There is a lot to learn when it comes to sailboats. There are so many options and a lot of vocabulary to wrap your brain around. After over a year of planning for this move, I spent about a month looking at different boats in Washington. I shared the process with my Patreon community and if you’d like to see more, you can sign up here.

I had loved a pilot house boat at one point of this journey, a Beneteau 32 but the engine was an older Perkins with an oil leak (which is apparently common for that engine), and that particular living space really wasn’t practical for my lifestyle. 

So, I narrowed it down to a pilot house boat. Why a pilot house? I love all the light. Sailboats can be dark, wet, dingy little things, but a pilot house is more open. Plus, with the second inside wheel, I can motor and go places comfortably when it’s wet or cold outside. 

What else was on my wish list? I wanted a diesel engine of the better-known brands so Yanmar or Universal were on my radar. I did include decent sails and rigging on my list, but if I decide to do proper cruising, I will likely have to upgrade those items on any boat in my current price range. Storage space was also a key factor. I need plenty of water and fuel storage, but also space for all my dive gear. My ultimate goal is to have a compressor and tanks onboard, so I had my measuring tape with each boat viewing to see if a future compressor would fit. Other things like solar, a heater, hot water, a converted ice box refrigerator, would be icing on the cake, but things I can eventually put on my future boat myself.

As I put this list together on paper, I realized… there was a boat for sale that checked multiple boxes. I finally booked time to see her.

Getting out on the water on this boat was pure bliss. She handled quite well for a full-keeled, heavy boat and when we got the sails up, she cruised. The wind wasn’t blowing much but we were maintaining a 5 knot speed all the way to Bainbridge Island.

It was the first time I felt like a boat could be my home, but the price tag was scary. I don’t spend money and I have a lot of fears around financial insecurity so I went to my contacts. I reached out to everyone I know, sending pictures/videos, and asking questions. I reached out to every surveyor I had in my contact list. No one was free for weeks and it felt like this boat would be gone by then so… I decided not to do a survey. And before you run to the comments to scorn me for my reckless decision. I know. I’ve beaten myself up more than you can even imagine.

But it’s my lesson to learn and I’m hoping it won’t be an apocalyptic meltdown. In my defense, I’m not alone. I know several people who didn’t do a survey at my price point (which is under 20k), but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Surveys are the standard because you hire a professional to check out the boat and tell you its defects so you can make an educated offer. The surveys usually cost a couple grand (at least in this area) because you pull the boat out of the water to inspect the hull and the surveyor joins the sea trial to see everything in action.

As for other details with buying, I confirmed with the marina that the boat slip was transferable and that I could use it as a liveaboard. This is the most challenging thing to find in busy boating areas. There are limits to how many people can live at the marinas so many places have a waitlist that could take anywhere from 6 months to several years before you get to the top. I got lucky and was able to move into mine straight away.

Also, once the sale goes through, you have to process it through the DMV, pay taxes, and get boat insurance. I found that some insurance companies wouldn’t insure a boat over 40 years old because I was a new customer. However, I was able to find companies that would… whether or not they’ll be helpful when I am in trouble will be the real test. Some places, like Washington, also require a boater’s license. It isn’t challenging to get, and honestly feels wildly illegal that someone who takes an online course can just take a boat out on the water.

I got some sage advice from another boat owner who said, “Focus on one system at a time.” There’s a lot going on in boats. They are way more complicated than vans, and if you dive into everything all at once, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the amount of information you don’t know. So, I had the issue of the water leak. That was the first system I learned.

Except for my level 10 panic attack and total conviction that the boat was sinking on day 2 of ownership, I’ve maintained that focus on what’s right in front of me.

Sidenote: All my respect to people who do woodwork. Varnishing is hard. My boat in Indonesia was all wood and the crew kept it in beautiful shiny shape. I always knew it was hard work, but varnishing this little bit of bright work on the deck gave me a deeper appreciation for my old crew who took such great care of Asmara.

In recovery, we talk about being aware of where our feet are and just focusing on the next step, left foot, right foot, and that’s how things have been going. My to-do list grows by the day and the financial stress becomes more and more real, but I remind myself that I don’t have to do all of this by the end of the week. I’m planning to take months to get her ready while I learn how to actually do this cruising life. I’m not in a rush.

And with that information, you have probably guessed, my van Ariel isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. We will still go on adventures, although maybe no overnighters this winter since she doesn’t have a heater. I will only sell her when I’m ready to leave my marina for good.

In the meantime, it’s good to have a home base. I’ve tried to be really honest with you about all of the ups and downs of the nomadic lifestyle. I can’t even begin to explain how nice it is to have a place on the water where my van is allowed in the parking lot. You know what it is? It’s safety. Eliminating the stress of moving around and people telling me I can’t park places is priceless.

There will be so much more coming to the channel in the next year and I can’t wait to share it all with you.

See what trips are coming up. I always give my community first dibs on spots, so you can sign up for Patreon (and get trip discounts) or my email list to be the first to know about new expeditions in the future.