Advice for living poor but happy on a boat

Greetings, I'm looking for advice on my future endeavor to live on a deep sea cruiser for a year while traveling around the world. Let me first give you a brief (as possible) bit of background about me so you know I'm serious.

I'm 37, I was in the Navy for 6 years, 3 of which were spent on the oldest ship in the fleet, so I'm no stranger to cramped spaces, cold showers, stale food and 18 hour workdays on a pitching deck. I'm currently finishing my BA in economics (focus on development) and will be going to grad school. During the same time (Summers) I'll be taking sailing lessons and clocking as many hours at sea as I possibly can.

After graduation my hope is to sell my rental property and buy a modest deep sea cruiser and sail around the world with one or two other adults. We plan to visit coastal villages in developing (3rd World) countries in Africa, SE Asia and South America. We want to work with some developmental projects (ie. help build a school, work with a mission etc.) where we'd be staying in one spot for several weeks at a time. While doing this we hope to research a book (or two) on the subject. My (potential) first mate is a professional photographer who would also be doing work for the book. Don't get me wrong, we plan on visiting plenty of tourist type spots as well.

I wont lie, at this time I have no real sailing experience. I mostly have a dream, an iron will and I've read a few Hal Roth books that have (somewhat) grounded me in the reality of what I'm up against technically.

Obviously we'll be living on (read: setting fire to) a large chunk of savings. I am hoping to get some advice as to what things we can do to conserve as much money as possible while traveling and, if possible, what we could do to actually earn some money while traveling. Hal Roth talks about how he and his wife were always able to pick up odds-n-end jobs here and there in port to scrape up a few dollars to live poor but happy at sea. I was just hoping to find some "trade/s" that may be more popular in that respect. Since I have a few years before this gets underway, I could even pick something up and make sure I have the right tools (limited space providing).

Thanks for any help.

By bosh on May 9, 2008, 23:51 in Travelicious Talkzone.

Portena says on May 17, 2008, 23:02:

I would recommend you post this in the friendly talk zone. I think people who could offer advice would be more likely to read your post there.

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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Peter (Moderator) says on May 25, 2008, 01:17:

If you're into blogging, you might be able to make some $ on advertising if you blog about it a LOT (ie. every day)...

Poor but snappy

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jonas says on Jun 4, 2008, 13:44:

1st: learn sailing, do some crewing and get as much experience as you can
2nd: if you are serious about your plan join a sailing forum like www.cruisersforum.com where you will find answers to your questions much rather than here.
3rd: buying a boat is easy, maintenance is where the real expense is
4th: One year? You must be kidding me. People who circumnavigate in 3 are said to be in a rush...

if you want to read a blog of a couple that went around the world without any prior experience read:
www.bumfuzzle.com

What I have, I do not want to lose, but Where I am I do not want to stay, but those I love, I do not want to leave, but those I know I no longer want to see, but Where I die, I do not want to go;I want to stay where I have never been

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