Learn To Live Aboard At Your Own Pace.
Clear, informative, easy to follow topics to take away any fear you may have and to empower you.
Learn To Live Aboard’s online learning portal gives you access to a wealth of easy to follow information to help you navigate the sometimes daunting pathway to living aboard.
Topics and exercises include:
- Why Do You Want To Go Boating?
- What Type Of Boat?
- The Boat Buying Process
- Budgeting & Financials
- Planning Your Move Aboard
- Safety Equipment
- Primary Boat Systems
- Terminology 101
- Docking A MonoHull
- Anchoring 101
- Andrew’s Journey (an in-depth conversation)
- Radios & Communications
- Pete’s Journey (an in-depth conversation)
- Basic Trip Planning
- What Knot’s That?
- Hand Signals Aboard
- Boyd’s Journey (an in-depth conversation)
- Layton’s Journey (an in-depth conversation)
- Enroute – What Do You Need To do?
- Basic Navigation Systems
- Living Together On A Boat
- Enjoying The Lifestyles
About The Course Author - Boyd Jackson
Founder and Principal of Learn To Live Aboard (LTLA), Boyd, has spent years calling sailing boats home throughout stunning Queensland Australia and, his “home,” The Whitsundays. In addition he’s sailed Tahiti, Croatia, Thailand, Greece, Indonesia and Malaysia, collecting an abundance of experience, he’s now compiled into this exciting course.
Boyd holds a mix of commercial and recreational marine qualifications and has been around boats of all shapes and sizes for as long as he can remember. His first taste of boating independence came from zipping to school in a tiny tinny, and at just 15 he ditched the classroom for life on a prawn boat. Since then, he’s had a colourful career, including working in marinas and as a Bareboat Charter Briefer — basically helping others find their sea legs.
After a successful corporate career owning and running advertising agencies, marketing and corporate strategy consulting, life threw Boyd a serious curveball in 2015 when he was diagnosed with a potentially fatal melanoma cancer. Thankfully, after successful treatment, he decided it was time to steer life in a more fulfilling direction – straight back to sea aboard his 50’ steel sailing ketch, Morningside.
These days, after 11 years living aboard Morningside, Boyd is committed to helping others navigate their way through the early stages of living aboard. From understanding why you might want to go boating, through what type of boat is best for you, the buying process and on to the basic, and most important aspects of boating, such as anchoring, trip planning and more. In addition, this course takes you onto other liveaboard boats to hear, first hand, their experiences and their journeys.
Learn to Live Aboard (LTLA) is a welcoming learning space for anyone eager to dive into liveaboard life.
Whether you’re dreaming of your first floating home, planning future bareboat adventures, or simply wanting to understand boating life a little better. This course is a great place to start.
Our mission at Learn to Live Aboard is simple: to help others get comfortable with the boating environment, learn how to be safe, understand the theory behind it all, and learn directly from those who’ve already made the leap – so your transition to life on the water is safe, smooth and full of enjoyment.
Why This Course Will Work For You
Links To Tutorial Videos
Each exercise module contains links to the relevant tutorial videos on YouTube; a tutorial presentation video and exercise quizzes to help you on your learning journey.
Your learning will be concise and you’ll enjoy an exceptional platform to help you on your way.
Presentation Videos On Each Topic
Presentation videos in each exercise walk through the key points to ensure you have a clear understanding of the top.
Quizzes On Each Topic
Each topics has a simple quiz, most multiple choice, to help you learn and retain what you’ve learned, along the way.
What Our Past Students Say
"This course will save you months of digging..."
When I first found the Learn to Live Aboard course, living on a boat felt like a distant dream. I’d already spent months down internet rabbit holes and flipping through books, trying to piece together how people actually make the leap, and whether I could do it too.
Working with Boyd completely changed that! He helped me turn my vague ideas into an actionable plan for how to make this lifestyle happen. The course content is exceptionally thorough, covering everything from the buying process to the practical realities of life aboard to knots to anchoring, and more! All was explained in a way that made it feel achievable.
Boyd is a wealth of knowledge and incredibly generous with his time. He answered every question (and I had a lot!) with patience and real-world insight. What stands out most, though, is his genuine passion, not just for sailing, but for helping others realize their dreams on the water.
If you’re even thinking about living aboard, this course will save you months of digging and give you the roadmap you’ve been looking for.
Keely,
United States
"This course was incredibly valuable..."
As someone new to both sailing and the liveaboard lifestyle, the Learn To Live Aboard course was incredibly valuable. It gave me a clear, step-by-step understanding of everything involved in planning and preparing to live aboard. I especially appreciated how practical the lessons felt. Boyd breaks down complex topics and shares real world experience in a way that’s easy to apply.
The modules on primary boat systems, trip planning, and understanding weather were standout highlights for me. They gave me the structure to plan safely and sustainably, and helped me see all sides of living aboard, not just the sailing and adventure, but the systems, safety, and decision-making behind it. I’m leaving with checklists, frameworks, and a mindset that I know will make a real difference once I’m on the water. living aboard, this course will save you months of digging and give you the roadmap you’ve been looking for.
Andre,
Canada
"This course helped me refine what I need to do..."
Completing the Learn To Live Aboard course has allowed me to refine in my mind what I need to do to live aboard quicker.
I now know I can spend a lot less and do everything I would like to do on a much smaller boat. Completing the course has removed all the things that I had in my mind that were holding me back… I’m now ready!!
Joe,
Australia
"More than just knowledge, empowerment!"
Joining Learn to Live Aboard was great. Boyd’s genuine passion and hands-on experience. His tutorials, insider insights, and practical checklists offered not just knowledge, but empowerment.
LTLA isn’t about romanticizing life at sea—it’s about real preparation. Their resources helped me —from handling weather and anchoring to provisioning and solo docking – with clarity and calm. Best of all, I now sail with purpose, curiosity, and the confidence to chart my own course.
If you’ve ever dreamt of living aboard, cruising coastlines, or even just chartering with independence – this is a great place to start. LTLA’s blend of affordability, real-world wisdom, and a supportive community will transform your fear into freedom
Matt,
Australia
"Boyd just loves teaching people..."
Boyd is a great guy. He is also a lot of fun and makes learning fun. He’s always up for new adventures and loves meeting new people and helping them on their learning journey. But he is strict on safety. Always! We’ve been sailing with Boyd many times and he just loves teaching people new things.
We highly recommend Boyd and his Learn To Live Aboard courses 100%! You’ll have the best time and learn heaps.
Elodie & Batiste,
France
"This course ignites the inner passion..."
The Learn To Live Aboard Course by Boyd Jackson was a fantastic course even if you had experience of sail boats or not much, it helps paint the picture of what you are in for and the knowledge to take that step of living aboard.
I really like the communication aspect, with Boyd’s easy going personality mixed with a wealth of knowledge, he makes you comfortable to ask any questions.
I highly recommend it will not only give you the tools and knowledge to take that big but exciting step to live aboard, it ignites that inner passion to achieve that lifestyle.
Loz
Australia
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What's Included...
- Discounted price applies until 15th December, 2025.
- FREE “Position Fix*” zoom chat
- One time payment
- Includes 12 month’s membership
- Annual renewal only $AUD149pa
- Move through the learning modules at your own pace
- Downloadable “Cheat Sheet” checklists for all tasks/exercises
- Each module contains quizzes to test your learning
- Learn from anywhere, any time
- Access to all available learning modules
- Access to Member only links and assets
- Support with your learning directly from Boyd
- Recommended links to specific learning videos