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Living on a yacht full-time seems to be such an excellent way to start a free and adventurous activity. However, the initial question is: “Can you live on a yacht?”
The answer is definitely yes! The yachting lifestyle has become familiar among boaters and ocean lovers as it gives them the chance to enjoy the sea and the waves all the time.
What Should You Prepare to Live on a Yacht Full-time?
Despite the fun and excitement, a yacht living experience is not for everyone. Your stay’s comfortability will depend on your choice of the yacht to live on or the number of amenities you intend to bring along.
Hence, to help you deal with those selections, below is everything you need to know, regardless of whether you are living on a boat in the Caribbean or cruising all day across the ocean.
1. Searching for a comfortable yacht
You will need to decide between renting and purchasing a yacht. This depends on how long you stay on your boat. If you want a temporary living experience, renting a yacht will be your best option.
It is also necessary to consider the size of your boat to accommodate people residing on the yacht and the period you will stay here. For instance, if your family of four decides to spend a year on the ocean, you can rent or purchase a 50-foot yacht.
While 40 to 50ft yachts are sold for an average of $329,000, their rental prices fluctuate between $10,000 and $20,000 per week, depending on the yacht’s size and facilities.
What makes a yacht comfortable are the amenities. You should install the basic household appliances, like a fridge, a gas stove, a toilet, and a comfy bed, before considering any other facilities.
2. Calculating the cost and living expenses
When it comes to the budget, you should also include the recurring costs of yacht living. Keep the following expenses in mind when calculating your budget:
- Boat insurance:
Choosing the right boat insurance is essential as it will cover the repair fees due to a storm or an accident. The cost of boat insurance will vary depending on your yacht type.
On average, the estimated price of yacht insurance can cost 1-5 percent of the vessel’s value. A $100,000 yacht, for instance, might require around $2,500 per year to insure.
Furthermore, if you decide to rent a yacht, your charter boat will also be charged for commercial insurance, which is approximately $1000 per year.
- Fuel:
Fuel is another factor adding up to your budget. The fuel cost may vary based on the distance your yacht travels, size, and speed.
For example, a 60-ft yacht with a fuel capacity of 1,200 gallons and a gasoline price of $3.50 per gallon will need $4,200 to fill the fuel tank.
- Fees of mooring:
While traveling to different destinations and harbors, docks will likely charge you mooring fees from daily to long-term.
These fees can vary greatly, depending on your boat’s size, anchoring position, etc., with monthly expenditures spanning from a few hundred dollars to $1,000 or even more.
- Utility expenses:
Even when you’re staying on board, the costs for necessities like water, electricity, gas, cable, and internet still need to be paid.
Especially when you live full-time on a yacht, it’s advisable to invest in renewable energy sources like solar batteries or wind turbines. If that is so, you should expect to pay approximately $300 per month for these utilities.
- Food:
Buying groceries might be a big problem as you aim to have a life on a yacht. Of course, you can catch fish and have seafood in your meals, but purchasing vegetables is more difficult.
Every month, boaters may need to spend at least $450 on basic groceries like vegetables and fruit. This number is averagely calculated for one to two people.
- Maintenance:
Like other vehicles, your yacht also needs to be maintained. You should expect to pay up to $1,000 per year. Of course, more money will be spent if your yacht has other serious problems.
3. Selecting the routes and locations
Knowing where to dock and determining the routes for your voyage will certainly help you save time in making decisions.
If you live in a cold region and wish to avoid the winter there, traveling to tropical climate areas will be helpful. You may also visit other countries and enjoy short vacations for as long as you want.
The most crucial thing to remember while preparing to live on a yacht is to grasp the regulations governing living in foreign waters. Furthermore, while staying in international waters, take safety into account.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Living on a Yacht Full Time
Since yacht life is indeed a significant change and may not be ideal for everyone, this part of the article will share some advantages and disadvantages of this lifestyle.
- You will be able to travel around the world more freely.
- Living on a yacht gives you a chance to experience such an adventurous lifestyle that can create many great memories.
- Living by the ocean allows for a more relaxed way of life. Imagine basking in the sun all day and being lulled to bed by the waves at night!
- It’s really difficult to find groceries while living on board.
- The lack of social interaction may drive you crazy!
- You can always be in danger if you encounter extreme weather conditions like storms or hurricanes, especially while wandering in the middle of the ocean.
Conclusion
Now that you have finished the article, we’re sure that you will have your answer to the question: “Can you live on a yacht?” If you believe a yachting lifestyle is perfect for you, brace your heart, prepare everything we’ve presented on the list, and let’s get sailing!
We hope that this post was helpful! Did you enjoy the article? Do you want to add anything else? Please let us know and leave a comment below.
Ten years of enjoying countless trips on boats never made me love them any less! So I am here to put all those experiences into good use for other boaters who want to have a safe and fun trip with their friends and families.