Letters/Online Comments

Re: Is living aboard a boat really a reasonable alternative to buying a home? (July 27-Aug. 9 issue)

The Audi of Lifestyles
This is an incredible lifestyle – quirky, fun, individual and often less expensive. I love every part of living on the water, getting rocked to sleep, etc. Boiling this down to purely an economic decision misses the point – it is like comparing the cost of two vehicles and deciding that one is simply not worth it because it is more expensive and harder to maintain. If that were the case, no one would ever buy an Audi.
Mark Nicholas

Tips From a Seasoned Liveaboard Tenant
I have lived aboard legally for over nine years and love it, including the maintenance, etc., and work from home. I always tell people who think about it to borrow a friend’s boat and (legally) stay aboard for as long as possible. They have to learn that possessions mostly must go, storage is at a premium, closet space for clothing is limited, etc. then, if comfortable, get on a waiting list or five at a marina they like. Most have many year waiting lists, if they will even give a timeframe. Long Beach has a list so long they can’t begin to tell you and charge a yearly fee to stay on the list. If VERY fortunate, you might find a marina that has a liveaboard boat for sale, but see if they will allow you to retain the permit and boat there. Some marinas may want the boat removed and will not renew the slip if sold. Last, be wary of sellers who say their 32-foot boat is a great liveaboard and be sure to ask the marina what the minimum length requirement they have is.

One more important fact: Boats do not sell as fast as a house. A house in today’s market may sell in two weeks at more than the listing price. The boat may take two years to sell, and sell for less than hoped for, so if you buy, move aboard and decide you hate it, you’re stuck with slip fees, insurance, maintenance costs, etc, while trying to sell. I have known a few people who literally walked away and left their boat.
Larry Nelson

 

Re: Mooring modifications adopted by Newport Beach City Council (July 27-Aug. 9 issue)

The best decision I’ve ever made
Great job city of Newport Beach. I used to live in Newport and am a boater myself currently in Long Beach. I am about to relocate back to Newport Beach because of the people and the clean waters and marina. This new development in the political arena of the boating world is like the icing on the cake. [I am] so excited about this move I feel like I’m making the best decision I’ve ever made. Great work.
Leah Brown

 

Re: Illegal charters and short-term vacation rentals: two peas in a pod (July 27-Aug. 9 issue)

Lack of Respect
I have been allowing my boat to be chartered for 5 years now. I use a management company that has sailing classes and offers charters to those certified new sailors or other vetted sailors. I also have served as captain on other boats. Yes, I am a USCG licensed captain to 50 ton. I think the problem I am seeing in my marina is the lack of respect that these people who know nothing about boats, marinas, or being neighborly show to others around them. And the boat owners take little to no responsibility (the real problem). The bottom line is if you are taking money for either allowing people to stay on your boat or to take them out, you are a business. You are required to pay all fees and taxes associated with owning a business, and should not be allowed to run your business in an area that is not zoned for such a business. Furthermore the renters should absolutely not be allowed to use/destroy the marina facilities.
Jeff

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