Owner emailed for permission for haulout, marine and engine surveys. Two haulout places recommended by potentiol surveyor investigated online for rates.

Worried a bit about moving the boat from saltwater to freshwater.

Couple of friends are set to pay for haulout and surveys, buy the boat, and let me rent it. Saying some prayers about angels.

Good luck with your journey

Why would they need to buy it (and you pay rent) if it’s a free boat?

Someone has to take title, that is, "buy" it for the purpose of registration, insurances, etc. The system doesn't understand gifts.

The "free" boat cannot be insured unless it is hauled out and surveyed, traditionally by the prospective buyer. The boat cannot be berthed without insurance that names the marina as an additional insured. All this is paid by the "buyer."

So "free" really just means less expensive.

Given my financial collapse, that may still involve bankruptcy, I cannot front these costs nor would it make sense to put my name on title if I could. So, my friends will "buy" the boat if it passes survey and I will be a tenant on the boat paying rent sufficient to at least cover monthly berthing, utilities, etc.

Together we will figure out maintenance and repair responsibilities; a sailing schedule, etc. My friends also want to sail and learn improved sailing skills.

If I recover financially and my friends want to sell, perhaps I can buy the boat in the future. If not, my friends will not be in too deep. In any event I get relatively inexpensive living quarters for a while and the opportunity to live on and sail the boat.

OK just wondering.


Did you look at that RV site http://www.cheaprvliving.com/
It may give you more options.

Yes, thanks. I was looking at an rv or van before the sailboat idea seemed viable, had joined some discussion forums, and was directed to that site. Some good ideas for living wherever.

I can see why you must do it this way. But if you have to do a lot of work (maintenance, repairs, etc) on the boat, thereby increasing its resale value, are you going to get any of that back, or do they just get to make more money when they sell???

I would think a van or RV would be a better choice in your situation. It’s going to be a lot less expensive.


Lots of large motor homes and RVs are for sale right now for a good price because of the gas priced. Park one in an RV park and you can live inexpensively.

"... Park one in an RV park and you can live inexpensively..."

Being a full time RV'r, and not a sailor of any kind, I would have to agree with you. But there are RV parks, and then there are RV parks. The less expensive one are often full of "trailer trash," those with their RVs anchored to the ground with spiderwebs and supported by the stack of empty beer cans and bottles, loud screaming and yelling going on 24/7. Those without such problems often do not have a monthly rate, making them very expensive. And prices of course vary around the country. Friends were recently workampering at a place in Florida, got fed up with their boss, and quit. Then they discovered that the monthly rate for a site in that area was $800. They really had to scramble to find another "home." Many KOA's (which we avoid like the plague) cost upwards of $50 a night!!!