So, we bought a boat
In the fall of 2023, my partner, Ian, had just gotten a job in southern Rhode Island and we were getting ready to officially move in together. But as we looked towards the summer, we had a problem. Southern RI is a very touristy area in the summer and so most of the winter rentals became summer homes or AirBnBs in the peak season. This left us very few options, and even less affordable options. So we had to get creative.
Now, we had casually talked about living on a boat in the way couples usually daydream about life. Wouldn’t it be cool and fun and different? After spending time in London, I was enamored with the idea living on a canal boat. Ian is a lifelong sailor and oceanographer and spends a lot of his working time on boats. We’re both chronic Facebook marketplace window shoppers and started looking at boats in the area. Then, we heard that a family friend was selling his sailboat. This particular boat, Ian had been sailing on since he was a kid. Suddenly, the idea became more real.
1. Get your ducks in a row
Before we could commit to buying the boat, we had to figure out the logistics.
We needed to know:
- could we afford it?
- could we get it ready in time?
- where would we put it?
- could we pull this off?
There are a million what if’s and what could be’s. There’s a million reasons to say no. But, we knew we could figure it out. We said yes.
2. If you want it, you have to work for it
We were lucky enough to find a marina with an open slip in a town that was perfect for us. Not too far from work and not too far from our families. Plus, a grocery store we could bike to and one of the best sandwich shops in the country.
At the same time, we had to look at our prospective boat. We spent a day thoroughly examining the ins and outs of the boat. There was a laundry list of cleaning and repairs to make it ready to live-aboard. We knew that beyond the money, there was a larger cost in the form of sweat equity. And all of our weekends. We knew it wouldn’t be easy. But aren’t the things that you need to work for worth it the most?
the repairs list
- deep cleaning and de-mildewing
- repair and seal multiple seacocks
- replace the headliners
- re-caulk the whole deck
- cetol and varnish exposed wood
- replace the broken fridge
- wire electrical with new batteries and outlets
- replace plumbing, hook up hot water tank, and install composing toilet
- replace bilge pumps and batteries
The Repair Process
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
We could never have done this by ourselves. I just want to take a second to thank our family and friends for their support, both emotionally and in lending us a hand. Especially, I want to thank Wayne, for not only selling us the boat, but allowing us to work on it in his barn and use some of his tools. Also, a big thank you to Ian’s dad who did some really critical plumbing and wiring. Finally, thank you to Ian for building a fun and interesting life with me.
4. Go touch grass
People love to say it, but hate that it’s true. Going outside and connecting with nature is so fulfilling for your body and soul. I love to sit and watch the different animals that live in our bay and getting to know the native species in the area. By far, the critters I admire the most are the waterfowl. We have — loons, swallows, seagulls, osprey, egrets, and all sorts of ducks. It’s hard to pick a fave between hooded mergansers and buffleheads. Observing the tide as it ebbs and flows, watch the animals in the bay change throughout the season, noticing the wind direction, and watching sunsets all center me in my body and make me feel more connected to this planet we all live on.
5. Say yes to things (and keep saying yes)
The journey was not easy. From buying the boat in the beginning of February to launching in the beginning of June, we constantly had to work on the boat. Every weekend and many week-nights after work, we had to work on the boat. It’s easy to say yes at the start. But weeks of hands-and-knees work meticulously scraping and sanding and scrubbing will have you asking yourself if it’s still worth it. And over and over, the answer was yes.
Even the goal we were working towards was a leap of faith. It might sound obvious, but living on a boat is not the same as living in a house. Some things work differently. But things being different isn’t bad. And aside from leaving the hatch open during a rainstorm once, basically everything worked out.
More than anything else, this journey reaffirmed that it’s good to say yes. Life is full of twists and turns and sometimes things come up that you would never expect. And sometimes, it turns out to be something you love.
