Whether taking to the high seas or exploring unseen lands, nomads are loading their lives into their vessel of choice and diving into adventure. If wanderlust has taken a hold of you, and you’re not sure if you’d rather jump into boat or drive down the highway in an RV, read on!
Internally, the systems found within boats and RVs are quite similar. From kitchen/galley to bedroom, heating systems and bathrooms, much of the same appliances are found in both. Determining whether an RV or boat is better for you depends on a variety of factors, including: Lifestyle, cost of maintenance and repairs, destination preferences, and the willingness to learn a new way of living.
RVs and Boats: The Similarities
1. Close Living Quarters
Palatial yachts aside, RVs and boats generally offer tight living quarters. Although both vessels have various lengths to choose from, anyway between 18′ to over 40′ in length, the spaciousness offered in either is limited.
Granted, even the smallest of liveaboard boats have an upper deck on which to relax, but by their nature, sailors are faced with the limitations on how far one can roam.
2. Internal Systems: Toilets
Like RVs, boats typically come equipped with a flush toilet which connects to a black tank (the sewage tank). The process of emptying the black tanks when full is similar: Both vessels must be brought to a dump station (RVs find a station on land, boats go to a “pump out” station).
Dumping raw sewage on land or into the sea is illegal, so whichever vehicle you choose, you’ll need to follow the established laws.
But, as with an RV or converted van bathroom design, boat owners can choose to remove the traditional marine flush toilet and install an alternative method of waste collection, one not reliant on a black tank.
For a list of alternative toilets available (along with their pros and cons), check out my post, “RV Toilets: The Good, Bad, and Ugly” here.
Showers
Boats and RVs are similar in their shower set ups; It’s common to have wet baths in lieu of a full shower- meaning, the toilet is in the shower. Although larger showers are available, wet baths are most common due to their space-saving capabilities.
Kitchen Appliances
Due to the small space and limited electricity options available, RVs and boats share the same types of kitchen appliances. Examples include:
- French Presses for making coffee (uses more plentiful propane instead of limited electricity)
- Stove “toaster” (cuts down on electric usage)
- Water filtration systems for drinking water (pipes in RVs and boats are notoriously dirty)
- Propane-powered stove oven
3. Electricity Options
If living off grid in an RV or “on the hook” in a boat, electricity is needed. When not plugged in to the main electrical grid of a city, nomads and sailors are on their own to generate their own energy.
The two most common ways of getting electric onboard is via generators and/or solar panels. Generators use fuel combustion to power up appliances in your vehicle, allowing for energy-hungry appliances like a hairdryer, air conditioner, blender, or laptop to be plugged into outlets and get power. For a full explanation of how generators work and the different types available, check out “How Do RV Generators Work” here.
Solar power is another very popular method of getting energy onboard, although they have their limitations; mainly, they are dependent on sunlight. If you’re in a storm, or have cloudy weather overhead, solar panels will not give you the power you need.
And if you want to run AC (alternating current) appliances, you’ll need a full solar kit including an inverter to convert the sun’s energy when available.
To understand how AC and DC energy works and what it means for people living in RVs or boats, check out “AC/DC Electrical in Your RV or Van” here.
4. Reliable Internet
Finding reliable internet is the bane of every nomad’s existence. If tethered to a slip, or parked in the city, internet is accessible. But go off grid either by land or by sea, and all bets for the comforts of online life are off!
The most reliable accessory for off grid internet access is the weBoost. This is commonly used by RVers who travel far from city life, and might get WiFi to those on the ocean- but before shelling out your hard earned money for something with a higher price point, make sure to contact your internet/cell provider to see if the weBoost is compatible with the services they provide.
5. Maintenance Costs
Repairs both big and small are a part of daily life on boats and RVs. As both vehicles are at the mercy of movement, things shake loose, pipes get jangled, salt water corrodes, and normal wear-and-tear make DIY maintenance essential.
Before hitting the road, or pulling up anchor, make sure to have an emergency savings account as a cushion for future parts and repairs. It’s not a matter of “if” something will need fixing, it’s a matter of “when”. Some repair costs, like engines, generators, or desalinators can run in the thousands, so have money set aside.
6. Pests and Bugs
Part and parcel to RV and boat life is creepy crawlies that make their way aboard. RVs typically have sewer flies, spiders, and silverfish, while sailors often contend with cockroaches and weevils.
It’s not pretty, but preventing insect infestation is an important aspect of both lifestyles.
RVs and Boats: The Differences
7. Cost: Slips Fees and Permits
If not living “on the hook [anchor]”, sailors need to find a place to dock. Marinas offer slips: Either to rent a spot to dock your vessel, or to purchase outright– maintaining a permanent place to stay.
Slip costs are determined by location and vessel size: Smaller boats will cost less money per foot than a 40 foot vessel. But be warned: Popular marinas are often fully booked, and if they offer permanent liveaboards, slips may be hard to come by.
