As a live aboard cruiser have you ever wondered how you could make a bit of extra cash or even a full time income while you travel to help support your sailing lifestyle? If so, here are 10 popular ways you could make money while living on a boat:

1. Content creation

Starting with an option that’s often the first to come to mind, there’s content creation. It’s interesting to live aboard a boat, and there are people who share their experiences online in an attempt to grow a following and generate income. Some people also have a very specific area of expertise outside of sailing, which could be anything from personal finance and IT software to cooking, homeschooling, or travel. This can be leveraged into an income by starting a podcast, blog, or vlog and then linking in ways to make money off of it.

2. Remote work

Thanks to technological advancements like Starlink it’s now entirely possible to work remotely from a boat. Remote work is where people carry out the same sort of activities for their employer that they previously would have done in an office from another location. Doing this usually requires a computer, internet and employer who’s willing to have you working from abroad, but it can allow you to make a similar income to what you would have on land.

3. Consulting

Depending on your pre boat life experiences you may have specialized knowledge that lends itself towards consulting. Consultants provide their clients with advice and services that create value. Thanks to the internet and tools like Zoom, it’s now possible to provide meaningful consultancy services remotely. To start off you’d want to determine your target niche and audience, then consider creating a website, connecting with industry professionals, promoting your services through social media, and contacting prospective customers.

4. Online freelance work

When you look online you’ll find there is an enormous array of freelancing opportunities ranging from marketing and blog writing to accounting, financial planning, legal services, and virtual assistants. As a result, it’s likely you can find something that links to what you did before moving onto the boat. One of the good things about being a freelancer is you can generally set your own hours and schedule work around your sailing plans.

5. Teach English online

Another method to earn money while traveling is to teach English online. Most reputable English teaching sites will ask for a TEFL certification, which can be done online, while some of the higher-paying websites also require a teaching qualification. You may also be able to find freelance or agency opportunities to practice conversational English with adults who are keen to improve their English language skills.

6. Monetize your skills and services

While sailing around the world, some cruisers figure out how to charge their skills and labour out to other sailors. You might be able to provide marine-related services including custom cabinetry, gel coat repairs, canvas and upholstery work, interior and exterior detailing, or rope splicing. Alternatively, you might be able to provide services outside of boating, such as hairdressing, child care, massage therapy, dog or boat sitting, dive instruction, or teaching music.

7. Sell physical products

If you’re more the crafty type or are able to produce a physical product on the boat that you think would sell, you could look at starting a little business. Things I’ve seen and heard of other cruisers do include selling handmade jewellery, custom vinyl stickers, personalized apparel, homemade clothes or flags, soft shackles, winch covers and special spice blends.

8. Start an E-commerce business

Being able to electronically buy and sell products has opened up a world of opportunities in the e-commerce space. Choose a product you think people want and start an online store. You may want to sell digital products such as downloadable materials, online courses, teaching resources, Ebooks, and stock audio or images.

Alternatively, you could sell physical items through drop shipping. When you use drop shipping, you sell the products, and a third company handles the fulfillment. Depending on the products, you might be delivering them straight from the supplier to the client or you might have things sitting in the fulfillment companies warehouse.

9. Invest your savings

To help generate a passive income stream to support their lifestyle, some cruisers invest in stocks, commodities, or real estate. It is not something that should be jumped into hastily, instead you should spend  time learning about the form of investment you’re considering to make an informed, financially viable decision.

10. Run charters

Some sailors choose to monetize their yacht by providing day sails, fishing excursions, or multi-day charters. It takes a lot of commitment to do this since you have to comply with insurance and regulatory standards, and be willing to let people you don’t know use your boat. Depending on your situation, you could find it more convenient to hire an agency to assist with organizing and advertising your charters, rather than doing everything yourself.

A word on compliance

Two things to consider when wanting to work from your boat are the tax and visa implications.

For tax, you need to be aware of your obligations and ensure they are met, especially in relation to the country when your tax residency is held. If you’re unsure, you may want to seek advice from someone who specializes in this area.

In regard to visas, not all countries allow people to work without obtaining a special permit or visa. But, there are also more and more countries offering digital nomad visas, whereby people earning an income online are able to stay in the country and work for longer than a standard visa would allow, including European Schengen Zone countries. This may be beneficial to your cruising plans, although you want to consider any tax and residency implications this could have.

Did we miss anything?

Please comment below and share any other suggestions of ways to make a living while living on your boat.