Husband and Wife Find Sailboat Life Isn't Cheap, but the Perks Keep Winning

A different way to own

The couple moved to a new state excited for a change, but the higher rent was a shock. Paying $2,500 each month for a home they would not own felt difficult, and buying a house was beyond their budget.

They wanted something they could own outright and considered living aboard a boat. Both had taken a few sailing trips, and their love of the outdoors made exploring by ocean appealing, despite knowing little about the practical details.

Learning before setting sail

Their 43-foot boat has a wooden interior, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a desk. But the previous owner had left drawers full of old kitchenware and junk, and the boat needed significant maintenance.

Repairs and marine costs

The work included replacing a rotting main sheet, updating the navigation systems and cleaning a mildewed freshwater tank. They have handled those tasks gradually, one at a time.

They also discovered the costs of boat ownership. Boat parts can be expensive, and items labeled for marine use carry hefty price tags. The couple learned about the saying that BOAT means “Bust Out Another Thousand,” a phrase they had not heard before moving aboard.

Making the boat feel home

On their first night aboard, they wondered what they had done. They hung a family horseshoe that had watched over the narrator’s father’s doorway for 20 years, hoping it might bring them luck.

Over time, they built a routine around work, bike rides around town and dinner parties that end with sunsets behind hundreds of sailboat masts. After a year, they have grown more confident as sailors and value the way the experience has helped them work together.

Trade-offs worth making—for now

Life aboard has its difficult moments, and they miss having room to stretch, a kitchen large enough for two and a toilet free of a rotten-seawater smell. Tight quarters, leaks and seaweed odors can make some days claustrophobic.

Still, they would not trade the experience at this point. They have explored the Channel Islands, seen coastal wildlife and learned to read the weather, trim sails and surf. They see this as a rare time in life when they can take on an impractical adventure.