Category: Planning and Prep

Anyone Can Live This life! Let me Walk you Through it….#44

I can’t tell you how many times we hear or read comments about our blog….. “I wish I could do that, I’m not rich” or “I don’t have enough money do to what you do” or any of the other types of comments.

We meet so many other people living on their boat and traveling to cool places. They are doing what we are doing with their own slightly different tweak on it. These folks are from all over the world with totally different backgrounds, boating experience & living preferences, they are “living their dream on a boat!”

Well, anyone can do this, let me share how!

img_1839Everything in life is a choice…. It was hard to see all the choices before we started this adventure, but we see sail boaters living this life with very minimal income. NOW… it isn’t free, but it isn’t more expensive than just living how you live today. AND you can choose where to go, how long to stay and how to plan it financially.

There are so many choices that it is important to get ideas and opinions from others too! Here is how you can do this too…. I’ve outlined some choices below  ⇓⇓⇓ 

Boat Type

  • Sailboat – Don’t use as much fuel, you obviously can sail to put miles behind you. Lots of sail boaters still motor quite a bit, but their small engines just don’t suck the fuel like a faster larger motor yacht
  • Motorboat – More space, bit more comfort, but more expensive to run, more engine maintenance along with bigger fuel bill.

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Size of Boat

  • Big, Small or Someplace in Between – You want enough space to live comfortable & store provisions etc.  Some people can live in much tighter quarters than others. If you are planning on going far from your home port, you will need room for crew, friends, guests. If you are social, you will need this room too. The bigger the boat the more expensive it is to run & maintain and more costly in a marina. If you get too small of a boat you will struggle with ocean cruising when it is rough. We find it is easier in the open ocean with a larger boat. We have an 80′ boat.

Boat Age

  • Older is cheaper, but more repairs. Newer still has repairs (don’t ever think they don’t), but things aren’t as worn out. You can get a bigger, older boat for less money or a smaller, newer for more money. PLEASE do a boat and engine survey before buying on either choice, because there are 100+ more things they didn’t find.

Supporting Features on Boat

All these options are Cost versus Convenience

  • Laundry – Tons of sailboats only do laundry by hand or at the marina laundry facilities. We on the other hand have laundry on board.
  • Water Maker & Fresh Water Tanks – If you are traveling to foreign countries or long trips, a water maker will be an important feature. You are able to make pure water on demand and keep your tanks full of good fresh water. The size of your water tanks are also important. Consider this when also looking at the number of people and the services you have aboard. You will use more water than you think you will. You can get water in marinas, but some foreign countries don’t have potable water, so be aware of that. You need a purification strategy for all water usage and water sources.
  • Power choices (generator, solar, wind, inverter & shore power capacity) – You will need some type, or multiple types of power to keep your boat working. Sailboats need less, they have less demand for the power. Lots of choices; more power is more money, and maintenance work, less is cheaper but not as convenient. The benefits and drawbacks for each of these choices will be a different blog, coming soon.
  • Stabilizers – This is a motorboat option and we HIGHLY recommend this if you are going in the ocean for long periods of time or more frequently. We can’t imagine not having ours.
  • Fuel Storage – This is important for both sail and motor yachts. Sail boaters don’t need as much and sometimes bring jerry cans with them. In a motorboat you need to consider your range, how far, fast you will be going and how much fuel you will burn on any given trip. Knowing this number for your tank’s size will keep you from calling for a tow!
  • Waste Holding Tanks – You need holding tanks of some size, how frequently you use it, is up to you. We estimate 20 person-days per 117 gallons of tank space. This is our estimate and usage. If you go into marinas, you can use their facilities (restroom/shower/etc) on shore and lots of sail boaters do this. You can also empty your tanks with their sewage pump out service. Another option is to consider adding a treatment system for close shore cruising.
  • Dinghy – Either type of boat (sail/motor) you need a dinghy. We suggest a small inflatable dinghy. If you have a larger motorboat, you can consider two. A larger one that holds more people/stuff and could be used for fishing, snorkeling, scuba, etc. The small inflatable dinghy is important so you can drag it up on shore. Very large ones (e.g. 19′) are too heavy.
  • Bow thruster – This is a convenience, but we find it a necessity. There will be many times you need this when arriving in a marina, the wind, waves, and current are large and/or competing with each other. We highly recommend it. Hydraulic ones powered by the generator or engine are best – battery ones are weak and run out of thrust in bad conditions when you really need them.
  • Engine Type, Quantity and Quality – If you have a motorboat with no bow thruster, we recommend two engines as a must. We really think you should have two engines and a bow thruster. We found cruisers use diesel engines for main power. Gasoline is for outboards and toys. Which brand of diesel is best? The well maintained and cared for diesel! Boat and engine maintenance is work though, and being physically fit is necessary, unless you hire it out, which can be challenging and expensive. Carry important spare parts, they are not at the far-flung cool spots unless you bring them.  It is slow, inconvenient, and expensive to have them shipped. Sailboats are usually single diesel engine, so a bow thruster on a medium/large one is a must. That Diesel is your 2nd engine! The sails are engine #1.

