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living aboard a c-25

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southern cross
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/23/2006 : 12:47:11

has anyone in the forum actually lived aboard their c-25. Maybe not out in the open water but docked at a marina. i was wondering if they had, what they thought about it and if it was actually comfortable. If I do not sell her sometime soon, I am seriously thinking about it.

Pura Vida,
Zach

This is picture from my marina. it is hard to pass this view up everyday

southern cross 1982 C-25
TR FK #2867

Edited by - southern cross on 02/24/2006 10:38:01

DaveC25
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2006 : 13:25:24

I've stayed on her for two days before, and that is enough to make me know I wouldn't want to do it permanently if I had to work everyday or whatever. But if I was retired it might not be too bad.

It's sort of like camping... enough space to exist but not enough for extra stuff that would make it nice.

-DaveC25

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2006 : 13:27:59

If I was a shorter fella (I'm already pretty short) it wouldn't be so bad. But living in the constant hunched position for long periods of time would drive me insane.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2006 : 13:39:48

A fellow at our club stayed in one for close to six months. The boat really evolved over that time and looked more like a gypsy wagon by the time the weather drove him out. I stay days at a time on mine but my Yacht Club is a nice place due to free electricity for my air conditioning and refrigerator, and the clubhouse with a kitchen, and shower facilities. I think I could go a couple months but man one would really become the personification of a minimalist.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2006 : 15:11:49

Zach,

I cruised on my C-25 for a month a few years ago. Like Frank said, it's a minimalist existance, even with lots of livability upgrades. A weekend or even a week at a time is no problem at all.

Before you jump into the live aboard lifestyle, I suggest you do a lot of research. In particular, visit live aboard marinas, talk to some folks living on small boats, and see what it's like.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

southern cross
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2006 : 15:32:10

I appreciate the feedback. My marina does have nice facilities and there is the Rusty Rudder bar and grill at the marina not to mention the fact that my marina is a pretty active place. But the things that you guys have said so far are exactly what I thought I would hear. If I do move onboard it would be for 6 months maybe a year but i do not know if I can handle such a small place (as nice as it may be: new cushions and all)

Pura Vida
Zach

Edited by - southern cross on 02/23/2006 15:32:44

Cloudveil
1st Mate

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USA
60 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2006 : 17:23:47

Living aboard? Zach, I lived on my C&C 48 for three years - two years cruising, and one year in a slip. Laundry, hauling groceries,
etc., plus, everything on a boat is damp eventually. Storage becomes
a problem, especially on a 25' boat. basically, you would be
camping with limited facilities and comfort, but people do it.
Good luck whatever you do - John
C25 5973 Uzumati

Edited by - on

southern cross
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2006 : 17:37:05

Thanks for the input John. My situation, unfortunately is one of divorce. It's either sell the boat and get an 1 bedroom apartment for $800 a month or live on the boat for free for a few months until things simmer down. I'm just trying to make a smart financial decision and plus I hate to get rid of such an awesome boat.

Sorry for the Dr. Phil edition

Pura Vida
Zach

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2006 : 18:01:24

I stay aboard the boat about 1 night per week and also took a 3 week voyage this summer, 2 weeks last summer. My boat is highly modified inside to make it more comfortable and more liveable. However, no way is this boat suitable for any kind of long term living aboard.

No storage
No headroom
No place to keep clothes
No refridigerator
Terribly cramped cooking environment - even with the pop-top up,
not very comfortable.

We had a guy on our dock basically illegally live aboard a C25 all last summer. He was pretty miserable and bought an RV as soon as it started getting cold.

Edited by - on

DaveC25
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2006 : 06:52:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by southern cross
 Thanks for the input John. My situation, unfortunately is one of divorce. It's either sell the boat and get an 1 bedroom apartment for $800 a month or live on the boat for free for a few months until things simmer down. I'm just trying to make a smart financial decision and plus I hate to get rid of such an awesome boat.

Sorry for the Dr. Phil edition

Pura Vida
Zach
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

If your situation is that you don't want to spend the money for the boat slip and the apartment, you might consider tying her to a mooring or even investing in a few good anchors and a dinghy and just anchor her off somewhere that's accessible by dinghy until things settle down. Or even put her in dry storage in a boat yard until things settle. A marina slip is the most expensive storage usually.

-DaveC25

PS: Mine is on a trailer beside my house so it's free storage, but there is a storage facility down the road (typical rent-a-unit place) that offers trailer parking for $75 a month for a 30' trailer.

Edited by - on

Chip Hunt
Navigator

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120 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2006 : 10:40:35

The guy I bought mine from lived on it for 9 months during his divorce. I think it affected him mentally. My wife and I spent 4 days on it about 3 years ago during a circumnavigation of James, Morris, and Folly Islands. The trip was in early March, and the temperature never got above 50. Everything was fine during the day, but at night we had problems. Due to the warmth inside the boat and the colder temps outside, we had terrible problems with condensation. Everything was litterally dripping wet. Drove us both nuts.

Edited by - on

takokichi
Captain

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USA
321 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2006 : 15:34:54

I lived on tako kichi for a while here in Maine. Spring and summer - not in the winter! Its a place to sleep. What more do you really need? I lived on a mooring or anchor most of that time. No problem.

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2006 : 07:59:05

Zach,

My only input is a remembrance of the family of five(with a dog even)that sailed five months on their c-25. They survived to write about it, but I don't remember hearing of their second trip.

After my divorce I spent a couple of nights on an eighteen foot Newport till I got things sorted out. A c-25 would have been luxurious by comparison.

