Living aboard a boat may not be for everybody, but for those who do, it can unlock a waterborne lifestyle full of exciting new adventures and a unique set of circumstances. From waking up every morning with a beautiful waterfront view to realizing that your “home” is wherever you roam, trading in the landlubber life for one on the water can be freeing.
Of course, the liveaboard lifestyle doesn’t come without its challenges. While your world becomes bigger, moving from a four-bedroom house to a 40-foot boat means everything else becomes smaller, from storage to sleeping quarters, and while it’s easy to fantasize about the idea of living on a boat, actually doing it requires significant preparation, technical savvy and a willingness to learn and adapt.
Here, you’ll find helpful stories and tips for anyone living (or considering embarking on) the liveaboard lifestyle, to make your home on the water as manageable as it is rewarding.
Adapting Greek recipes to make them boat-friendly and adding personal touches to the meals are this charter veteran’s secrets to keeping guests happy.
This one-pot meal warms the bones when the weather won’t cooperate, and is a great make-ahead dish for offshore passages.
A bowl of hot soup is a cold-weather sailor’s best friend.
What do you do when all the bananas onboard inevitably ripen at the same time?
Baking bread pudding, especially the chocolate variety, warms the cabin while cruising Alaska.
Supplies running low aboard? This tasty dish can be prepared with minimal ingredients.
A two-year project taken on near a Lake Erie home port turns the 1975 Hallberg-Rassy Monsun Ukiyo into a cruising boat fit for the Pacific.
In the midst of our massive 40-year refit of our Stevens 47, Totem, we’re still dreaming: Do we want to make the changes needed to fly a Code Zero?
Halfway through his latest circumnavigation, Webb Chiles made several upgrades to Gannet, his Moore 24, to make the rest of the journey safer and more comfortable.
Eager to get rid of dark wood and old vinyl, this do-it-yourselfer found a cleaner and brighter way to finish the v-berth.
The latest chapter in our ongoing series about the complete overhaul of a classic-plastic Pearson 36.
When it comes to something as ubiquitous as good old masking tape, not all types are created equal.
It’s hard, and it’s totally worth it. Here are some tips to help you clear this hurdle.
A life that normalizes change and adaptation is the one we want for our family.
We did it for years, and can share lots of tips for how to do it right.
We started out doing laundry in a 5-gallon bucket. We’re glad that we upgraded.
Yes, sailors have the problems of the privileged. They can still sting.
They’re not one-size-suits-all. We ended up seeking out professional advice.
The pandemic taught many people that cruising without quitting work is a real possibility.
Studying the shells on the world’s beaches adds an extra dimension to cruising life.
This love story began in 1997 with a small advertisement in the back of Cruising World.
An abundance of marine life and amazing coral reefs combined with warm, clear water make the Cayman Islands a winning destination.
“It’s a double-edged sword with pagan deities: When they’re happy, they send you a friendly current or lift you around a cape, but when they feel slighted, these old gods will ruin your day.”
The Lymans explore Antigua, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Dominica during a four-week adventure.
Virtually every vessel with a house battery bank will benefit from an alternator and regulator upgrade.
Old-school pencil-on-paper vector piloting is the key to crossing the Gulf Stream.
The latest book from American Sailing covers all things related to dinghies and outboard engines.
A good sailing school can prepare anyone for a bareboat charter or a switch to the liveaboard life.
Maintenance and inspection of exhaust systems helps avoid expensive damage to diesel engines.
Transiting the Panama Canal is a journey through history and wonder.
A large—and still growing—family spreads their wings aboard a high-performance trimaran.
Longing for some extended time amid the hills and history of the Inner Hebrides, this family of six settles into a winter berth at the Oban Marina.
This sailing family decided to forgo many of the common systems aboard modern cruising boats to keep things easy and affordable.
Cap’n Fatty and Carolyn Goodlander enjoy a four-day, multigenerational cruise aboard Ganesh in Singapore.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a young family takes a break from long voyages and finds joy staying put in a small bay in Mexico.
For over three decades, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers has been a part of the transatlantic experience for sailors, and the destination—St. Lucia—the launching point for tropical cruising dreams.
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