LIVEABOARD MONOHULL SAILBOATS
It's pretty obvious from my website that sailboats are my favorite choice for life afloat.
Even though a sailboat doesn't have as much interior room as a trawler, houseboat or typical power boat, I like to sail.
I like being able to use the wind to get from Point A to Point B and I like the sound of halyards slapping against the mast when I'm in an anchorage or mooring field or marina on a windy night.
Sometimes in marinas a neighbor or dockmaster will complain about the clanging halyards and I'll have to tie them down. Otherwise the sound is as appealing to me as church bells might be for others.
Most sailboats can be lived aboard with enough comfort that they can be considered to be liveaboard sailboats. Some are better than others, and here are a few of my favorites.
MONOHULL SAILBOATS
I have loved sailing since my boyhood days and would live on a sailboat no matter its disadvantages. I just feel right aboard a sailing vessel. If you like sailboats too, you have a lot of choices.
As the name implies, these boats have a single hull. They usually have a fairly deep keel or centerboard that limits the places you can liveaboard. You will usually have to forego shallow marinas or moorings.
Space is also a problem. Sailboats have pointy ends, the forward one known as the bow, and the sides of the hull are curved. This presents a problem for headroom and storage space.
The mast height also limits you to marinas that are not constrained by low overhead bridges.
The cutter rigged monohull sailboat above was in Pier 66 Marina in Fort Lauderdale when this photo was taken. It would be a comfy and spacious liveaboard. The large pilot house with abundant glass means plenty of light below and good headroom.
Another example of this type of sailboat is the CSY-33. Although it's no longer in production, a good used one can be an ideal liveaboard. These types of boats - pilothouse sloops or cutters - are very comfortable homes afloat.
Don't let budget or size discourage you from living aboard. Many people have lived aboard the Flicka, a twenty foot long sailboat formerly manufactured by Pacific Seacraft.
SOME OF OUR FAVORITE LIVEABOARD MONOHULL SAILBOATS
1. The Pacific Seacraft Flicka
A Flicka may be one of the smallest boats that I could consider a liveaboard. Plenty of people would agree.
The Pacific Seacraft Flicka is only 20 feet long on deck, and is almost the same length on the waterline. It has tremendous room below for such a small boat and has served as a liveaboard home for many people.
The Flicka has even made several Atlantic and Pacific crossings and circumnavigated the globe. This small boat proves you don't need a big boat to live aboard.
The designer of the Flicka, Bruce Bingham, lived aboard with his then companion, naval architect Katy Burke for many years. They made it their full time home and cruised extensively.
2. The Island Packet 27
An Island Packet of any size makes a wonderful liveaboard sailboat. They are extremely well built and beamy and offer a lot of room below.
The entry level Island Packet for many years was the IP26, and it was superseded in following years by the IP27. Island Packet no longer makes these boats; they have moved into larger and larger sailboats over the years.
Good used IP26s and IP27s are available on the used market for prices in the range of $35K to $45K. These are among the few Cadillacs of American sailboats.
3. Nonsuch 30 Ultra
The Nonsuch 30 has an amazing amount of room below because it is rigged as a catboat with the mast stepped far forward in the bow.
The boat is no longer manufactured. It was made in Canada in the years 1978 to 1995. More than 500 of the 30 foot model were manufactured.
I first saw one at the Miami International Boat Show in 1980 and fell in instant love. Not only is the boat solid and well made, it has a very liveable interior and even includes a separate shower. The Ultra model, shown in this floor plan, has a pullman berth on the port side forward and an amazing amount of hanging locker space.
The simple sailing rig means that even an old sailor can single hand this beautiful craft.
The very active International Nonsuch Association has a website where you can learn a lot about the boat.
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By Mike Miller, Copyright 2012-2023 Living-Aboard.com