Do you keep track?

flynhi4u

flynhi4u

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Oct 28, 2013
678
Hunter 20 Lake Monroe
Just curious if others keep track of how much they spend on their boats? After a total redo from the keel up, new sails, and now radios, gps chartplotter, and other items we need for a North Channel trip to say we are buried in our boat would be an understatement.
I see adds of boats for sale that tell of all the thousands spent and they are hoping to get maybe a 1/3 of that investment back and wonder if I am better off not knowing the total investment we have in our boat. Granted some items we can take with us to a new boat, but most big ticket items we cant. All the hours I spent working on it and sewing are non transferrable and have no real cash value.
Like I said, just curious.

Sam
 
R

Ranger_12

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Mar 26, 2014
54
Macgregor 25 Kaw Lake Oklahoma
I feel like the time and money I spend on my sailboat is an investment in myself rather than an investment in a boat that I know I will never fully recover.
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
Yes, some of us do, and you are right that most of us are "upside down" in our boats as an investment, and will never recover monetarily...

and the others who do not keep track, they are the ones who say, "yep, shes an older boat but I got it real cheap and fixed it up, and now shes real nice, and It didnt cost much to do it"....
These people apparently have no clue how to run a ledger:biggrin:... and "nice" is always relative.

if the boat is being used, and still being taken care of properly, the costs continue...
the costs of maintenance can be deffered but they can not be avoided.... by deferred, I mean until another time or another owner, but the longer you wait to do what ever it is that needs to be done, the more expensive it seems to get..

If it were all worked out on paper by a budget managment specialist, it would be found that a very large percentage of boat owners have way more boat than they can afford... even owners of small boats. and thats a true statement:biggrin:

Anothe true statement is, one can almost always buy a "turn key"' ready to sail boat that someone else has fixed up, at less cost than they can fix up a nearly free boat that they got cheap because the PO has neglected the maintenance..... or has "deferred" the costs to the new owner of it
 
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Kermit

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,657
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
Sailboating is a luxury. Gasoline to and from the club alone would become mind-boggling. I have an expense line for boating in Quicken but I never create a report on it.

We have never bought a project boat and never intend to. I'd rather sail. But we do spend a fair amount of time cleaning. Every dawg to his own bone.
 
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HMT2

HMT2

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Mar 20, 2014
899
Hunter 31 828 Shoreacres, TX
I do, but I don't really think of the dollars I spend on fixing her as an investment. Some are safety concerns like standing rigging, I just replaced that, but what price is the knowledge that you have greatly reduced the odds of your mast coming down in the middle of nowhere? The dollars and time I spend on "making her look real nice" are entertainment dollars. I enjoy very much researching, planning and executing those projects.

Then there the slip fees every month, ah the price of ownership. Those are simply the dues we pay to be in the "club" of people who are insane enough to try to ride the wind. My wife is beginning to insist that I change the name of my boat to "The Other Woman." That may be true, but I am keeping my marriage vows!
 
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centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
Boating is not so much a sport as it is a hobby.... and what we spend on our hobbies for fun and relaxation makes no sense, and it doesnt really have to.... we all have a dream, and it seems to cost money attempting to achieve it the quickest way we can...
 
C

Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,063
-na -NA Anywhere USA
I use to tell my customers that sailing is a pleasurable time for the family to enjoy getting away from what we call the rat race getting back to basics to enjoy life.
 
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flynhi4u

flynhi4u

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Oct 28, 2013
678
Hunter 20 Lake Monroe
I am sure we all rationalize our expenditures on our boats in all sorts of different ways. This being our first sailboat I have gotten a real education, to say the least. But now I know what to look for in our next boat and really, can you put a price on education and knowledge? And while we may loose our rears on her when we pass her onto her next owners, we will be able to do so knowing we made her the best we could and that she was a good old boat. We just hope her new owners care for her like we have and she continues to get to play on the water each season for many years to come. Till then we have a very "nice" boat to sail and enjoy, plus she fits in our garage in the off season. We have made her into something she was probably never intended to be but we enjoy her and dam the cost. I just tell myself all the guys at the lake who make fun of us, ok, me, for doing all this work to a 20 footer are really just "jealous" of all the amenities she has for us to enjoy.
Like HHT2, the other woman in my life is our boat. Luckily, Cindy is ok sharing me with her LOL!
 
