Liveaboard, who had the smallest for a year?

Thought it might be interesting to see who suffered the most (LOL) living on their boat for at least a year on the smallest boat. I'm sure we're talking minimalist!

What boat was it?

Was the design modified? How did you prep the boat?

Was it a dock queen or did you go out?

 

I lived aboard my 18' 6" Cape Dory Typhoon for a year. I sailed (and rowed/paddled ...no engine) it from the factory in Tiverton, RI to Fl and the Bahamas.

Underway I didn't consider it suffering at all; in anchorages the cockpit was the primary living space. It was less satisfactory in marinas, so I mostly avoided them. I sold it and bought a 27' Vega that I lived aboard for the following 10 years.

 

Both are classics!

Evidently the first poster is the winner of the smallest boat as a primary address.

I read about some guy who was living in a canoe under a bridge and officials couldn't run him off since he was on a moored vessel. Had he pitched his tent on land under that bridge he would have been hauled off. Obviously a situation out of necessity where wit prevailed over the "establishment".

Economics is not always the determining factor to select a small liveaboard, simplicity has many virtues, a smaller boat may provide more freedom than the responsibilities of a large yacht.

I think I'm getting too old to attempt to change lifestyles on a small boat, I should have done it early on when "things" weren't so important to accumulate and hold. A year is a long time too.

 

Two Canadian friends of mine cruised for three years in a 14' Peephen. It was the smallest yacht to be admitted into the CCA. The boat was lost in a storm off Panama, but they were ashore. I also knew a family of seven who lived on a 21' Rhodes. Not small people, and only two small children. The adult children had been born and raised on the boat. I bought a Cal 28 off a family of six, who had upgraded to a Morgan 34.

 

That is incredible, 14 feet, a peephen!

7 living in 21', that's just 3' for each one! Guess the 2 kids were at the bow LOL.

And 6 on a 34 isn't really comforting either. I guess they take turns being on board somewhat.

Makes my canoe seem like a yacht!

 

Steven Ladd beats you all: Three years in a 12 ft boat.

I read the book, and later I have met him and seen his boat, tiny sleeping "pod", with open cockpit. Not my idea of a vacation, but a very interesting read.

https://www.amazon.com/Three-Years-Twelve-Foot-Boat-Stephen/dp/0966933737

 

Then, there is another book by Serge Testa, 500 days Around the world on a 12 foot yacht.

Weren't some "Around in Ten" boats lost, were they all found or could someone still be bobbing out there for over a year living off fish?

To me, liveaboard is more to a person's choice of living on a boat for intrinsic values, perhaps to live more frugal, not as a requirement for an adventure cruise to prove a point or set some record. Seems like the motivation is different, but granted, they must have been living on or in the boat.

 

Wow, and I thought my 25 ft Folkboat was a small live aboard.