All in the Same Boat : Living Aboard and Cruising

by Tom Neale

"An excellent and practical step-by-step manual to help prepare you for the cruising lifestyle and to entertain you as you learn." -- Cruising World More than two decades ago, Tom and Mel Neale moved onto a boat full-time with their two daughters. Now their neighborhood is anywhere they choose to anchor. Here's all the information needed to follow in their footsteps, including choosing a boat, earning a living, raising and educating kids, and much more.

Genres: Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1996

About the author

Thomas Francis "Tom" Neale was a New Zealander bushcraft and survival enthusiast who spent much of his life in the Cook Islands and 16 years in three sessions living alone on the island of Anchorage in the Suwarrow atoll, which was the basis of his popular autobiography.

Reviews

[Allison Karrels · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting read but very old references for things made it hard for me to get into.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite its original publication date of 1997, “All in the Same Boat” still offers invaluable knowledge for the fledgling or will-be cruiser. Tom Neale and his family are a cruising dynasty and their decades of liveaboard experience have been well documented, down to the last cotter pin, in this extensive, how-to survival guide. The dreams of living aboard and cruising to remote island destinations are filled with placid blue-green waters and white sand beaches that fortify lush, tropical foliage. And while full-time cruisers do enjoy these escapist destinations (sometimes under the influence of the occasional pineapple rum drink), there is also a much more sobering reality to life on a sailboat, namely life itself. The most basic aspects of life must be met and sustained aboard along with preparation for the many perils at sea and the inevitable mechanical failures of the many systems that keep you alive, comfortable and mobile. This is the focus of Neale’s technical writing which is interspersed with vignettes and humor that help to punctuate the topic at hand. Cruising is a lifestyle change that can change your life forever, but it cannot be looked upon as a permanent vacation. Hard work, preparation and adaptation are the sacrifices that must be made in order to experience independence and paradise aboard.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

A tedious book. It promises to tell you how to live on a sailboat, and then gives you such helpful tips as "you should insure the boat because it might get into an accident--shop around." Or "there are criminals out there--be careful." Or "since you don't get to go ashore very often, you should store lots of food." I got this book from a used bookstore. I can understand why its previous owner was so anxious to get rid of it.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of great information on how and why to live aboard a boat. Drags a bit when he gets into the technical mumbo jumbo. I think this would be a better read after some initial time logged aboard, but still very informational. Could use some updating to account for advances in technology (WiFi, etc.)

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book for anyone who has ever thought of sailing away. The author lives aboard with his family and gives all kinds of great detailed thought to what to do, not do, and things to think about. Fun stories from their journey interspersed throughout make this book an easier read.

[Paul Harrington]

A great book if you are thinking of a cruising lifestyle.

[T&d]

very good handbook to sailing..