Choices to Reduce your Financial Risk

  • House on land – You have 3 choices, 1) Keep the house and pay mortgage while you are gone 2) Rent the house 3) Sell the house. These are choices YOU need to make based on your income flow and/or reserve cash. I’ve talked to many of our boat friends and most have either rented or sold their house. We rented ours.
  •  Your belongings – You have similar choices here, sell, store or some of both. This again is a personal decision. Most folks we have talked to does “some of both”. Sell or give away what they can and store what is important to them.
  • Cars – Again similar choices, sell or keep. Our feedback here is that cars depreciate, SO SELL them. Buy new when you are done cruising. If you return for a visit, rent or borrow. You are tossing money away if you keep them.

Ways to Reduce Cost

  • Anchor More Often – This will for sure reduce your cost. This is considerably cheaper, BUT, you need a dinghy to go into shore for provisions, laundry, use the internet, restaurants, visit sights/town etc. Some marinas have “pay for dinghy dock services” Also hauling water or fuel if you picked a less expensive way to live. We enjoy the safety & convenience of being in a locked marina (most foreign marinas are gated). It is wear and tear on your generator though.
  • Don’t go to as Many Far Away Locations – Start small. If you live on the USA West Coast, do Mexico, “Baja Ha Ha” rally or “Cubar”. On the East Coast,  do “Salty Dawg” to Caribbean Islands. My point is do something small to see how it goes. Maybe a trial run and not sell your house. Just do the winter away.
  • Don’t Stop Learning – This saves you money for sure! Read and ask lots of questions and learn from those that have done it. There are tons of blogs, books, Facebook groups, Instagram and articles you can read about liveaboards and those that spend a good deal of time aboard their boat.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Most folks are happy to help out. Also join a boating rally as mentioned above gives you tons information and fellow boaters to ask questions and get assistance.
  • Use your Points – Gather up your frequent flyer miles, hotel, car & credit card points. Use AAA, Military, Boat US for discounts and use them whenever possible and/or when you fly home.
  • Boat Work – Find trusted recommended contractors to use before and during your cruise. Ask friends/fellow boaters who they used etc. Don’t just go to someone that isn’t recommended unless you can’t move, and you are stuck. Our Puerto Vallarta boat work #26 & A Shipyard Story #24 & Shipyard Work for the Boys #23

    Able to do Some of your Own Repairs/Maintenance – This is a must at some level because you could be at sea when something fails or in port where no help exist. You need to know at least your own maintenance schedule and ability to do the engine maintenance; oil changes, filter changes (be aware that there are filters that you might not see or be aware of) water system maintenance, battery maintenance, & general plumbing. Boats have leaks!!

Income Generating

  • Work Aboard – Some folks are able to work while on board. We found internet is very hard to find and poor quality in foreign countries.
  • Write a blog – You can do advertising on your blog, I don’t do this, I may at some point. You need a big following and YouTube video blog gathers more followers. If you pick this, plan on spend a lot of time writing, filming, editing & publishing etc. on a regular schedule.
  • Retirement or Social Security Payments – If you are old enough this is important income to consider.
  • Business Income – If you are lucky enough to have a business that you can leave and it generates income, I don’t think you are reading “My Blog” and how nice for you! Sell your business is also another option.
  • Investments – It is very hard to manage your investments while cruising. Get a financial advisor and discuss a low risk financial plan, and possible income streams.

Stuff to Do

Find Meaningful Stuff to Do

  • Dan does tons of projects making the boat better and safer. ALL maintenance, repairs, upgrades, improvements etc, etc, etc…. He does so much and keeps everything in tip top shape.
  • I do some boat projects, sewing repairs, sewing projects, all cooking and dishes, all cleaning and of course, picture taking and blog writing!
  • Also, a small warning… You will be with your partner almost 100% of the time. Expect challenging times, just work through them and learn.

Above All….. 

  • Have Fun, enjoy your stops, learn about the locations, research the cities, anchorages, communities, and countries you are visiting so you can have the best time ever!

Enjoy your time, invite friends, family to join you.. they will be forever grateful. Walk the docks and meet fellow boaters and listen to their stories!

Feel free to connect with me on Instagram, I have a public site @adventures_on_angelique Add your email to my distribution list on this blog site, so you never miss a blog! – Need help with adding email? Let me know and I will walk you through it.

Ask me any questions, I am eager to help you live your dream by answering all your questions.  email me – ang.enloe@gmail.com

I really hope, if this is what you want to do… you do it,

we have NO REGRETS!!  