topcat0399

topcat0399

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Aug 22, 2011
1,113
MacGregor Venture V224 Cheeseland
I stopped keeping track after the 1st 2 years.
I dream about what I want or need and when
I feel I can swing it I just buy and try and forget it.

My father was a bar owner, and I was a performing musician for decades.
I was always amazed at the amount of time and money
hundreds of people would spend sitting at his bar and how in the world they could afford that.
Seemed to be these folks hobby and lifestyle. If I go out for ONE night on the town the next day
I look in the wallet and wonder where all the cabbage went and what do I have to show for it?
A headache is all and probably some booze inspired regrets.

At least with dasbOOt I have the continuing dream to look forward to whether or not it makes financial sense.
 
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centerline

centerline

.
Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
topcat0399 said:
I stopped keeping track after the 1st 2 years.
I dream about what I want or need and when
I feel I can swing it I just buy and try and forget it.

My father was a bar owner, and I was a performing musician for decades.
I was always amazed at the amount of time and money
hundreds of people would spend sitting at his bar and how in the world they could afford that.
Seemed to be these folks hobby and lifestyle. If I go out for ONE night on the town the next day
I look in the wallet and wonder where all the cabbage went and what do I have to show for it?
A headache is all and probably some booze inspired regrets.

At least with dasbOOt I have the continuing dream to look forward to whether or not it makes financial sense.
Click to expand
Exactly!... everyone will always spend their spare change where they feel they are getting the most contentment from it.... even if it is considered a senseless waste of time by those who are spending their spare change on some other senseless and expensive hobby/addiction.... which brings nascar to mind:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:
 
Doug J

Doug J

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May 2, 2005
1,192
Hunter 26 Oceanside, CA
Can't take it with you!
I'm working on AC shore power and DC power panel and wiring. I went to WM yesterday to simply get some wire and crimp connectors... $88, ouch again!
Oh well, I happily went back to the boat and got to work. The pleasure I get from my boat outweighs the money I spend. It's the same with any hobby or sport - there is a cost to play. If it's worth it to you - do it. Me, I don't keep track of the money I spend, but my wife does. :what:
 
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C

Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,063
-na -NA Anywhere USA
JDoug;

If you need any help with the shore power and air, let me know via personal forum email as I pioneered that on the 26
 
Fred

Fred

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Sep 27, 2008
513
Catalina 28 mkii 745 Ottawa, Ontario, CA
flynhi4u said:
how much they spend on their boats?
Click to expand
One thing I know is that we "spent" three weeks each of the last three years cruising the North Channel. I kept meticulous records in terms of photos. Every time I review the record of the "expenditure" I feel like I got a huge bonus!
 
uncledom

uncledom

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Jun 11, 2011
1,243
Hunter 41 Lewes
Our boat, mine and the Admirals, is the friends and family destination resort. It's always a good time. There is always pictures and videos. There are so many stories! As spring rolls around, all I hear at family events and social events is "when's the boat going in?" You can not put a price on having the most awesome meeting place for everyone to share. I keep loose track on big ticket items but really I can't think of anything better to spend my cash on than for a place for all my loved ones to gather and make memories. Of course sailing is awesome too!
 
T

twodzusfittings

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Aug 11, 2011
880
O'day 30 313 Georgetown MD
Do you keep an accounting on what you consume in booze? Well then! Enjoy your boat and the friends you make having it.
 
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sailorskier

sailorskier

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Mar 30, 2009
19
Hunter Hunter 456 Rock Hall, MD
I keep a maintenance receipt log. It lists what, where, and when and the cost. Never tallied. But I refer to when the last time I replaced something.
 
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