Living on a boat in VI- St.Thomas Area

Summer: Are you familiar with life on a boat? I ask because I think it has a romantic aura, but is really pretty tough. It is a life style decision, for sure. There are people who live on derelict boats that have no engine, etc and people who live on very nice boats and go sailing every weekend- two sides of the coin. Do you already have a boat?

My familiarity with boats range from a kayak to a tug boat. I have only been on a sail boat 2times and I didn't have to participate. I do not currently own a boat also on my to do list. This is my pre-planning stage, I think the move will come in about a year or two. Thank you for your help.

Okay, well...as I said it is a sub-culture that you will want to explore when you come visit. Many boaties in the Compass Point/Independent Boat Yard area (aka "Lagoonies"), also in the Red Hook area and Elephant Bay off of Water Island. Try Bottoms Up, Tickles, or the docks at AYH for starters to visit with folks who are living the life. You don't always need to know about sailing, as many don't actually GO anywhere. But you probably should be handy fixing all sorts of things. Also, you can check with DPNR (Department of Planning and Natural Resources) for the skinny on mooring permits.

There are some really great folks who live aboard and I'm soon (soon? think "Island Time") to be one of them. I've met mainly wonderful, friendly people who live on boats, but there are definitely some really unsavory characters who live on boats as well. It's the same living on the water as on land. You really have to research the "neighborhood" to see which one is right for you.