boats are expensive!

[Gail R]

Garmin GPSMAP620 Chart Plotter: $666
Transport and launch Pearson 30: $375
Lunch for people who help us step mast using crane at town dock: $60
750 ML bottle of Capt. Morgan’s Private Stock: $19.97

Being able sail your own boat where you want, when you want, and enjoying everything the Maine coast has to offer: PRICELESS

 

[nodachi]

So I am getting a little overwhelmed at boat ownership and I have come to a realization....bought oday 25 in fall- 3500
taxes & register-350
diy winter cover/pvc and tarp-150
winter storage-875
geico seasafe insurance for winter-235
bottom paint,wax,through hull
repair and new ball valve -900
(paid yard..should have done it myself)
summer mooring-1625
boat us insurance and tow-550
(switched from sea tow)
miscellaneous gadgets and little repairs-300-500
add that up $$$$$ 8500
that is alot of coin in a short period of time..I love sailing but am starting to get overwhelmed at all the expense..I love going to the mooring and being set up but I am starting to think that I should trade up for a smaller boat with a trailer that I could rig to sail..granted I will have more work needed to sail and probably wont sail as much but the money saved will be huge. I might consider keeping the oday 25 if I had a trailer but trailers for boats that size are hard to come by and modifying is def a job I dont think I could handle..I wouldnt even know where to start..So I am trying to just enjoy my sails but my pocket is hurting and winter storage will be here before you know it..anybody else ever second guess ????

Hmmm, ironic this topic is being discussed here.

I just left the TrailerSailor website and they had a poll in response to the following question: "Does your boat cost as much as you expected?"

53.6% said as expected, 36.8% said more, and 9.6% said less. Fortunately because I did my homework :dance: I fall into the latter category.

I too was once condescending towards "trailer sailors" because inwardly I believed they probably weren't "real sailors".

The funny thing is I didn't even own a boat and yet held such a lofty opinion!!!

But what I did was thoroughly research the subject and determined how I wanted to use the boat and where, and gradually my thinking started changing.

The boat ceased being my objective being replaced with sailing - so sailing determined my choice of boat. And the size then became a matter or practicality. Now I know that real sailors are on large and small boats alike.

Sure, I can agree with the comments that certain pleasures don't have a price and how cool it is sailing, etc., but I get all those benefits as well and still easily manage the expenses.

I'm a wage earner and far from what I'd consider being a "wealthy" man, however I've been blessed spiritually and given a few material things like my boat.

Perhaps others need a larger boat but I bought Adventure last summer and she's a 22' Hunter sloop that's perfect for my needs - and I love her.

You definitely "should trade up for a smaller boat with a trailer". And you won't have to do more work to sail and you'll sail more because it will be easier to do!!! All you'll have to do is take your time and figure out an easy mast raising system (check out U-tube) and go for it!!!!

 

[Gail R]

BTW... what helps us to afford the boat (and skiing) is that we are thrifty on a lot of other things. Both of us drive vehicles approaching 10 years old. We have a small house that is paid for. Much of our furniture is second-hand; our appliances are middle of the line at best. We don't do a lot of vacations away; most of our vacation time is spent on the boat. We do just about all the work on the boat ourselves, and live in an area that is rural enough so we keep the boat in our own dooryard for the winter, which saves on storage costs. We do have to hire a commercial transporter to move our boat to the ramp and launch it, but we step the mast ourselves using a crane at the town landing.

We're looking at moving up a bit (four-foot-itis), and it's going to be total culture shock because some things, like the mast stepping, we're probably going to have to hire a yard to do. But we're still doing what we can to manage the costs. Penny saved is a penny earned and maybe we can retire before we're too old to enjoy it!

 

[Mark J]

Meaning of B O A T

Break Out Another Thousand:dance:

 

[Willjacocks]

Break Out Another Thousand:dance:

Hahaha!!! Good one!

 

[olsalt]

Just think what a semi-vintage Stratocaster with an old Twin or Showman would cost.

A princely sum for something that lives in a case under your bed.

There is far more to see, do and learn, and fine people to meet - with a sailboat.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I'm jealous of the guy in another post that is worried about the furler for less than $300 may not be the best price. lol
In church one time, the preacher said "write down everything you spend money on in a month, whatever you spent the most on is what you love the most"
I bought this boat to spend time with my wife on it, right? So technically it's for her.

 

[Ross]

In church one time, the preacher said "write down everything you spend money on in a month, whatever you spent the most on is what you love the most"
quote]
I just checked! its a toss up between food and electricity. My boat keeping is only half my food cost. lol!

 

[nodachi]

I don't agree with this phrase...
"The two happiest days in a boat owners life are the day he buys it and the day he sells it."
Yes, the day we bought our boat was a happy day, but if I had to sell our boat now I'd be pretty depressed! I think most of us here agree.

