I’m not sharing my story to encourage anyone to become a “sneak‑aboard” or to skirt liveaboard rules. What I do want to show is that living on a boat can be an incredibly affordable way to live. It may not work for everyone, but as a single person, the good has far outweighed the bad.
Both of my sailboats had inboard engines, and while I could putt around the marina from time to time, I never once put the sails up in the five years I owned them. Even so, I got every penny’s worth out of those boats. Whether you call it a floating house, a beach cottage, or a crash pad, it served its purpose beautifully.
I absolutely love Marina del Rey. Marina del Rey is the closest marina in Los Angeles to my hometown of Bakersfield. However there are many but there are other Marina’s just as nice located in other parts of Los Angeles. Marinas in Los Angeles include Redondo Beach, San Pedro, and Long Beach. Orange County offers Huntington Harbour, Newport Beach, and Dana Point.
Notable Marinas and Harbors in the Los Angeles Area
Los Angeles County
- Marina del Rey: The largest man‑made small‑craft harbor in North America, home to over 4,000 boats and surrounded by high‑rise apartments and restaurants.
- Port of Los Angeles (San Pedro): Includes recreational marinas such as Cabrillo Way Marina and Holiday Harbor.
- Wilmington: Offers more industrial and affordable slip options, including California Yacht Marina.
- King Harbor (Redondo Beach): A popular spot for recreational boaters and home to Redondo Beach Marina.
- Long Beach: Features massive marinas like Alamitos Bay Marina and Shoreline Marina, often more affordable than Marina del Rey.
Orange County
- Huntington Harbour Marina
- Newport Dunes Marina
- The Marina at Dana Point
- Davenport Marina
- Balboa Marina
- Westpoint Harbor LLC
- Newport Marina
- Dana West Marina
The Truth About “Bust Out Another Thousand”
The old joke that BOAT stands for “Bust Out Another Thousand” can be misleading. Yes, yachts with crews and high‑end systems are expensive. Powerboats can also be costly to maintain. But modest sailboats—especially older ones—can be surprisingly affordable.
Many people own RVs, travel trailers, or motorhomes, and those come with their own expenses: nightly hookup fees, storage costs, and the need for a large vehicle to tow them. If that’s your thing, great—I’m not here to debate it. I’m here to show that owning a boat, or using one as a portable vacation home, might be more attainable than you think.
Traveling to Los Angeles for work? Having a boat to crash on three nights a week could save you money and hours of driving. Season‑ticket holders for the Dodgers, Chargers, Rams, Lakers, Clippers, or Kings might also find a boat incredibly convenient as a crash pad or a place to park and Uber from. And for anyone retired and unable to afford a beach house, a boat offers a much cheaper alternative for weekend getaways. And if you work remotely and need a quiet space away from home, a boat can function as the perfect floating office—open seven days a week from sunup to sundown.
One of the best parts is that you don’t have to pack for vacation. Everything you need can stay on the boat. You don’t need a big vehicle to tow it; any car can get you to the marina. And with hotels in Marina del Rey running $200–$350 per night, a monthly slip fee often costs the same as just two or three nights in a hotel.
Affordable Boats Exist
There are many boats available for under $10,000. Yes, they’ll be older, and you’ll find more sailboats than motorboats in that price range, but there are still plenty of options. These boats can be cleaned, updated, and personalized very inexpensively.
As a single, broke woman with no mechanical experience, I’ve gotten far more out of my boats than what I paid for them. The stigma around boat ownership has kept people away for years, and I’m here to tell you: don’t believe everything you hear.
If you’re curious, check out my boat‑buying guide—it can help you make sure you choose the right boat for your needs.
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