The Essentials Of Living Aboard A Boat: The definitive Guide for Liveaboards

The Essentials of Living Aboard educates both dreamers and explorers with information about this wonderful and rewarding lifestyle. Mark Nicholas has combined his experience of life aboard with the advice of other liveaboards, marina owners, technicians, boat manufacturers and advocates in order to detail the challenges and offer real advice for success. This lifestyle, typically thought to be out of reach or "for other people," is now available to all who dream.Read this book if you've ever been gripped by the romantic idea of living on water. Mark Nicholas presents a rich mine of information for potential liveaboards, information he gleaned the hard way as a self-confessed "expert at what can go wrong."

Originally from the small coastal town of Bayville, NJ, Mark grew up sailing small boats for years. With only a rudimentary knowledge of the inner workings of larger boats and boat mechanics, Mark moved aboard his 33 Hunter Marine sailboat, The Morning Fog.

For what was supposed to be a turnkey purchase for just under $30,000, Mark's boat was less than ideal from day one. Despite paying top dollar for a marine survey, everything broke quickly, causing more than $6,000 in unexpected costs in the first month and a half and $10,000 in the first year and a half. To make matters worse, the Fog was not built to be a competent liveaboard boat, offering major sacrifices in every aspect of the boat's design. Mark explains how he rebuilt the boat from scratch, starting with the seacocks and plumbing, then the electrical systems, the chainplates and through-deck fittings, and totally upgraded the engine and alternator.

Everything just kept falling apart. He learned an unbelievable amount, things that someone should have told him, and lots that no one might have ever thought to tell him. He wanted to write a book that, had he read it, might have helped him make better decisions and save thousands of dollars.
Mark continues to practice law and devotes a significant part of his practice to representing artists, musicians and filmmakers, often in a pro bono capacity. 

Mark is a voting member of the Recording Academy and lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife and four year old child.