Another Fine Liveaboard Oriented Site

Some nice articles on this latest site for liveaboards.  Pls be sure to visit:

Liveaboard Living | Live on a Boat:

liveaboard sailboat. Living aboard is truly an amazing lifestyle; Living aboard a boat is waterfront living at its best and least expensive.


Calm waters,
Mark Nicholas / www.livingaboard.net

Love these Personal Stories

The MARINADELREYBOATPeople

Come take a walk on the wild side.Daryl, Rick, Lila, Kate and Tawny and all the others out thee are just some very nice personal examples of why so many of us have been drawn to the lifestyle. For these, and so many other reasons, are the reasons why I keep working so hard at promoting this lifestyle. And while there are failures, successes continue to outweigh. Nevertheless, I find it is a success when a person who should not be living aboard is ultimately talked out of the lifestyle. We don’t win with numbers, but rather with more examples of how wonderful and personally fulfilling this lifestyle can be.

Calm waters,

Mark N.
www.livingaboard.net

A few bad apples and landlubber support

This attached article reflects the ongoing tension between the little board community and the community-at-large. The article itself, and the accompanying commentary, overtly reflect the ongoing tension between historic versus progressive movement, and the monetary concerns that are reflected throughout the land-based community when it comes to support of the community and the waterways. Given the dilapidated condition of many of the boats described in this article, it would seem as if the community presented in this case is a perfect case study of this disconnect.

One issue not highlighted in this article is that of environmental concerns. This is the third leg of the anti-live aboard stool.

As a member of both communities it is hard not to see the core justification in both sides’ position, although so many of the positions are often fueled by mis-perception and scapegoating.  In reality, this dialog, relived in scores of communities, tends to be more aptly described as a political dialog rather than a social one.  For instance, the boaters are a group easily targeted, diverse and unrepresented, while other segments of society who are better represented can be  a much more significant draw on a community’s social, monetary and environmental infrastructure (see, for instance, fishing boats and impoverished communities).

With that in mind, here is one recent example of this dialog.

Bainbridge liveaboards facing ‘end of days’ – Bainbridge Island Review

In future discussions, we will visit some of the neighborhood revitalization issues and the impact on the boating community.

Calm waters,

Mark N.
www.livingaboard.net

Choosing between a New or Used Boat

Here is an article that is very high level and probably not many of the issues that  I would point out when it comes to choosing the right boat.  We have posted a video on the multimedia page, which includes lots of interviews and opinions on the subject area.  but while the advice here is accurate, through the years it has appeared that the tried and true test of whether a person will buy a new or used boat is more aptly one of preference and desire for new boat then it is a question of logic.  for all of the reasons suggested by the author and the section “depreciation”,  logic nearly always suggests that the best value is in a used boat-something tested and already refined for purpose.

A very happy new year everybody; and as always thank you very much for visiting.  Enjoy the article!

http://liveaboardliving.com/new-or-used.htm

Calm waters,

Mark N.
www.livingaboard.net

Another WILD book review: Essentials of Living AboardAnother WILD book review: Essentials of Living Aboard

I love that this book keeps getting noticed.  Here is a review  of the Essentials that I enjoyed reading.

paws and reflect…: aboard…

Living Aboard Costs

Here is an article on living aboard costs.  I must say that I do have some differences with the conclusion of this article but its points are well taken.  Then again, perhaps my video on living aboard costs is intended to be eye-opening in its own way.  Here is what SavedPennies has to say on the subject.

Thinking about living on a boat to save money? Think twice. | Saved Pennies

A great page dedicated to living aboard: Tinyhouseblog.com

Living on a Boat

And be sure to note the wonderful mention of this site, blog and book.  It was unprompted and generous.  Thank you very much.  BUT… even without the mention, I would be linking to this page nonetheless.  And check out all of the other links.  Enjoy!

Liveaboards, Money Laundering and the Homeless

In 1990 the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering offered forty recommendations to its member countries to provide a system to help stop money laundering. After the terrorist attacks of 2001 the United States adopted the Patriot Act and the recommendations of the FATF.

One of the recommendations adopted by the Patriot Act requires financial institutions such as banks and brokers to perform “due diligence on all new customers to verify their identity.” Many institutions do this, in part, by requiring governmental identification and an actual street address (no post office box or mail drop), things many full-time liveaboards (particularly transient liveaboards) are not be able to provide. When it comes to governmental identification, although some states will accept a marina address many will not. And even with those financial institutions that would accept a marina address, cruising liveaboards lack a marina as well, leaving them in a bit of a quandary. Unless you choose to get your accounts opened before you abandon your land ties many banks and brokers would simply rather not do business with you.

This poses other problems for U.S. liveaboards as well. For instance, some states require a street address before issuing a driver’s license. Health and auto insurance carriers may not provide coverage for health, liability and vehicle insurance. Federal Express and other mail services will not deliver to a PO Box either (although they may take a marina address).

Liveaboards wanting to register to vote may have problems as well (note: there is no constitutional right to vote). Many states require a physical address and form of identification before permitting residents to vote. These rules have been put in place not only for the purpose of preventing money laundering, but also in their attempt to manage voter fraud and prevent voting by illegal or non-residents.

The liveaboard community, being so small and divergent, lacks active advocates or a community to coalesce to build exceptions for liveaboards into these laws. Ironically, the homeless community is not quite so small, supported by lobbyist groups and advocates (such as the National Coalition for the Homeless and various veterans groups) who want to be sure that homeless people are afforded their constitutional rights. Many states, either by legislation or court case, now permit homeless people to vote. In their advocacy, now in many states a physical address such as “under the bridge” or “on the docks” may be sufficient.

It sure is an odd world.

Liveaboards continue to address these challenges in a variety of ways. Perhaps you can get your account opened by establishing a personal relationship with your local banker and get a license by being particularly nice to the folks issuing your drivers license. Also, physical address such as those provided by http://www.earthclassmail.com have demonstrated success over the past couple of years. Over time these personal touches have become less meaningful. Other techniques such as using the address of family and friends may also be successful but can result in problems such as the denial of insurance or even a criminal fraud charge if the artificial address is ever revealed.

There is no easy solution here. For now, unless we can all get together on this, we should wish the homeless organizations success on all of our behalves.