When I started thinking about living on a sailing catamaran, I really only had the experience of a couple of weeks on charter cats. After several months and countless hours of research, I learned many fascinating things. So what are 20 Steps for a Beginner to Take Before Deciding to Live on a Sailing Catamaran?

The 20 Steps for a Beginner to Take Before Deciding to Live on a Sailing Catamaran are:

• Learn to sail
• Get Certified
• Charter a Sailing Catamaran
• Attend a boat show
• Contact a Catamaran Broker
• Set Your Boat Budget
• Buying new or used?
• Talk to the Bank
• Selling your house?
• Renting your house?
• What to do with your pets?
• Equip for your Lifestyle
• Start out by land
• Work out the kinks
• Create your monthly budget
• Make a list of your boat needs, wants, not important
• Get networked with fellow cruisers
• Learn how to predict the weather
• Attend Cruiser’s University
• Don’t buy the first boat you see
• Do your homework

Learn to Sail

You don’t have to learn to sail before buying your catamaran, but it may shorten your learning curve. One of the best ways to learn to sail is to start with a dinghy sized sailboat at a local club. Take a sailing class to learn the basics. Having a small sailboat is a plus in that they react almost instantly to every maneuver that you perform. Large sailboats may have a 15 to 20 second reaction time. This instant reaction time helps teach you about the wind, sails and how each action that you perform affects the boat.

Get Certified

Getting a certification from an accredited sailing school and/or association will be beneficial in many ways. First, you will learn valuable lessons from experienced sailors that will help you navigate and make decisions when situations arise. Next, your instructor can be a mentor for years to come. Further, being an educated sailor provides confidence that will be much appreciated by your crew when challenges arise. Finally, many insurance companies will require this before they issue a policy on your boat.

Charter a Sailing Catamaran

This is a great opportunity to spend some significant time on a sailboat. Charter a boat that is similar in size and layout to the one you are considering. During your charter, think about living on a boat VS vacationing. What will be important to you as a full time liveaboard? Make good notes. You may find out that you can live in a much smaller size boat than you originally imagined.

Attend a Boat Show (or two or three)

Find a boat show that has boats like the one you want to purchase. This might be a good opportunity to fly out to one of the larger shows like Annapolis or Miami or Cannes which have many different makes, models and layouts. While at the boat show attend some seminars or courses like Cruisers University. Talk to and network with fellow sailors. This is another great opportunity to prepare before you purchase.

Walk on as many boats as possible to learn floor plans, sizes and brands. Attend as many boat shows as possible. Learn about the mechanics of each boat and what the previous owner used it for. Is it set up for the same usage as your plans? If coming out of a Charter, plan what you will need to invest in it to make it ready for you? Look at used boats – not just new boats and boats that fit your budget.

Contact a Broker that Specializes in the Type of Boat you Want

Now that you have done some basic research on your own, have learned the basics of sailing and are on your way to becoming certified, have attended a boat show and walked on and in several different types of boats, have spent a week or two on a charter, you have some basic knowledge and hopefully a direction as to what type of lifestyle you want to live and type of boat you want to have. Now is the time to contact a broker.

When to Contact a Broker

You can do this earlier on in the process, so they can help move you along in your research faster, but I believe that a little time spent preparing yourself will make you ready when the right boat comes along and won’t make you feel pressured into buying before you are ready or having regrets on letting the perfect boat get away. By the way, experienced sailors will tell you that there is no perfect boat. Every boat has its pro’s and con’s which is why the more prepared you are, the better fit you will find.

Set Your Boat Budget

You may already have your budget figured out before contacting a broker. If you are buying new and have attended a boat show or two and already know how you plan to use your boat, then you may already have this one figured out. Keep in mind that when buying new, you will still need to equip the boat with the gear and equipment needed for your lifestyle.

Buying Used?

If you are buying a used boat, there are so many more factors to consider. Look at the age and condition of the many systems on the boat. Have a professional survey completed and be present during the survey so that you can get a face to face explanation of what was found. This is the time to ask the expert specific questions about the boat, its systems and maintenance items. Consider what extras you need to add and what will need to be repaired or upgraded and ask about costs.

How Big of a Catamaran can you Afford?

Whether you are buying new or used, you should have a price range that you are comfortable with. I have heard many stories about cruisers having to cut their journey short because they ran out of money. Picking a little smaller boat, may be better on your pocketbook and stress level. It may also give you a cushion should a costly repair spring up.