That quote and the other one about a money being a hole in the water that you pour money down resulted in me backing out 3 - 4 times before finally purchasing my boat last summer. (Wow!!! I still like the sound of that!!! "MY boat" :dance

But talk about a depressing time!!! :neutral:

The night before and during the drive down to look at what eventually became my first sailboat I thought, "If it's true the day you buy your boat is the happiest, then I must be in for a great time because I feel some kind of miserable today."

And you know what???? I WAS RIGHT!!!! :dance:

Once I committed to boat ownership it hit me and I said, "Yeahhhhhhhh. This is cooool. I can do this. This is me. They don't know what the **** they're talking about. "

As another poster said, you're buying into a life style. I found a boat I could afford and suits my needs. If you don't do your homework and buy the wrong boat, then that's your fault alone. Like the guy said earlier, "It costs what it costs and if it is for you, It is worth every penny and you find the pennies you need!!! [to live out your dream and lifestyle]"

Everybody must determine by their choices who they want to be.

 

[thereisabelle]

we just received our renewal agreement from the marina. they have tacked on a $40.00 mo. fee for FURNITURE! wtf? do they mean the dock box?, stepbox? or garden hose? waiting to get an e-mail back...we'll see.

 

[digitek718]

Thanks for all the great responses..Every day that I go out on the boat I feel more comfortable sailing her...I sail out of little neck bay(bayside marina), in the Long Island sound- little neck bay is right before manhasset bay and very close to city island..so if I cant muster up a trailer before the winter I will def shop around those winter storage fees..

 

[peptobysmol]

Two things Scott. First your oxymoron, "a fine box of wine". Secondly, "Phase 10 cards is the most fun that I have had on the boat yet". But we all know that you have had that boat for awhile. If cards are the most fun you have had then maybe we know why your wife doesn't like the boat.

+1

:dance:

 

[Hermit Scott]

Two things Scott. First your oxymoron, "a fine box of wine". Secondly, "Phase 10 cards is the most fun that I have had on the boat yet". But we all know that you have had that boat for awhile. If cards are the most fun you have had then maybe we know why your wife doesn't like the boat.

You can't really tell because of the flash on the camera but Chris is simulating some disco lights with his head lamp, it has blue red and white. We have sirius radio, so we put it on the techno dance station.
Jeannette has fun when I am acting like a fool, which seems to happen often enough, so it works out for all of us.
We wouldn't be doing any of this with out a sailboat. we'd be sitting around the house looking at each other's faces being bored.
And don't think I'm getting fancy with a bottle instead of a box. That is genuine Oak Leaf exsclusively found only at Wal Mart, vintage-last month, price $2.99/bottle.

 

[thereisabelle]

man that makes me hungry just lookin at it.I'll post the recipe for potato salad if you like... got it from a retired navy cook. we do our potatoes and eggs at the house and take to the boat. we dont add the mayo or salad dressing untill just before serving. there is never leftovers! jimbob

 

[sinnettc]

My experience with "The Two Happiest Days" is that it depends . . .

First time I bought a boat (as opposed to being given a boat) was when we upgraded from the Laser to the Capri 16.5. On that one my wife had the laser sold before I even knew about the Capri 16.5! Didn't really get to experience the whole happy to sell it thing . . . though maybe she did.

The second time was a different story. Bought the Capri 22 and then sweated whether I was going to have to make 2 boat payments. Sold the Capri 16.5 about 2 days before the payment was due, and boy was I glad!

 

[Piratenorm]

I sailed OP's (other peoples) for years and always enjoyed that they covered the bills. I bought my own 30 footer two seasons ago, now the costs are mine to carry. And divided by the short sailing season I enjoy on Georgian Bay makes the costs per day sailed even higher. All the Cruising World and Practical Sailor magazines I've devoured and saved for years has come in handy for do-it-yourselfing. Yes, the costs are high, but the cost of NOT having her is higher. My piece (peace) of mind is worth all the work and cost.
Just enjoy it. Norm.

 

[Dan Hill]

Sailing like golfing is best enjoyed if you don't keep score.

 

[quintash]

aye they can be a bit of a pinch when geting it ready but looks like the hard part is kind of over .. getting a cradle and then welding a axle and a towing hitch isnt to bad to keep it someplace less "mariena" that will save a load .. also shop around for year long insurance rather then 2 .. and to cover the cost of anything new comeing up .. read up .. google .. what ever it takes to get it fixed your self if its posible

 

[carboman]

I agree. Although I do not have a tow contract or insurance (since iown it outright and am not in a marina, once was) it can be very expensive. I own a 1987 Hunter 23 and have done all the work my self, except for the first outbaord service and having a bimini made in 2008. You can buy alot of parts at auto parts stores and at camping world.com. I recently replaced the tiller after 23 years after it broke. $95. Also added a fuse between the battery and shutoff switch for $9. Stay out of the marine stores and find a good salvage yard in your area. Literally, the on,y thing I buy from West Marine is line.

 

[Ross]

Divorce is expensive, mental health counseling is expensive, children are expensive, cars are very expensive, homemade chicken soup is not expensive, good wine can be expensive, golf is either expensive or very expensive, sporting clays are expensive, bank fishing is not expensive.