
What to Expect as a Liveaboard Cruiser
How to Cruise Full-Time
From buying a boat to the cost of cruising, you’ll find everything in this guide to get started living on the water.
Setting your sights on cruising often leads to daydreams of sundowners while anchored in the most beautiful locations. But to reap these rewards, there are obstacles to overcome and skills to master.
A lot of research and planning will go into your dream to cruise. You’ll need to tackle many things, some for the first time.
- Downsizing your stuff and possibly selling your home
- Saving money for the cruising kitty
- Learning about navigation and weather
- Understanding mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and other systems
- Learning everything you can about everyday life on a boat
We’ll talk about the above and other unexpected realities of living aboard and transitioning from land to a cruising lifestyle.
Getting Ready to Cruise
Browse guides for getting started living on a boat.

Cat on a Boat 101: How to Sail and Live Aboard with Cats
At first glance, having a cat on a liveaboard boat may seem like a lot of work and maybe not even possible. Here’s how to get started with your furry feline onboard.

5 Important Tips to Remember When Buying a Catamaran
When you decide on buying a catamaran, it’s easy to want to dive right in and get ready to purchase your boat. Before you do, know these five tips.

Liveaboard Marinas: Finding the Best One for You
There are many liveaboard marinas, and each one has pros and cons to living there on your boat. Find out how to pick the best one for you.

Living on a Boat: What to Expect When You Cruise Full-Time
Before moving onboard full-time, there were a lot of things I thought I knew about living on a boat. But I was only scratching the surface. Here are 10 things to expect when you cruise full-time.

How to Save Water on a Boat
When your boat is off the dock, conserving water is a constant challenge. It’s an ongoing battle to save water, from showering to washing dishes and even flushing the toilet.

The True Cost of Living on a Sailboat: Our Monthly Expenses
How much does it cost to live on a boat? This was my biggest question when we were planning and saving to cruise. Here’s our breakdown of expenses while cruising full-time.

15 Things That Change When You Live on a Catamaran
When you move on a sailboat, you quickly learn the challenges that make this lifestyle different from land life. Here are 15 things that change living on the water.

Cruising on a Catamaran: What It’s Really Like to Take the Plunge
What is it really like to get started cruising on a catamaran? There are a lot of unknowns when you first set out of the water. Here’s what to expect when you’re getting started.

How We Chose the Best Liveaboard Catamaran
When we began our preparation to shop for a catamaran it was eye opening. We didn’t know what to look for. What we did know was we needed to research (a lot) and rely on the knowledge of others who came before us.

7 Boat Life Tips for Easy Living on the Water
When we decided to pursue life on a sailboat, I knew there would be a steep learning curve. Especially with no prior experience owning, living on, or sailing a boat.
Ready to learn more about living on a boat?
For tips on boat gear, cooking onboard, cruising full-time, and more – check out our full guide.