The Right Time to Talk to the Bank

If you are planning to finance your boat purchase, ask your broker to put you in touch with a few lenders. Call them before you find your boat. Ask them about the programs they offer. Pay close attention to any limitations. Some lenders will only lend on newer boats that are 10 years old or newer. Understanding the interest rate, down payment requirement and any lender specific qualifications may lead to in a certain direction towards a certain type or age of boat. This is good to know ahead of time before you spend money on a survey only to find out, you can’t get it financed.

Sell Your House?

What is your timeline for living on a boat? For most people it is a limited timeframe. It isn’t a forever home or plane. My plan is to circumnavigate the globe. I think this will take us two years. So for us, we need to think about what will we be doing in two years? Where will be want to live in two years? Do we want to go back to the community that we left or forge ahead to new, unexplored places? Those questions plus your finances will help you to determine if you should sell your home or keep it.

Keep Your House?

Perhaps you love your home, neighborhood and community and want to keep your house. Then you need to think about renting out your house. Will you do an Air Bnb or VRBO type rental or go more for longer term renters? What will you do with you possessions if you sell your home? Is your home ready to sell? Is your home ready to rent? How much rent can you expect? Can you live off of the rent money that you house will take in after you pay the rental agent and expenses?

What To Do With Your Pets?

Do you have pets? If so, can you bring them on board? Do you want to bring them on board? If you are leaving your home country, will you be allowed to bring the pets into your destination country or countries? What documentation will you need to bring your pets into a new country? Are your pets worth bringing on board? These are just some of the questions and consideration for you to think about when planning for pets on your catamaran.

Equipping Your Boat for Your Lifestyle

When choosing a boat, you will need to equip it for your lifestyle and plans. If you are going to live in marinas in warm, tropical weather, then you will certainly need air-conditioning. If you are going to circumnavigate, then you must have a water maker, good navigation equipment, and safety gear. If you are planning to spend a lot of time at anchor, then you’ll want to have a good solar set-up that will be able to run your refrigerator(s) and freezer(s). If you are doing a crossing, make sure you have enough refrigeration. Back-up systems for the critical components may be important as well.

Start Out By Land

Plan your first 6 months near land and take short trips until you get used to the boat. Spending time near land when you first move aboard gives you the opportunity to learn your boat and learn about living on your boat. Take note of how much food you go through in a week. Make good notes and think about where you are planning to travel so you can think about how you are going to provision the boat.

Working out the Kinks

Use this time to work out any problems with the boat and to really get to know your boat from sailing to motoring to anchoring. If you are planning on spending a lot of time at anchor, then take some overnights away from marinas out at anchor. Learn about how your solar system works and what you can and can’t run off of it. Will you need to run your generators every day for a time or do you have enough solar to power your critical components. Can you live without air-conditioning? In the marina, you are on shore power, but this is a good test of your systems and your usage of those systems. How much water do you use? Test how long you can go on a tank of water. Will your water maker run off of the solar or do you need to run the generator to make water?

Creating Your Monthly Budget

Create a monthly budget that you can live with. The items in the budget may need to change once you go from theory to reality and as you move around, but stick to the numbers as closely as possible. If you are starting in the US, then moving off shore, it is best to provision as heavily as possible before you leave. Items in the US are most often priced better than in the Bahamas, BVI’s or elsewhere in the Caribbean and you may not always be able to find the same items you are used to. Make sure to plan your food items, fuel for both the boat and the dinghy, restaurants (if you plan to eat out), misc. items and don’t forget boat repairs (plan on 5% to 10% of the cost of the boat per year).

Create Your List of Needs, Wants & Not Important

When deciding on a boat, create a list of needs, wants and things that are not important to you. You might also leave room on the bottom of your list for things you don’t want and to make comments about each boat. This one is an important step when buying a boat.

There is NO Perfect Boat!

As I mentioned previously there is no perfect boat. You will need to look at each boat and what it offers. One boat may sail lighter and faster, but have limitations as to how much provisions and items you have on board (lighter boats typically equal less cargo). Another boat may have the perfect floor plan, but may need lots of work, etc. Make a list with columns. One column will have the item or feature, the next will have need, then want, then not important. Think about all of the features of a boat and write them down or enter them into an Excel spreadsheet. Now put an “x” in the column of where that item falls on you list of needs, wants or not important. With every boat that you look at, use this list to help you to evaluate it.