Adios, until next time!

An HGTV Showdown on M/V Angelique, Before and After Results…#25

There is something so gratifying and heartwarming when I’m sitting in a room that has its own personality. It can quietly speak to me, with a warming energy that makes me what to sit and enjoy the view and style in comfort. This article is one for the girls… not that the guys won’t enjoy it because the transformations are just amazing.

As Dan did on our last blog A SHIPYARD STORY –> What it Takes to Keep a Big Hatteras Going….#24 , I’m going to start at the beginning with my honest opinion of what she looked like and my reaction of my first visit. When we bought “Sheer Luck”, as she was named. She was located Alameda, California. I was still working my IT job, so Dan took a trip to see her alone. We had been looking for over a year and had made multiple offers on different boats from California to Florida. For one reason or another they just didn’t work out.  Dan came home from this trip and was very excited, so we made an offer. We discuss and knew she needed some work. The offer was accepted and during the survey process I flew down with Dan to see her for the first time. When I walked in to see her, I was shocked and disappointed. I had a very upset tummy and did not think that she could ever be something I would be comfortable in. Dan promised that I could redo & remodel her as I saw fit. So I tentatively said ok.

Dan and I both loved Hatteras yachts, the classic lines, beautiful wood and enough room spaced out in a fashion that we preferred. This yacht had no wood other than non-original cabinets that were cheap and didn’t give me the sense of warmth and welcoming. Along with not much useable storage. The decor was all beige… I was having an issue envisioning anything other than a gut job.

The very first Hatteras Dan and I toured is now owned by our friends Loren and Stephanie, “Cat in the Hat” (I was in LOVE) The previous owners had put a lot of money into remodeling her and it was gorgeous. Our Hatteras had some of the key factors we were looking for but all the wood had been painted white years ago. We found out she was used as a charter boat in the Caribbean Sea for years.  Just prior to this endeavor she had a major remodel and they painted walls, doors and stateroom cabinets. We found pictures to show you what she looked like back in the 90’s.

 

I started to work on “my new vision” of what she could be. The majority of the remodeling was going to be in the salon.  Everything except the headliners and mirrored wall was demolished.  I really don’t remember how my vision started, except that beige carpeting had to go. It took Dan and I a few months to find and decide on the replacement floor. We didn’t want it to look too different from the beautiful teak in the galley and helm area. So tongue and groove teak was sourced from East Teak in Sultan WA. We got encouragement from our friends that we could lay and finish the floor ourselves. We hadn’t done it before but Dan and I were hard workers and willing to try. We could save thousands of dollars by doing it ourselves. So we did. It certainly wasn’t easy, but we have a grand story to tell about our efforts. We are really happy with the way it looks.

Next was the cabinets. I contacted a couple different yacht cabinet builders, ultimately ended up with Oregon Custom Cabinet in Canby Oregon. They hadn’t done anything like this before and I’m sure they learned a lot. With all the angles of a boat, nothing is straight.  After taking out the carpeting and previous cabinet we could see where the original cabinets were. I decided to go back to a “close to original” layout. They turned out awesome and we are really happy with the look, style and function of the cabinets. I had wood tops put on rather than a hard stone surface. I felt the room needed as much wood accents as possible because the teak walls had been painted.

Next was the walls. Wallpaper is a risk, because mold can grow in places that you can’t see. I wanted to have a conversation with an expert before deciding. In Portland there is only one location where you can actually see wallpaper books and talk to an expert, Miller Paint Store. I purchased a primer that is mold resistant and real looking  vinyl grasscloth wallpaper. (which looks very real, if I might add) Real grasscloth can easily grow mold too, so vinyl was a must! I installed it myself with a bit if “holding” help from Dan and Clark (our friend). We are so grateful for all our friends that helped us. Couldn’t have done it without you all!

The Wood Vinyl covered valance header boards over the windows were calling my name. I think Dan thought I was crazy!! Dan helped me take them all down. I knew I was either going to have wood headers or recover them with a better fabric. When I uncovered one board, there was real teak wood that was beautiful under the years of fabric.  But with the 3+ layers of fabric and the thousands and thousands of staples that I needed to pull. They left large holes and some were rusted. The boards were not in good shape. Choices are complicated. Do we buy new teak wood boards, cover with a different fabric or pull all staples and cover with teak veneer. Of course I pick the hardest, but cheapest choice. I pull 6000+ staples out of 5 boards. Then Dan and I did something again we had never done, we veneer the boards ourselves. They turned out pretty good for our first attempt.

To finish off the salon I only had furniture, blinds and rug remaining. I knew I wanted blues and greys. We are pretty happy with the result!