8. Maintenance for Boats
Maintenance of boats is more extensive than for RVs. Although both RVs and boats need a lot of consistent TLC to run properly, boats come with their own set of specialty needs.
A good rule of thumb for boat owners, is to expect to shell out at least 10% of the boat’s value annually, on maintenance alone. So, if your boat was on the cheaper side and cost $25,000, know that- at a minimum- you’ll be saying ‘goodbye’ to at least $2500 a year. If the boat’s value is $50,000, at least $5000 will be spent annually.
But, why do boats cost more in maintenance than RVs? Sea faring vessels have to contend with a highly different environment than most vehicles. Salt water is highly corrosive (so maintaining the hull is essential), barnacles attach to boats’ hull and need removal lest they weight down and sink the vessel, moisture becomes a big problem onboard…
Such realities of living on the ocean are not just experiences, but expenses.
9. Learning Curve: Getting Your Sea Legs
If you want to live on the ocean, you need to get your “sea legs”. Everything about life on a boat is different:
- Constant swaying
- Must have knowledge of swells, storms, winds, and tides
- Know your boat: It’s parts, and equipment
- Able to do repairs asap while on the sea (you’re the only “repairman” out in the sea, so it’s up to you to be able to fix repairs as needed)
- Nautical Navigational know-how is a must
- Limited contact with other people
Earning one’s sea legs also includes a brand new set of ship knowledge and lingo: Do you know what “Amidships” means? How about “Astern” or “Aft”? If not, it’s time to bone up on nautical terminology before trying to live aboard any vessel.
A sailor’s life isn’t for everyone, but if earning your “sea legs” sounds like fun, it might be just the life for you!
10. Culture Shock
With every group of people, a culture arises. If living in a boat, there are certainly rules and expectations of proper behavior when arriving in a marina, and docking to live aboard.
For example, when arriving in an area to anchor and “live on the hook” without docking, there are expectations from the other sailors that newcomers will maintain proper distance away from other boats.
Generators are loud, and running them all day, everyday, and throughout the night is also considered rude to the other liveaboards nearby.
Additionally, when docked in a marina, it’s rude to hop aboard someone else’s vessel without first being invited.
Safety is a big part of boat culture: Everyone on board- and in surrounding vessels- expect each other to know how to properly behave, making sure not to engage in dangerous or careless activities. On the sea, even if moored in a marina, the stakes are high: Slipping, injury, and drowning are real concerns, and are taken seriously.
Like with any new culture, it’s important to learn the ropes; Meeting new people and gaining new friends will make the transition from land-lover to a sailor with “sea legs” much easier.
11. Safety: Sinking is a Reality
Unlike RVs, if a boat gets a leak, there’s a chance the vessel can sink. Yes, it does happen.
Leaving a boat unmaintained is a very bad idea. “Small” problems often don’t stay small for long, and can destroy the vessel. Here are some of common issues that arise that can lead to a sunken ship:
- Barnacles latch on to the bottoms of vessels, especially if docked; If not removed, they corrode the hull, eventually sinking the boat
- Dock Damage occurs when in a marina and not using boat fenders or bumpers
- Drain plugs that aren’t emptied
- Corrosion from enemies like sea salt and barnacles ruin all unmaintained vessels
- Rocks and sandbars, if hit, can cause severe damage (like holes and cracks) to your boat
- And more…
Unlike RVs, if your vessel has some serious trouble, there’s a real chance your boat will go down under the waves. Make sure you’re ready for a truly different lifestyle before you raise anchor and sail the seas.
12. Employment Opportunities
RVers have the ability to travel to virtually any job, at any time. Some nomads even park in their employer’s parking lot (although, the legality of that is questionable).
By contrast, those traveling by boat are more limited in their employment opportunities. Many sailors will choose “alternative” methods of earning money, like accepting seasonal work, or developing a way to work remotely. For ideas on how to work from anywhere- boat or RV- check out “Working Remote for Beginners” here.
13. Desalinating Water
Onboard a boat, sea water is plentiful while fresh water is not. Instead of needing to find a boat station to refill fresh water, a desalinator will take in salt water from the surrounding ocean, filter it to remove the salt, then pump clean water into a boat’s fresh water tank!
Desalinators are expensive machines, but are invaluable to those harrowing the high seas.
14. No Grey Tanks
In an RV, grey tanks are filled with dirtied water from the shower and sinks. In a boat, however, most grey water is simply pumped out into the ocean.
Unlike black tanks (which are filled with sewage and require to be dumped in legal, sanitary stations), grey tank water is typically filled with soap, shampoo, and food particles; Hardly dangerous to the sea. Just make sure not to put anything toxic, like bleach, down your pipes.
Wrap Up
Boats and RVs have many similarities: From appliances used, to electrical setups, and required maintenance.
However, there are plenty of differences between the two to consider before jumping into either unconventional lifestyle: New lingo, new cultural expectations, maintenance costs, and myriad other considerations.
Make sure to do your due diligence on both ways of living, whether it be on land or the high seas, to make the right choice for you!