One of our favorite things about the cruising life is how wildly different everyone’s path can be and how we all end up in the same anchorages. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, from salty solo sailors doing laps around the Caribbean to families juggling remote work and homeschooling. And thank goodness! That diversity makes gathering for sundowners incredibly rich in stories and inspiration.
That said, we have noticed some patterns.
Certain archetypes tend to emerge after meeting a bunch of cruisers on docks, at anchor, and in boatyards. None of these categories are hard and fast. Plenty of us drift amongst them over time and often overlap them entirely. Still, there’s something fun (and a little enlightening) about asking: What kind of cruiser are you?
1. The Fast-Paced Adventurer
You have a pile of money, but it’s not a mountain. You sold the house and have enough in the cruising kitty to get you by for a little while. You certainly don’t want to spend that precious cash on a slip.
You have time, but it’s borrowed. You may be on a sabbatical from an income-generating job. Or you’re on the grander timeline of life, the inevitable countdown to physical limitations taking you out of the cruising game. You don’t want to miss the opportunity to cruise while you have it!
Regardless, you’re out here to go. You picked the boat that was good enough. You’re okay with the engine being a little quirky. You’ll fix it on the way.
You measure time in anchorages, not calendar months. You value getting as many experiences as possible with your given constraints. Why spend three weeks in one bay when you could see three countries?
You might be this cruiser if:
- You own a boat that’s “almost there” and are fixing it on the fly
- Your philosophy is “go now, learn later”
- You’re on a tight budget and a tighter timeline
- Your favorite phrase is “We’ll figure it out”
2. The DIY Slow Roller
You’ve got more time than cash and a growing collection of obscure tools. You love a good project list and will get to the bottom of it. Watching YouTube videos about diesel engine rebuilds is your idea of a relaxing evening.
The dream isn’t just the destination. It’s knowing every nut and bolt that got you there.
You might be this cruiser if:
- You’d rather spend $200 on materials than pay $2,000 for labor
- You’ve done your own standing rigging (or are thinking about it)
- Your cruising plans revolve around haul-out windows and parts shipping
- You own a moisture meter and know how to use it
3. The Thoughtful Tortoise
You cruise slowly by design. You like a methodical pace, both in travel and boat projects. You’ll splurge here and there, especially when it means not having to redo something later. You’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves, but you’re also not afraid to dip into the kitty when needed.
Planning is half the fun. The other half? It’s that perfect anchorage no one else noticed, and the smooth sailing to get there.
You might be this cruiser if:
- You’ve read every post on the forums before making a decision
- Your boat log is color-coded
- You enjoy boat projects… as long as they aren’t emergencies
- You’ve got a spreadsheet for that
4. The Full-Time Family Floatilla
Boat life with kids is a whole different rhythm. You’re juggling schoolwork, provisioning for adults and kids, and ensuring everyone has a healthy social network (IRL). Maybe one of you is working remotely, or you’re in a career break. Being a parent is already a full-time job, and now you’ve added on cruising as your other full-time job. This is adventure on another level!
Your schedule includes weather windows and homeschool hours. You value experiences but also routines.
You might be this cruiser if:
- You’ve researched every “kid boat” rendezvous
- Your cockpit doubles as a classroom
- You’ve figured out how to host a Zoom meeting from a mooring ball
- You know which anchorages have playgrounds/activities near dinghy docks
5. The Seasonal Swapper
You live two lives: part-time cruiser, part-time landlubber. You migrate with the seasons, splitting your time between your boat and your home ashore. This rhythm suits you because you get to keep a foot in both worlds.
Cruising is your passion, but so is gardening, family time, or even a land-based job like oyster farming.
You might be this cruiser if:
- You’ve perfected the art of provisioning just enough to leave the fridge clean when you head back to land.
- You enjoy the prep-and-haul routine (well, mostly)
- You do boat work because you want to, not because you have to
- Your cruising calendar revolves around hurricane season and/or ski season
6. The Weekend Warrior
You haven’t made the full-time leap, and you are still a cruiser at heart. You might live aboard in a slip and work a full-time job. You may trailer your pocket cruiser to local lakes. Or keep your daysailer at a local marina where you head out for weekend adventures. Your dream voyage might be years away, but you’re not waiting to get out there.
Cruising isn’t about quitting your life—it’s about enriching it.
You might be this cruiser if:
- Your nav station is full of post-it notes and dream routes
- You keep a packed “go bag” ready for spontaneous weekends
- You’ve explored every anchorage within 50 miles of your home port
- You follow passagemakers on Instagram while eating lunch at your desk
So...Which are You?
Perhaps you’re a little of each. If you don’t have the boat yet, you probably don’t know which you are. We thought we knew what type we might be, but a huge part of transitioning to boat life was learning what our style and preferred modes of operation. If I had to pick one, we’re currently the Thoughtful Tortoise with our incessant research and spreadsheets. We love the slow pace which suits our desire to become experts in various topics along the way.
And the reality? These are generalizations. I know plenty of cruisers who embody multiple archetypes. Additionally, we change and evolve. Your cruiser archetype changes with time, experience, and all the curveballs that boat life throws at you.
The beauty of this life is learning about ourselves while we adventure about this big wide world.
Disclaimer: I wrote this post with the help of ChatGPT. I read every word and heavily revised it. The content is my own.