Living Aboard

Frequently Asked Questions

A different lifestyle you will share with likeminded folks from all walks of life.  There is no typical live aboard person or family.  Life in a marina does however foster a deep sense of community and willingness to help one another.  Problems you encounter have probably been experienced by a neighbour who is happy to share what they learned.    

You will also have some of the coolest neighbours; seals, eagles, blue herons, otters are just a few marina inhabitants we share our home with. 

You will be able to take your home on your travels.  Our members have adventures with their family and friends on our beautiful coastal waters and some have ventured around the globe.

Overall it’s small footprint living, very connected to the environment and the community. 

Living aboard is all about compromises.  Small space living with a million-dollar view!  In choosing your boat you’ll decide on what matters in your lifestyle.  A bigger galley if cooking is important, number of sleeping accommodations, propane or electric stove, etc.   It’s a simpler life though with less stuff and things that you probably won’t miss. 

You don’t need to already be proficient in boating, but should anticipate a steeper learning curve if you are not experienced with boat handling and general maintenance.  Fortunately there are organizations providing courses and training options to get you started.

There is no standard here. The size and type of boat you choose to live on will vary depending on many factors. Our marina has singles, couples, and families living happily on power and sail boats ranging from 30’ – 50’+ in size.

Yes, while at dock most marinas (like ours) can provide cable and internet hook ups, and offer laundry and shower facilities. Each live aboard slip in our marina has dedicated shore power, holding tank pump out, and cable and internet hook ups. 

Absolutely! Living aboard can work for anyone. There is a dog park nearby and an elementary school five minutes from our marina.

With the benefit of diesel or electric heaters for the winters, our members live aboard year round quite comfortably.  In fact, to be a co-op member here you must live aboard with the marina as your primary residence. 

This also depends on your lifestyle and the choices you make for your boat. General expenses to consider are moorage, utilities, hydro, live aboard fee, and boat insurance.  Boat maintenance is another important expense to include in your budget.  Basic plumbing and mechanical skills really come in handy.

Open House: Floating home community

A marina on the shores of Vancouver’s False Creek is home to a one-of-a-kind neighbourhood. Kaitlyn Herbst introduces us to a floating home community.