Living aboard R31S full time Miami home base

Skeeter63

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Apr 26, 2009
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Thinking of buying the R31S at the FT Lauderdale Boat show next week. Or at least ordering one if that one is sold. Considering living on it a few years and exploring the Bahamas...maybe down to Exuma, the Keys...and maybe the Great Loop. Lost my wife to cancer...retired from military...and still relatively young. I am thinking now would be the time to do it. Thought of sailboat, bigger tugs like the Nordic and Krogen. But I can get this new...with a warranty. It has less draft and can outrun weather if need be. It also can find slips easier and get under most bridges without opening. Your thoughts?
 
Thank you for serving our country! And I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I think you have a great plan. And I personally can’t think of any better therapy than boating (not that you were necessarily thinking of it in that way). My wife and I have been living full time on an R-31CB for over a year now, though in the Pacific Northwest it is a different climate. We just love it. Took it cruising all summer to the northern tip of Vancouver Island and next year plan to take it to Alaska. You can’t beat the water views! And when you want a little change in scenery, you just pull up anchor or release the mooring lines and move somewhere else. I know that many people live on sailboats too, but from what I understand, power boats in general have about 40 percent more living space than sailboats of comparable length. Add to that the fact that Ranger Tugs makes super efficient use of all onboard spaces and you have a very workable “tiny home” on the water. The boats are turnkey for both living and cruising. And I don’t know if you were think of single-handing or not, but with both bow and stern thrusters, that is very doable too.

John B
 
A wonderful thought.... and since you're thinking about it, then do it before you change your mind. It's not a for-ever event and can be changed later if needed as the future unfolds.

I'm in a similar boat (so to speak) as I lost my 1st Mate a little over 2 months ago. I'm thinking of a slightly larger boat for myself as well but have not committed to live on board at this time. I like my house and have my kids and tiny ones but a few miles from me and hesitate about living on a boat full time. However, I do intend to boat/cruise more as now I'm a 'free man' so people keep telling me. 😉

Make the change as it is reversible when and if needed. Maybe if you have a house, then rent it just so you have something to return to.... or sell the house, move onto the boat and see how you feel about that as a life style. As I said, this can be reversed and need not be permanent.

Being single/solo will take getting used to for sure.

Good luck.... the R31S is a fine boat, as is the R29 S for less money. Compare the R31S and the R29S carefully as there's not a great deal of difference IMO and what differences there are need to be beneficial to you for living onboard.
 
Thanks for serving our country! And so sorry to hear about your wife. A great plan also! We have been on our R-27 for extended periods of time. You will have no problem with the boat you are contemplating. If going to the Exuma consider bringing plenty of spare water or have a water maker installed.
 
We have been living on our R29 about 4 years now. It works well for the two of us, and as mentioned you can change your view/ neighbours or climate at almost any time, depending on the weather. The advantage you will have over a sail boat is you are up higher in the cabin with big windows. As Baz said there is always the option of selling it later if your life direction changes. I miss having a garage sometimes to work on things, but I do not miss having a dirt house at all.
We did purchase a portable freezer, but other then that we want for nothing. I should add we do have the cockpit enclosed which adds another room for us. We are in the west on Vancouver Island and have the TV back there with a little heater when we sit out to watch TV.
One big question.. Have you boated before? If not charter a boat and make sure it is what you want.. This life is not for everyone..You need to make sure it is for you before you make a large investment.
Good luck and keep us posted on how decide
 
I really appreciate the replies thus far...thank you. I have boated before...only power. One 18 foot bow rider which I towed. The other a 25 foot cabin cruiser and had a nice slip. Both were on rivers which emptied into Long Island Sound...a body of water which, even on a calm day, can be uncomfortable because of the tides and depth. I never owned a sailboat...yet went on a few. Couple of years ago took some lessons and loved it. Now following Video Logs of those sailing the world. Thought about a Catalina 355, 385 or even the 425. It would allow me to explorer blue water territory. But in the end...single handling a boat and getting older (55)...I thought the R31 would probably be a better long term investment. I just have to use it differently and exploit the benefits...shallow draft, speed for out running weather, low bridge clearance, protection and cooling under way, etc.

After 911 I had to get rid of my last boat...I was in the service...I have not owned one since. I think I can’t go wrong with the R31.

Do they hold up well to the Florida sun? I heard not to get the blue plastic trim...and to get white because the blue fades.
 
I think red fades more than blue, but in a hot climate I would definitely go for white. It will keep everything cooler. You should also buff and wax the exterior a couple of times a year to protect the gelcoat.
 
We love our 31, but think small for live aboard. We are in the middle of a two week cruise. I like our Laurene green hull, little fading. Pat made matching curtains for windshield and aft windows. I made foil backed 1/2” insulating board inserts for hatches and windows to keep summer heat out. Stateroom AC great, but salon works hard when it is 95.
 
Just wanted to confirm your initial thoughts on power vs. sail. In the past 4 months we have chartered a 38' Jeanneau and a 31' RT. While it's nice to be able to enjoy the quiet of wind power (and lower fuel costs) here are the tradeoffs as I found them:
- more difficult to single hand the sailboat: always seems there's the need to go forward to untangle sheets or something like a stuck furler. And if you don't have a mainsail reefing system (many Catalinas do not) it's a real chore to do alone. Also, if you want to do any performance sailing you'll need to fly a spinnaker, requiring trained crew.
- inconvenience of going below. It's so much simpler to have everything on one level (ok, I know the 31 RT berth is a step down but it's still much easier than 4-5 steps down into a sailboat cabin).
- in a word, SPEED. I enjoy cruising at around 8 knots but when the weather kicks up the ability to crank on the power and get to shelter can't be beat.
- draft. The Jeanneau we chartered was a shoal keel but we were still restricted in reaching some anchorages. On the other end - - air daft. If you do a lot of sailing in Florida you'll be constantly having to time/wait for bridge openings.
- engine maintenance: raising a set of stairs and sticking your head in a tight compartment vs using a power lift hatch with plenty of room to reach engine components.
That's my two cents - - good luck in boat shopping and your future endeavors.
 
The idea of a sailing option was just allowing me the ability to explore further blue water destinations. To do that in a trawler you need to find a full displacement hull such as a Kadey Krogen. Out of my price range unless I go used. But very nice vessel to live on, Love the Nordic Tugs too...and although roomer, and a boat that could handle more than a Ranger, it too...in my opinion...is still a coastal cruiser except for maybe the 54. So my thoughts on sailing were not as much focused on lower fuel costs as they were on where I can explore. And yes...if I bought a sailboat...it would probably be new, or close to it, with a self reefing type system...all lines heading back to cockpit. I love the Catalina 425 because it’s foresail is on a track that self tacks. All that said...for the reasons many have highlighted...pros still have me leaning towards the Ranger lifestyle.
 
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