Having dolphins as guests at breakfast time far outweighs the limitations of living on a sailboat for Phoebe Kempson.
The 25-year-old, with partner Brad Crane, 27, decided to give up their Brooklyn Park rental this year to live on a boat docked at the North Haven Marina.
"We're not tucked in between two boats, so we've got the view of the whole water … it's so worth it for the view," Ms Kempson said.
"I was cooking breakfast the other day and up pops a dolphin right in front of my face, about two metres away, you just don't get that in the other marinas which are closed."
It was an idea born out of Mr Crane's work as a surveyor, which saw him work on different boats.
The 13.8-metre-long boat they purchased in Port Fairy, Victoria in November is named the Tiburon.
The boat cost the couple $59,000. They pay $400 a month for mooring north-west of Adelaide and about $50 a quarter for electricity.
"At the moment we're paying off our loan for the boat also, so it's probably the same as living in a rental," Ms Kempson said.
"But at the least at the end of this we're going to be able to keep the boat and it's ours instead of wasting money on a rental.
"The idea is to keep it for around three or four years … and then possibly sell it off and we'll have a deposit for a house."
A tricky trip to Adelaide
On their trip from Port Fairy to Adelaide, the couple was tested by rough seas and a stormy night.
Mr Crane broke his ribs after he was flung to the other side of the vessel — while changing his T-shirt.
"It was 4–5m swell, and it was 45 knots of wind … we had waves coming over the bow [front of the boat]," Ms Kempson said.
"At times I had to army crawl on the ground to make sure I didn't fall over because it was that rough."
The rough conditions made it challenging for Mr Crane to convalesce.
"He couldn't lie in the bed because he'd be rolling around," Ms Kempson said.
"He just had to lie in this small crack near our bed for 15 hours while Roger [the yacht deliverer] and I did most of the boat work."
Getting used to boat life
The couple is adjusting to life on the boat, including doing their washing at a laundromat.
"Moving from a house to a boat is huge," Ms Kempson said.
"We've had to get rid of lots of our things, sell all our furniture … only the essentials come on."
They enjoy taking friends for a sail for a fish or a swim.
"It's really beautiful to be woken up by the natural sun, step outside and it's the ocean, it's just stunning," Ms Kempson said.
On the water for 20 years
Stuart Tucker, another resident at North Haven Marina, has been living in the area since 2016.
He has lived on a boat on and off for more than 20 years, including during a 17-year stint in Germany.
"This marina here, for example, it's like a little retirement centre," Mr Tucker said.
There's people that live here and we meet up for a coffee or for a meal or have a chat.
"I haven't got a TV and Terry [another resident] comes down here and tells me the news every week."
Mr Tucker loves the lifestyle of living at the marina.
"It's kind of a community. It's pretty safe, it's gated, it's a kilometre walk to the supermarket, there's a pub, a couple of restaurants here," he said.
"If it's nice I can go for a sail for a couple of hours.
"A lot of my friends want me to move into a retirement unit … But I'd rather just stay here and fade away gracefully."
Social side of boat life
Hague Showell has lived in the marina since 2017 and capitalises on the social aspects of living on a boat.
He runs a monthly social group called Social Sailing and Champagne Sunsets for Singles where about 12 people gather for a sail on his boat.
Mr Showell's love of sailing was sparked in the 1980s when he worked in yacht maintenance on the Whitsunday Islands.
"I got a love for sailing. Then, we just had Stubby shorts and bare feet, that's how we worked," he said.
Mr Showell admits boat life has its shortcomings but going to work helps by giving him some space.
"Living on a boat is a nice dream but the reality of walking back and forth to the toilet is a bit different," he said.
"And also confined spaces [mean] you can't store things easily."
Mr Showell was pleased to see Mr Crane and Ms Kempson move to the marina.
"It's left field for younger people and it's good to see younger people getting into boating too," he said.
