| Living on a sailboat is a very cheap way to live. We | | | | is extra hot. |
| did so for 8 years in the Caribbean. We stayed in the | | | | 3) Boat improvements are cheaper...We had major |
| Windward's and Leeward's, going no further east than | | | | canvas work done very cheaply. Bimini, dodger, sail |
| Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. | | | | covers, sail bags, dinghy tube and engine covers. |
| Once the boat, Shadowtime, a 35-foot Island Packet, | | | | Embroidery work in Trinidad is very high quality and |
| was in the Virgin Islands she never left the warm | | | | cheap. I still wear some T-shirts and caps that were |
| Caribbean, until we sold her 8 years later. | | | | made many moons ago in Port of Spain. Teak |
| What do I mean by cheap living? Sailboat cruisers are | | | | woodwork is also very reasonable in Trinidad. A real |
| the tightest people on the planet. The answer to why | | | | teak, no veneer, cabin floor, teak grates for the cockpit, |
| they are so cheap is they will do anything, legal of | | | | solid teak cockpit table...all great quality at 30% of what |
| course, to avoid going back to work. | | | | it would cost in the US. That is cheap living folks. |
| Here are some specifics: | | | | 4) Eating out was very cheap. If you follow the two |
| 1) Use public transportation...no boat has a car onboard | | | | golden cruiser rules for restaurant selection. First, you |
| so to get around the islands you take the bus, some | | | | and your companions had to be the only non-locals in |
| regular size; more common is the 14-passenger van or | | | | the restaurant...and second, the menu had to be on a |
| Maxi Taxi. They cost anywhere from 7 cents in | | | | chalkboard. Follow these two rules you will eat cheap, |
| Venezuela to $1.00 in St Croix. Having no car expense | | | | as the locals do, and you will be guaranteed the meal |
| is huge. No gas, no insurance, no maintenance, no | | | | you eat is fresh...probably caught that very day. |
| parking fees, etc. | | | | Once in the islands we spent around a $1,000 per |
| 2) Use the library...When people ask how you stay in | | | | month...now, that is cheap living. The lifestyle was |
| touch, you reply I do email at the library. All free. Using | | | | priceless, many times we enjoyed sunset drinks in the |
| the library eliminates magazine charges and buying | | | | cockpit anchored (that is free) off a five star resort |
| books (not really an issue as cruisers do many book | | | | that charged $500 a night. We had a better view. |
| exchanges). It is also a great place to crash midday if it | | | | You can do this as well. |