There are life choices that represent true “sliding doors.” Among these is the decision to live on a boat, a dream for many sea lovers. This thought is often represented by the idea of taking the classic world tour or, more simply, by the desire to live in faraway and dreamlike places, where summer never ends.
In reality, there are many varied ways to live on a boat, because the boat itself offers numerous solutions suitable for any need. Moreover, living on a boat is not always and only an extreme choice: it can also be a well-thought-out and considered decision, with few drawbacks and many advantages.
Basically, however, it is a choice driven by the love for this lifestyle which, normally relegated to weekends or summer vacations, sparks the desire to live aboard one’s own boat permanently throughout the year. But let’s look together at four ways of living on a boat.
ESTABLISHING RESIDENCY ON A BOAT
In many countries around the world, including Italy, establishing residency on a boat is not only permitted but also very simple.
Article 43 of the Civil Code clearly states: –A person’s domicile is in the place where they have established the main seat of their business and interests. The residence is in the place where the person has their habitual abode . It follows, therefore, that it will be sufficient to indicate to the municipality that we have chosen our address, complete with dock number and berth, and no one can deny us this right. Thus, the principles of localization are also fulfilled, those that politically and socially bind us to a territory and that give rise to the many fundamental rights that each nation ensures differently to its inhabitants. If we decided to change states, the immigration laws regulating residence changes for those living in conventional housing would equally apply.
LIVING ON A BOAT WITHOUT SETTING SAIL
Assuming that if you live and work in a seaside city, everything is really very simple, identical to changing apartments; what will change are the sunrises and sunsets which, seen from your own boat, whether sail or motor, are always exciting and incomparable.
The scents will also change, and breathing will be easier without the pollution that cities force upon us. Moreover, those who suffer from allergies or respiratory problems find great relief in life on the water. Certainly, the spaces are very different from those of a domestic environment, but if you are reading these lines, then living on a boat for you is synonymous with freedom, and the spaces you seek are those you can embrace with your sight.
For those who make this choice, it will mean selling the furniture, completely useless on board, and getting rid of a whole series of costs associated with their conventional home that, in whole or in part, can offset the cost of regular mooring. Smart working, where applicable, offers other important moments of quality life that, especially in this period, are extremely precious.
LIVING ON A BOAT AND SAILING FOR LONG PERIODS
The strong desire to sail is the driving force behind this choice, pursued by an increasing number of boaters each year, who see in the ability to best organize their work, or in the ability to take long vacations, the fulfillment of their dream: the ocean crossing.
This option is so widespread that every year the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers registers an ever-increasing number of participants. In 2019, as many as 1,200 people, aboard hundreds of boats, traveled the Gran Canaria-Santa Lucia route and fulfilled their dream.
Participants cross the Atlantic Ocean, taking on average 3 or 4 weeks, taking advantage of the safety that the well-tested organization offers and thus arrive in the Caribbean, a place where some then stay for long periods. Living on a boat in these places is obviously wonderful and, if you don’t choose only five-star marinas, it is also decidedly more economical than its Mediterranean equivalent.
Many then choose to stay at anchorage. There are indeed numerous safe shelters that, even in bad weather, offer unparalleled comfort and beauty.
Numerous, moreover, are the boats that have chosen the Caribbean to spend the quarantine period: the boat is undoubtedly the ideal place, certainly the safest, to stay protected from the pandemic.
LEAVING EVERYTHING BEHIND AND CASTING OFF FOREVER
And here is the most extreme choice, but not for that reason utopian. In this case, too, there are many people who have chosen to live on a boat, sailing around the world.
Very often they are owners who have sold their businesses or are retired, and have decided to take the big leap, the radical life change long awaited for years. Other times they are owners who sail around the world, who spend very little and offer cabin charters or daily boat trips. An intelligent way to secure a source of income that helps them balance the books.
But all the people who choose to live on a boat, and who identify with any of the four options we have proposed, have a great common love: that for the sea, boats, and sailing.
FAQs about living on a boat
Is it possible to live permanently on a boat all year round?
Yes, but it requires organization: you need to manage weather, supplies, and maintenance with greater care than life on land.
What are the main difficulties of living on a boat?
Limited space, water and energy management, and the need for constant maintenance are among the most challenging aspects.
Are special permits needed to live on a boat?
It depends on the location: some marinas allow it, while in other cases there are specific limitations or regulations to follow. It is therefore best to ask the marina or the ports where you intend to stay directly!
How important is self-sufficiency on board?
It is essential: knowing how to manage energy autonomy, water, and minor repairs makes life on board much simpler and safer. Obviously, everything becomes easier when you moor in a berth that provides electricity and fresh water pedestals on the dock.
Is living on a boat suitable for everyone?
Not always: it is a choice that requires adaptability, a practical spirit, and a good ability to deal with the unexpected.