How To Sail Around The World and Make Money While Doing It
It’s a dream. Living on a Sailboat, traveling the world and making money while doing it. While living on a sailboat full-time may seem like a half pipe fantasy, more and more people around the world are figuring out how to make it work. Luckily, thanks to technology and the ever booming realm of remote work, leaving life on land to pursue life on water isn’t as crazy as it may seem. So, what are some ways to make money while sailing around the world? There are many, but let’s start with the most popular jobs people pursue when trading shoes for flippers and a life a little less ordinary.
First Off – How Much Does it Cost To Live On A Sailboat Full-Time?
The most common question I hear from my fans are, “how much does it really cost to live on a sailboat full-time”. Some sailboat experts say 20% of the value of the boat (per year). But Let’s be honest, this figure varies immensely and really depends where, when, and how often you will sail, or whether you choose to dock your boat at a marina. If you want to take a closer look at how much it may cost to live on a sailboat full-time, you can check out my other article, Have Plans of Moving on a Sailboat Full-Time? Here’s How To Get Started.
In the meantime, for the sake of this article, I will go over a few canny ways to make money while doing what you love best.
Work For a Year, Sail For a Year
Okay, so maybe this isn’t exactly working while sailing. In any case, maybe that’s ideal. If you are not quite yet ready for retirement, then working and saving to sail full-time for a year could be an ideal trade-off. Moreover, perhaps your current profession has a “high-season” think consultants, restaurant negotiations, and/or tourism endeavors. With one of these professions, you could also choose to work hard during “on-season” and play hard during “low-season”. Catch my drift?
Either way, from personal experience I have found that working “lightly” or not working at all, fits into a sailor’s easy breezy lifestyle quite nicely. If your plan is to work hard for a year (or less) then take off for a year (or more), I suggest coming up with a budget. Already scratching your head as to how you will make enough money to live on a sailboat full-time? In the end, living on a sailboat can actually be quite affordable. And you don’t have to sail to Asia to do it (unless you want to). Check out How to Live on a Sailboat for 1,000 dollars or less.
Move Your Business Online
According to an article in the New York Times, more and more US employees are working from home. As a matter of fact, 43 percent of employed Americans said they spent at least some time working remotely, according to the survey of more than 15,000 adults.
Depending on your profession, there are many ways you can take your work online. A few great professions that translate well onto the web are: Web Design, Real Estate, Financial Advising and Accounting. The key here is to make sure you have an efficient internet connection. Most likely the jobs mentioned before will require at least some video-calling and cloud-based applications that call for a strong signal. With that said, there are literally hundreds of jobs that could potentially fit into an online-working niche. If you are not your own boss already, you may consider asking your boss if you can begin working remotely. At the end of the day, the best way to make money while sailing around the world is to work remotely. It gives you the flexibility to pursue a life on board for as long or as little as you want.
If Money Isn’t An Issue, But Being Bored Is
Wait. I thought the point of moving on a sailboat was to get away from the hustle and bustle of life on land? So then, wouldn’t it be ideal to be sailing around the world with no work at all? Not always. If you have enough savings to keep you afloat for awhile (like a long while) and money isn’t an issue, then it may take awhile to break into the sailor lifestyle. That is to say, living on a boat full-time can be magical or it can be enough to drive a busy-body crazy with cabin fever. If you are aching to live on a sailboat full-tome but not quite ready to put your bare feet up, there are a few ways you can work, stay busy, and make some extra cash on the side. Because why not?
In my years of sailing I have met some pretty awesome sailors that have chosen to put their past-time skills to good use. Clever jobs include, massage-therapists, computer repair, and believe it or not babysitting! If you are a handy-man (or girl) you can also offer your skills in boat repair, engine maintenance, teak repair, etc.
If money isn’t the issue, but a busy mind is, figure out what you’re good at and offer it to fellow sailors, and/or travelers you meet along the way.
Selling Something – Really Anything, Online
The last but not least idea for maintaining a full-time sailing lifestyle is selling an actual product online. This is not a particularly easy endeavor if you want to make some hefty cash. I can guarantee that randomly selling products online won’t have you rolling in millions by the end of the year. Furthermore, selling online requires you to make an initial investment. From personal experience, I suggest selling something you know. Always been into electronics? Why not invest in a stock of gadgets like Ipad Covers, Waterproof Bluetooth wireless speakers, and Smartwatches. You could tailor the gadgets in your online store to be “sailing friendly” and aside from online sales, offer your products to other sailors.
Selling a products online is not limited to electronics, your store could include, clothing, supplements, or beard oil – yes you heard me right, beard oil. Beard Oil is a grooming product that has gained popularity over the past few years. For other ideas on what to sell online, check out What to Sell Online: The 10 Most Profitable Products of 2018.
Don’t Wait, Set Sail
While I consider myself a risk-taker on many levels, I am still waiting for the right point to say goodbye to life on land and live on a sail-boat full-time. Saying that, I encourage anyone who has ever fantasized about living on a sailboat full-time to do it! Life is short, and there is a whole lot of ocean out there to be discovered.
Already live on a Sail-boat full-time? Share your experience below!
