Week of: Friday, September 10, 2004 |
| Front | News | Opinion | Obituaries | Calendar | Real Estate | Subscribe | Classifieds | Archives |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
by Alessandra Selgi-Harrigan
Except you are really not going on a trip, a boat will be your new house. "You can't be wrapped up with possessions," said Ken McGlashan who lives on a Peterson 44 sailboat at the Coronado Yacht Club. It's his second time around living this lifestyle. The first time was in the 90s. Marinas and yacht clubs today provide conveniences that make boaters feel more at home on a boat: cable and satellite connection, phone lines, electricity and water. There are challenges to overcome, but many advantages to living on a boat namely having a more relaxed lifestyle. You can have your morning coffee on deck, take in the views, watch the birds, and feel the breeze while the boat gently rocks. Dutch and Peggy Swagemakers and their dog Arabella, 8, an old English sheep dog have been living on a Cheoy Lee 58, a powerboat designed after a fishing trawler for a couple of months at the Coronado Yacht Club. The couple loves the new arrangement. "After living here for 2 months I don't know if I want to go back to [the house on J Avenue] with dogs barking and leaf blowers," said Peggy Swagemakers as she pointed out the view of the golf course and the breeze. "We feel [the boat] is like a condo." The Swagemakers have a washer and dryer on board, their boat sleeps 10 and has 2 heads [bathroom] one with a bathtub. The Choey Lee has a lot of space both inside and out with a beautiful deck with wrap around seating complete with pillows. (This floating house was owned at one time by Fess Parker, star of the 1960s TV series "Daniel Boone.") Powerboats have more room because of their engines's design that push through the water compared to sailboats that need to be skinny on the sides, and that means less living space, explained McGlashan. Sleeping on boat is very soothing with the gentle rocking of the water and fresh air. "It's the best sleeping you can have," said McGlashan. His sailboat has two births [sleeping quarters] and two heads. Cooking is another story. His galley [kitchen] has room for only one person at a a time. His girlfriend calls it "a one butt kitchen" so the couple does a lot of cooking outdoor on the barbeque. There is a lot of camaraderie among boaters. "It's a nice social aspect being here on a regular basis, close to people who think the same way you do," explained McGlashan. "But you have to have the right mindset, and simplify your life." He knows of a couple who lived on a boat, but the wife needed more room for her clothes so they ended up getting a bigger boat. People of all ages live on boats including families with children. It's difficult for young children, but teenagers enjoy it more. "If kids get bored they jump in the water, go fishing, take the dinghy around the corner," said McGlashan. Boat owners who live onboard have a holding tank for their waste and get a pump out service to go to their boat on a regular basis. A special type of toilet paper is available that dissolves more easily. Live aboards provide extra security because they watch out for other boat owners. If a storm or bad weather is coming they are the first to notice a neighbor's boat is not properly secured and tie it correctly. Floating homes require a lot of upkeep for live aboards. Boaters like the Swagemakers who have an all teak boat know that first hand. "With fiberglass there is less upkeep, but we woudn't have the warmth and charm [of the teak effect]," said Peggy Swagemakers. Her boat has an open feel with a galley that has a stove and microwave, dining room and wheel house and navigation station. Thier fridge is an old-fashioned ice box on deck. Down below, reachable by a winding staircase, is a den where the couple watches TV, cabins with sliding doors that remind them of old fashioned train cars and two heads. Her cabin even has a vanity table and mirror. There are many nooks and crannies on her boat where clothes and more can be stored. "It's more relaxed [living on the boat], but you have to have a lot of patience. We have no dishwasher and the washing machine is slower," said Dutch Swagenmaker. The only thing the couple misses on their boat as compared to living in their house is an office area where they can pay their bills. If there are inconveniences with living on a boat, boaters overcome them with a positive attitude and willingness to make do with the space available. There is an adventurous side to you when you know you can untie your house and take it with you on a cruise.
|
|
Copyright © 2010, Eagle Newspapers. All rights reserved. |
