: : any suggestions for my first sailboat? Looking for something relatively cheap in the 20-25' range in the New England area. This i my first boat so any tips on buying one would be appreciated. : John First rule of living aboard "DON'T CAMP" Give your self the little things that allow you to 'live', not exist. You need to prep your food in a modern and decent method, sleep in a comfortable fashion, bathroom (head) ability, relaxing area, and storage is never enough either. Having said all this, you need space. I live on a 35' Spencer It is 9' 6" wide with a headroom of slightly over 6'. I have a skinny condo. All the nice comforts. Even with all of it, I still lack something, all the time. My wife and I live on it comfortably but I wish I had the 42. However, living aboard is great even though it is not for everyone. Go to the Marinas and talk to people. They will give you information you never would have thought of. Now, if you plan on sailing this baby, there will be some other needs to look at. Take a friend who knows boats. Forget the fancy electronics. All you need is a VHF and a GPS. Have a survey done. Insist on it. It is a good life and you will enjoy it. Good Luck Ron