If you know me, then you know I've been sailing my whole life.  It started with a 20' day-sailor that my dad picked up cheap.  It then moved onto a 40' that my family had on the Chesapeake Bay for 10 years.  During that time, I was also sailing at scout camp, on the river in the summer time, and when ever I got a chance.  While I was studying at the University of Southern Maine, I joined, and eventually captained, the USM Sailing Team.  We raced all over New England against some of the best college sailing teams on the East Coast (think Coast Guard, Navy, Maritime Academies, etc).  I've also taught sailing at camps and racing on a high school and college level.  I do not profess to be the best sailor, have the encyclopedic knowledge of some, or the repair skills of a professional.  That being said, this is a new adventure into sailing for me.  I have wanted to live on a sailboat for about 6 years.  I'm sure I professed to this when I was a child, but started to seriously look into finding a boat and the funding to make it all happen.  I've realized that I do not sail NEARLY enough to satisfy me, but do not work a job where I make the money to have an apartment and a boat.  The thought is to combine them, and then I can get the best (or maybe the worst) of both worlds!  Only the adventure will tell! 

This is all an adventure in finding a cheap boat, fixing it up, learning a lot, and eventually (spring 2013) beginning the living aboard adventure.  Did I mention that its all going to be on a shoestring budget?  The way I see it, why not put some (read as: A LOT) time and effort into a boat to fix it up and make it yours?  You'll learn a lot, and really figure out if it is something that you want to do.  Plus there is always pride that comes from fixing/building something yourself.  There is also the idea that if you've done the work yourself, when something goes wrong, you probably have a much better idea of how to fix it.  That becomes really important when you're 15 miles offshore and there is no one to help you. 

That is the premise for the blog.  The next entry should be pictures of my "new" (1960's era) boat and the move to the winter location, followed by progress on the refit/restoration and considerations for living aboard.  Please stay tuned for more from The $800 Liveaboard.