting list. They may also charge more per foot for slips, but the liveaboard fee should be in line with public marinas. They usually offer such fun stuff as room service right to your boat, free laundry facilities, pools, spa, concierge service, and of course restaurants and bars. You should be alloted free parking with your slip and most of these hotels also have shuttles to and from shopping centers, the airport, and tourist attractions. Lots of fun here, if you can afford it.


    Dock Search Link


    Yacht club marinas; don't overlook them. We have enjoyed our public marina slips, and loved our slips at hotel marinas, but the per foot rate became too much, so we looked into joining a yacht club. Not all yacht clubs charge an exorbitant fee to join; do your due diligence and you will discover, as did we, that there are many reasonable priced yacht club memberships. We bought one from a member who was moving away and got it for less than $1, 500. Prorated over a period of months, it's quite reasonable. Most clubs want new members and will be most accommodating in membership fee negotiations.

    Now for the big surprise! Yacht club marina slip fees are usually less than half of all other marinas in your area. Even when you add in the monthly dues, their slip fees are a true bargain. Most of the marinas in our area charge from $18-$28 per foot for slips, the yacht clubs charge from $6-$10 a foot. Yacht club marinas usually do not set a hard and fast rule as to the number of liveaboards, and again will work with you. We joined our yacht club in December and by February, we had a liveaboard slip.

    Outside of low slip-rental fees, and a great social life, another benefit of a yacht club membership is reciprocal moorage agreement with other yacht clubs. You can dock your boat for several nights at low, or usually at no cost at other clubs with reciprocal privileges. This reciprocal docking privilege is a great way to spend your cruising time. Plan ahead, make arrangements with the other yacht clubs, and you have your slips for almost no cost. When we feel like cruising around for a week or two, we take advantage of reciprocals; our only cost is the gas for the boat. Sailing boats can make these trips for next to nothing.



    Our yacht club offers many of the same amenities hotels do. As our club has a restaurant, we can get meals sent to our boat, or go to the restaurant. We have a pool, wireless internet, laundry, and best of all, a great social life connected to all the club's activities. Yacht club marinas make a great homebase for the liveaboard family.

    Yacht Club Finder


    Importance of the Dock Master

    The dockmaster is the liveaboard's best friend as he is the person you will to go to when you have boating questions or problems with the operation of the marina.



    A good dock master has a thorough knowledge of boating and makes sure the marina operates professionally. He should have a small assistant staff who offer special services, such as helping you with lines when you cast off or dock your boat at the marina. A good dock master is also responsible for the safety of the marina, the tenants, and their boats. He and his staff are responsible for the facility upkeep and repairs.

    Most dockmasters appreciate their liveaboards and know they are good for the marina, especially in terms of safety when the marina office is closed. Liveaboards are a close-knit group and will keep a close eye on things and alert the dockmaster if suspicious situation arises.


    Must Have Marina Facility Amenities

  • Dogs on Leash

  • 30 & 50 amp electric/Water

  • Ample Parking

  • Showers/Laundry Room

  • 24 Hour Security

  • Gated Dock Entry

  • Concrete Dock and Finger Piers

  • Cable TV, Phone & WiFi at each slip

  • Courteous staff

  • pump-out System

  • Swimming pool

  • Nearby Fuel Dock

  • Dock Boxes

  • Green Areas for Dog


  • Friday, August 21, 2009

    Are You Ready to Live on a Boat?

         -Pictures of Our Island Paradise and Our Liveaboard Home-




    Want a Waterfront Home? Can't Afford it? Become a Liveaboard. Live on a Boat Blog is all about you, your family and your dog living aboard a boat. I welcome the curious, the beginner, and the experienced boater. This blog will be filled with valuable Tips, Guides, and Articles, related to living aboard and the liveaboard lifestyle.

    If you have ever contemplated life aboard without maintaining a home on land, or have already made the decision to do so, this is the blog for you. Check back often and you will discover, as we did, that living on a boat is truly "The Life".

    Don't Just Chase Your Dream; Let It Float Away - With You On It.




    Click here for the world's premiere source for Inflatable Boats

    If you're new to the idea of living on a boat, finding all the information you need in one place was almost impossible - until now. Live on a Boat Blog is being created as a guide to give you information directly from a family that gave up being landlubbers in 2001 have been living on our boat ever since.



    There are as many attractions to the living aboard lifestyle as there are downsides. Most boats are much smaller than nearly all houses, and depending upon the time of year and where you dock your boat, can be exposed to bad weather. Liveaboard boats also require special adaptations and maintenance skills. However, they are mobile, provide water access, and combine recreation, transportation, and housing costs all in one.



    With the high cost of housing anywhere near the water, a liveaboard lifestyle is becoming more and more popular not only with Americans, but with people around the world. Whether you opt to buy a new boat or one in need of repair or restoration, or whether you choose to keep that boat at a private marina or a municipal facility, you will find that live aboard are unique people coming from diverse backgrounds.


    Live on a Boat blog can be the conduit for potential as well as new liveaboards by starting you off with the basics and, hopefully, build upon those bare bones until the liveaboard lifestyle is within the reach of all those who dream. Keep in mind the realization of that a dream is also an adventure.