 

↓↓↓ Reminder of what it looked like before ↓↓↓

 

One of the other areas that was very important to me was the back deck before you walk inside the salon. We named it the “Sapphire Deck”. This area is the first living area you hit coming on to the boat. I felt like it was a tunnel. It had two built-in benches, two huge built-in tables and a hidden bar. I didn’t even know the bar existed until I uncovered it. It was  full junk that the previous owner had on top of it. We removed one table and one built-in bench to make room for a couple rattan type chairs, ottoman and a rug. This also allowed for more open space and easier access to the bar. Along with different pillows to change the mood on the built-in bench, along with adding more comfort. The small black and white pillows were not supportive enough. BTW… I made the 10 pillows while underway with sunbrella I purchased before leaving. 

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Before & After
Table and bench removed
If you are following along our blogs you know we are in the shipyard getting months of work done. A couple additional items that is getting done along with the painting and mechanical stuff is varnish and new upholstery for the cushions. I will have before and after pictures on the “splash down” blog when we finally get all the work done and able to show you all the beautiful pics of our boat!

 

Before Bow
Before Flying Bridge
In process pictures below

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The bolsters are also getting new vinyl to match the new white paint!

 

Old Bolsters
in Cockpit
As I write this article we are in the count down stages. I’m pushing to get all the work done by end of Feb. We will still have work that remains once the boat is back in the water. But it will be mostly putting everything back together. Benches, tables, furniture, side panels, supplies and etc that had to get moved while all the painting was happening. I will also have a big cleaning effort to do too, as the dust is horrible in the yard. They will also finish up the varnishing of our outside railings in the water too.

We are excited to get back in our home, Angelique & share our final pictures with you in March. As always we are eager to have our friends and family visit us too.

Next blog “SPLASH DOWN @ Opequimar” 

Live, Love, Laugh & Remodel …#3

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As we work hard to update and customize our Yacht for cruising in the next few months, I can’t help but be at awe with all that lay ahead of us and the gratefulness for it. Dan and I celebrate our Anniversary this week, February 27th and I often think what would have happened if we didn’t tie the knot. Where would we be and what would we be doing without this partnership we have built over the 9 years?

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Dan nor I had any idea the level of risk or adventures we were both willing to take and neither of us understood each other’s drive and determination along with our power together.  We can do anything together! I knew that adventure would be part of our life, but really had no idea the level and grandeur of it.

Top Pic is 2/2009 & Bottom pic is 1/2018

 

Thank you Dan, for being such a wonderful, Adventurous partner. In Love with Life!

Our remodeling of our Yacht Angelique is endless, new floors, cabinets, furniture and wall paper in the salon, engine repairs go on and on & updating & changing oils, fluids etc., buying spare parts, refurbishing old anchors, discussing our trip with others that have done this before, planning for provisions, security measures, communication plans (internet, phone, satellite, radar), fun stuff (kayak’s, paddle boards, wave-runner, dinghy, Scuba and snorkeling etc…) and packing up our home so family can take care of it while we are gone. dan engine room projects.jpg

Now for the Angelique remodeling part… and our progress

The floor is a floor salon.JPGbig project we didn’t see ourselves taking on, but we did it, and you can too! It saved us tons of money and we are happy to look at the floor and know we accomplished it ourselves. Lots of learning with questions to experts and YouTube videos.

We did the layout & staggering of boards, gluing & nailing with nail gun, sanding with big floor sander, and 5 coats of Varnish. We are now ready for our new cabinets. It looks marvelous.

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Refurbishing of our anchors was a heavy load.

Not only were they  rusty and not looking their best, but on one, the shank was bent as you can see in the top pic. We had to remove it & haul it to a shop that would end up replacing the bent shank with new steel (can’t imagine what happened to bend it, YIKES), then to sandblast and galvanizing. Ahhh, we don’t have just one anchor, we have two, the smaller one wasn’t in such bad shape.

 

I was in search for as many original details as possible. I started on a project with the window valances in the Salon.

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I didn’t know what was under the years and years of fabric coverings until I dug into it. Three layers of bad, old fabric and 1000’s of staples on each board, (total of 5 boards 8+ feet long). It turned out to be beautiful Teak wood, but the staples had damaged it beyond repair. So, Dan and I did another 1st time project. We put Teak Veneer on each board. Now for a bit of varnish and we will be able to hang them and be proud of another project accomplished.

While doing all the remodeling projects every day, I have started taking Scuba lessons and Motorcycle riding lessons.  See our new member of the family below, she is the lightest weight bike with a sissy bar, that we could put on the boat for land use in our travels. I’m pushing the limit in every way I can. I don’t want to let any part of life passbike -2018.jpg me by and not at least try it before I say no.

The Summer deadline for leaving is coming quick. We have lots and lots of projects to get done before we leave. I expect to have one or two more planning blog articles before we set off for our Big Cruising Adventure.

Take Care everyone.. Please follow my blog and share if you like!

Dan/Angela, AdventuresonAngelique.com