Get Networked with Fellow Cruisers

Join a cruiser network or start out in popular cruising destinations. Meet, socialize and ask questions to experienced cruisers. Cruising can be lonely, if you want it to be, but from I have learned, cruisers are some of the most friendly and outgoing people you will ever meet. Every cruiser has a common purpose – cruising. Every cruiser has challenges that face every day. This gives commonality which makes it much easier to meet, approach and talk to fellow cruisers.

Finding Cruiser Networks

Beyond approaching cruisers in marinas or in your dinghy at anchor, there are many cruiser networks. Some are on-line or in social media, some are in the form of organized rallies where you sail together in pre-planned, mapped out routes and locations. You can find some of these clubs by simply doing a google search. Boat shows are fantastic ways to build your network. Asking fellow cruisers that you meet at the shows or elsewhere what social networks they belong to is another excellent way to find groups with similar interests as you.

Different Strokes for Different Folks

Even within the cruising network, there are many different types of people with different interests and in different stages of their lives. This is one thing that makes cruising so cool. It appeals to different groups of people. Cruisers with kids may have different networks than those that are single looking for more of a party atmosphere. Keep looking until you find your network or networks.

Learn all about weather and how to avoid bad weather.

The weather may be the single, most important influencer on a sailor’s life other than maintaining your boat. On land, the weather is important so we know if we need to take an umbrella with us to keep dry when we run from our car to the grocery store or a restaurant. At sea, bad weather can not only be an inconvenience it may be the difference between life and death.

Predicting the Weather

Learning to read weather patterns and learning how to use tools like Predict Wind, allows cruisers to pick and choose which days they will sail, what distance they plan on sailing, and may even determine the route they take. Knowing present and future wind directions are helpful when choosing a protected anchorage. What starts out as the leeward side of an island may quickly change to win-ward and a rough, uncomfortable anchorage. Cruisers University has an intensive class on weather.

Attend Cruisers University

Cruisers University and other seminars like it provide useful information on a variety of topics for cruisers by cruisers. There is nothing better than experience and the speakers at these courses bring their experiences to you.

Seminars that are offered include (this is a partial list):

• Diesel Engine Maintenance,
• Marine Weather Forecasting,
• Marine Electrical Systems,
• Sewing for Sailor,
• Anchoring For a Good Night’s Sleep
• Bahamas Bound – Cruising the Abacos
• Cruising and Living in Hurricane Latitudes
• The Chesapeake to the Caribbean
• Cruising on a Budget; Silver, Gold Platinum
• Docking and Line Handling for Couples
• The Efficient Boat Fridge
• Electrical Systems – Understanding and Troubleshooting
• Great Products You Need to Know About
• Heavy Weather Sailing
• Maintaining Your Boat Above and Below the Waterline
• Maintaining Your Diesel Engine 101
• Moving Your Business Abroad
• Managing the ICW; North to South
• Offshore Energy Management & Design
• Off Shore Rigging and Sails – When Things Go Wrong
• OMG I Bought a Boat – Now What?
• Plugged In – Power Cord Safety
• Provisioning – From List to Last Bite
• Route Planning
• Safety at Sea

Don’t Buy the First Boat You See!

Remember the old saying about there being many fish in the sea? Well, the same holds true for boats. There are many boats for sale. In order to know what is available to you, you really need to see several boats before making your decision. Before finalizing your purchase, you will be paying for a survey which includes a haul out. This will be costly so be choosy. Also, just because you spent several thousand dollars on the survey, don’t be afraid to walk away if you aren’t comfortable with the boat and what the survey found. Use your list of needs, wants and not important to help you. Do your homework. Afterall, you will be spending a lot of time on your boat. It needs to fit you and your lifestyle.

What Makes a Living on a Catamaran Different Than Other Boats?

Living on a sailing catamaran is like many other boats except that the width of a catamaran makes it more comfortable and stable under most conditions. Living on a cat is also different than most monohull’s because the living areas (with the exception of the state rooms and heads), like the salon and galley, are up at the same level as the cockpit which allows for more openness and easier to go from in to out. Finally, the living area is much larger per linear foot than a monohull.

Do Your Homework!

This post can’t possibly cover everything you need to know, but is intended to invoke thought and questions to help provide insight into some of the topics that one should think about and research before deciding to live full time on a sailing catamaran. The one, common theme in this post is that you need to do your homework before you buy and before you decide to buy and before you decide to live on your catamaran. If you do so, you can enjoy your time cruising and will have increased the odds of loving it. Happy Sailing!