I haven't left a message in a long time, but I thought I'd update you on our efforts to move aboard. Last November we bought a 1979 Tucker; 50 ft. , Aluminum, twin diesel. She is a displacement hulled, HB/Cruiser suitable for the Great Loop and the Bahamas, with some weather consideration. Name Skippy V

Skippy V is in the process of being documented; home port: Wilmington, DE, and we are in the process of establishing our residency in Livingston, TX. We will be full-time, traveling, liveaboard HBers.

During the process of documentation, we found that the boat was actually built in 1969, so we are having a strong conversation with the attorney who handled the sale.

She has spent the Winter at Kentucky Lake Marine being refitted. We had to completely strip her interior in several place to replace some rot and make a lot of consessions on the materials that we could use to re-fit her. But, she is coming together beautifully. She is also being re-painted to the deck, more would have been done, but the weather wasn't suitable.

Skippy V goes back in the water in the middle of April and will be in birth E72 at Paris Landing Marina until at least August. I will move aboard then to finish the paint job and make her home. Hubby will spend all his vacation time onboard upgrading the electronics and learning to move this boat around. The plan is to begin traveling after he retires later this year. We still plan on being in Decatur for Thanksgiving, Pirate.

We, in the meantime, have spent the Winter divesting ourselves of our six horses and their equipment, and sorting stuff in preparation for a sale or auction. We have sold all our properties, but the house and 10 acres we live in. We are way off schedule on this, as the house was to go on the market in April (another reason hubby has to stay on longer - his packrat habit).

Also, we have used the time to take advantage of Coast Guard courses offered in our area. So, we know a little more about boating at least. Still a long way to go on this, thank Goodness, for internet courses.

So, if you happen to be in the Kentucky Lake area, please drop by Skippy V and intoduce yourself. Just don't be surprised if I hand you a piece of sandpaper along with a refreshment and a smile.

I'm looking forward to corresponding more with others who are doing this and will be glad to share our experience with anybody who's thinking of it.

Lynn, First Mate and Admiral of the Skippy V

Congrats. I wish I were going with you. We are a few years away from being live aboards. I wish you well on you upcoming adventure.

Sounds like things are moving along, you are in my neck of the woods now, i will try and stop by when I am up that way. Look forward to you coming by in November. Good luck.

One month later and we're still not onboard as planned. The boat is not in the water yet. First it was reconstruction delays, now it's flooding. Kentucky Lake is inaccessable now and we have to wait until the Lake goes down before we can even think of launching. Boat ownership can be very frustrating. I'll be so glad when Hubby retires and our time factor is less critical. In the meantime, I've learned that I eat to ease frustration and have gained 10 pounds waiting through this time of suspended annimation. The boat better get in the water soon or I'll need to use the crane to get me to the second deck.

Hi Guys,
Saw your older post and thought you might be interested to know your "1979" boat is still for sale on the internet. Hope you take the lawyer and co. to the woodshed. Good luck on your launch and journeys. Will look for your posts as you go along.

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My how time flies. June 1st was the second anniversary of our move aboard Skippy. We put 5000 miles on her in a year and a half; have been docked on the St. John's River since December. We are experiencing summer in Florida.

We finally left Paris Landing in mid-October 2003, headed down the Tenn-Tom. Never made it to Decatur. We crossed Mobile Bay, then followed the ICW across the panhandle of Florida, crossed the Gulf of Mexico in short hops, continued down the West coast to Tampa Bay and laid-over in Bradenton that Winter. In the Spring we migrated north to Annapolis for the Summer, then back to Florida for the second Winter.

We've had many wonderful and beautiful experiences, a few scary moments, and a couple of horrible dockings to tell tales about. All in all it's been great and we both still enjoy living aboard Skippy.

What a learning experience for new boaters. We've been on rivers, creeks, the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa Bay, the Atlantic (for a little bit), crossed inlets, and Chesapeake Bay. We've been in fresh water, salt water, brackish water, clear water, and black water. We've docked in every concievable fashion in so many different marinas that I've lost count. We now know about tides, winds, waves, currents, and weather patterns. I can tie a bowline and handle lines. Shoot I can even spring the boat off. My captain is very good docking this big boat, and I hardly get nervous when he's doing it anymore.

Would we do it again? In a heartbeat