I wish you well

Val on the hard DAGNABIT # 3936 Patchogue,N.Y.

Edited by - on

coach
Navigator

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USA
231 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2006 : 23:15:42

We stayed on ours every weekend from late April to the middle of October. Last summer, I stayed on her with my oldest daughter almost the entire summer that she was out of school. To make it more comfortable and livable. We added a refrig, a television and a microwave. The two of us had no problem staying in it all summer. But, when my wife and other daughter came up..more than 2 nights with all of us was too much. We kept the pop top up the entire time unless we were out sailing. Between it and the tarp that went over the boom to make additional space with the pop top up, it worked very very well.

There are many people who stay on their 25s at our club. Every weekend, both nights they are there and nobody ever seems to complain about it.

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2006 : 12:45:15

Been there done that. Stayed on an O'day 22 most of one year during divorce. Saved a bundle. Went to work very early in the a.m. opening office at 5:30 and off around 1:00. Usually went sailing in the afternoons, to bed when the sun went down. Had a schedule of Movies & Ice skating a few times a week, so didn't spend much time hanging out at the boat. It was a fun experience, but a bit cramped and clammy at times, plus some skeeters at night. Doable in a pinch.

Edited by - on

panhead1948
Captain

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345 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2006 : 14:18:19

I had a friend that lined on his O'Day 23 most of the summer and all winter. He drove truck so was only home on the weekends. I would do everything I could to keep the boat even if it meant putting it in storage. When everything settles down you are going to want that boat as a place to help you keep your sanity.

Edited by - on

John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2006 : 17:45:02

It's funny that this comes up. I am on the verge of moving in with my GF, if we can find a larger apt or a house. I will be on the road, living out of hotels for the next 6 months. So, I am seriously thinking of dumping my apartment early (no lease) and putting most of my stuff in storage, then when spring hits, I will spend the weekend either at my GF's or on my boat.

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2006 : 18:42:21

One of the guys on my dock lived a year in a C38. He thought it was a 'big' boat to live on...until he'd been there all winter. Kept accumulating things and said he really missed having people around. Got very lonely being the only one there day after day, all winter long.

Edited by - on

southern cross
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2006 : 18:43:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by panhead1948
 I had a friend that lined on his O'Day 23 most of the summer and all winter. He drove truck so was only home on the weekends. I would do everything I could to keep the boat even if it meant putting it in storage. When everything settles down you are going to want that boat as a place to help you keep your sanity.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Panhead-
I completely agree with you about keeping the boat my hands literally tied at this point. Don't worry, I already have my ayes on a 1986 C-25 at my marina that the owner will be selling around August. I will ahve to do those many things that we all have to do to make the boat our own, but isn't that what we are all in it for after all.
Pura Vida,
Zach

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2006 : 19:09:51

The guy I bought my half of the Wasp from lived aboard during/after a divorce for almost a year. He was a pilot, so he would only be in town for a few days at a time, then out for a bunch. Off for a week on for three or something close to that.

He was short guy, so the low clearance wasn't a problem, plus he borrowed a cold plate for the fridge and the club he was at had nice showers and heads.

I think he ate out every night - The head became a standing locker area and the Quarterberth was a closet of sorts. If I recall he had a carry on forward hatch A/C unit that he kept in the dock box when he wasn't around.

The boat never looked cleaner those years - he was anal and kept up on everything.

Edited by - on

southern cross
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2006 : 19:20:41

Screw it guys-
I think I am going to sell the c-25, the house and the rental property and just buy one BIG sailboat and live on it period. Maybe a 35 footer (definately something with a/c and heat and pressurized hot and cold water). Found a Catalina in Oriental, NC for right at 99k a 2005 Catalina. WHY NOT, RIGHT

Pura Vida,
Zach

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2006 : 21:49:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Screw it guys- ... WHY NOT, RIGHT<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Life is short, death long, the future uncertain. Live now. I would guess more people look back in regret upon the things they didn't do than on those they did.

-- Leon Sisson

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2006 : 22:11:09

That would really depend upon who or what "IT" is.

If you can sport 99k - go for it. Around here it would get pretty ugly climbing down a ladder in January after shoveling the cockpit. And heading off to work.

If your climate allows it, go for it. Why don't you try it in the 25, if it's too small start shopping. That way you can start saving your current mortgage for the downpayment

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 02/27/2006 : 22:20:40

Living on a boat, all by yourself.
Sounds good to me.
I'd live on the 25 until the bigger one became a reality.
After my divorce, one of the first things I did was buy a boat.
It all seems part of the same plan.
And don't forget to buy a sports car or a big honkin truck.
Not that I want to poke any fun at what may be a miserable time in your life, but having been there I'd have to say. Make the best of it.

Edited by - on

John V.
Admiral

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USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2006 : 09:17:07

One of my more cynical collegues says that the 3 best things about teaching are June July and August. Though I love my work I also love my summer off. I spent 7 weeks of last summer living aboard. my wife doesn't like to sail, my kids are growing up and have their own activities so it's just me and the boat, with various crews rotating through. Being 5'5" the C25 is a pretty good fit for one person. If I were ever to live aboard for longer I think I would go with a larger boat also. good luck Zach, I hope you find the right boat. BTW I get better sleep on board than just about anywhere else.

Edited by - John V. on 03/01/2006 07:16:33

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2006 : 10:29:20

Right on Mike... when I was in the throws of divorce proceedings and totally unnerved someone told me that time will settle all things, just wait it out. Try and enjoy your new freedom.

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