we paid $5,900.00 2yrs ago for our 23.5 and drove 1,000 miles to get it , our docks and club membership is $300 a year "summer only" as for anything else of which there is plenty its just the cost of boating, mind you I dont have roller furling, auotpilot ect but DO have a nice 19"plasma with dvd to help pass the nights away and those were Christmas presents from the family, there ya go just utilize Christmas an birthdays to get the gear you need, good luck
boats are expensive!
- Thread starter digitek718
- Start date
- Status
Digitek mentioned how much enjoyed a perfect day on the water when he finally felt comfortable with the boat and how that changed his mind about keeping his 25. I think everyone has had a similar moment.
I'm in the camp of not adding up the numbers; and the boat is probably the only thing in life where I don't.
What is it worth to be able to say you're enjoying life and enjoying your time together? As someone else said, you only get one go-around.
Jim
I'm in the camp of not adding up the numbers; and the boat is probably the only thing in life where I don't.
What is it worth to be able to say you're enjoying life and enjoying your time together? As someone else said, you only get one go-around.
Jim
Cheaper than a car
We've owned two boats. The first was a Dawson 26 on which we kept meticulous records for the ten years we owned her. Our $14,000 boat soon became a $40,000 yacht. I wrote an article about it for "Messing About in Boats." The article was called "We'll never fall in love again." Next time we would have our eyes wide open. We would pay enough for the boat so that we got one in good shape that did not have to be brought up to spec via credit cards.
Yeah, right.
Our next and current and last boat was and is a 1982 O'Day 37 CC. There were indeed fewer things to fix. But still plenty, both replacements (sails) and additions (davits). Can't say how much because on this boat we keep no records. Somehow the money is found to maintain her in the style to which she is accustomed.
Cheaper than a car? Insurance on the boat is much less than on the car. The boat was financed with a 15-year mortgage, interest deductible and a monthly payment far less than for a new car these days. Garaging our car could cost upwards of $500 per month (Manhattan). Our summer slip (water and electricity included) and winter storage come to less than that.
And after all, she is not just a boat but our two-bedroom, two-bath summer home with ocean-sized pool.
Someone mentioned only one life to live. Indeed. We bought the first boat on our way home from a memorial service for a dear departed friend.
Enjoy what you have and stop counting the pennies.
We've owned two boats. The first was a Dawson 26 on which we kept meticulous records for the ten years we owned her. Our $14,000 boat soon became a $40,000 yacht. I wrote an article about it for "Messing About in Boats." The article was called "We'll never fall in love again." Next time we would have our eyes wide open. We would pay enough for the boat so that we got one in good shape that did not have to be brought up to spec via credit cards.
Yeah, right.
Our next and current and last boat was and is a 1982 O'Day 37 CC. There were indeed fewer things to fix. But still plenty, both replacements (sails) and additions (davits). Can't say how much because on this boat we keep no records. Somehow the money is found to maintain her in the style to which she is accustomed.
Cheaper than a car? Insurance on the boat is much less than on the car. The boat was financed with a 15-year mortgage, interest deductible and a monthly payment far less than for a new car these days. Garaging our car could cost upwards of $500 per month (Manhattan). Our summer slip (water and electricity included) and winter storage come to less than that.
And after all, she is not just a boat but our two-bedroom, two-bath summer home with ocean-sized pool.
Someone mentioned only one life to live. Indeed. We bought the first boat on our way home from a memorial service for a dear departed friend.
Enjoy what you have and stop counting the pennies.
My boat is not expensive!
I paid 2500 for it, invested 3500 and many hours in it and I can get my 2500 back any time I want (maybe). My stocks should do so good.
I paid 2500 for it, invested 3500 and many hours in it and I can get my 2500 back any time I want (maybe). My stocks should do so good.
Everything is Expensive
Boats can be expensive, but so can , golf, sking, horseback riding , mountain biking ..... After a lifetime of taking up things, I realize that it's best for me to not do to many things but enjoy the things I do. They all cost$$$$$. As for trailering, add, new tires, bearing going, storing the trailer , getting a trailer hitch, and replacing thr transmission in your vehicle when the underpowered vehicle is stressed from towing the boat. Oh yes, and also the stress of being at the boat ramp, and waiting, getting the trailer stuck, and having impatient folks tell you you are taking to much time, or that your boat is on crooked. I suggest you decide if you really like sailing, and if like me you do, you really won't begrudge spending the money. Just forget to tell your significant other about a few of the expenses.
Boats can be expensive, but so can , golf, sking, horseback riding , mountain biking ..... After a lifetime of taking up things, I realize that it's best for me to not do to many things but enjoy the things I do. They all cost$$$$$. As for trailering, add, new tires, bearing going, storing the trailer , getting a trailer hitch, and replacing thr transmission in your vehicle when the underpowered vehicle is stressed from towing the boat. Oh yes, and also the stress of being at the boat ramp, and waiting, getting the trailer stuck, and having impatient folks tell you you are taking to much time, or that your boat is on crooked. I suggest you decide if you really like sailing, and if like me you do, you really won't begrudge spending the money. Just forget to tell your significant other about a few of the expenses.
my cars have all taken more money than my boats so far--and i have a formosa 41,,LOL
but then, if ye has to ask or complain about the money involved, ye cannot afford it...go figger--kinda like an aston martin lagonda----if ya love it ya spend money on it if ya donot love it ya complain about how much it costs...goooodluck--may you find something for which you have passion.......passion cares not about money or price of operation......
but then, if ye has to ask or complain about the money involved, ye cannot afford it...go figger--kinda like an aston martin lagonda----if ya love it ya spend money on it if ya donot love it ya complain about how much it costs...goooodluck--may you find something for which you have passion.......passion cares not about money or price of operation......
But, they are worth it There are great pieces of wisdom hidden in this thread. Don't count your money while you are sitting at the table. Do appreciate where you are lucky. One thundering reach accross the bay, covers a lot of dollars. You have to love it. All of it. Look at all the dusty, weed grown, boats with expired registration. Many desired the dream but did not understand the price.
There are great pieces of wisdom hidden in this thread. Don't count your money while you are sitting at the table. Do appreciate where you are lucky. One thundering reach accross the bay, covers a lot of dollars. You have to love it. All of it. Look at all the dusty, weed grown, boats with expired registration. Many desired the dream but did not understand the price.
Last edited by a moderator:
Your analysis is a one method of assessment and something a budget building exercise is useful for, particularly when considering matters of overall affordability prior to making a financial commitment. Spending involves making choices between different types of consumption. Your value system, together with your bank balance, guide you. Saving is simply deferred consumption unless, unfortunately, you don't make it to the time of planned withdrawals :-( Do we defer our consumption completely in favor of saving or do we consume less by reducing or altering our choice(s) of spending? When it comes to this pursuit of boating it seems to me many folks - for a variety of reasons - have figured out that their current costs of consumption provide them with greater value than can be accounted for on a cash basis. Othewise, why do it? I'm reminded of that credit card commercial that names three items and tells us the respective prices of each. A fourth related item is described and quantified as "priceless". This particular value judgement may have had more to do with encouraging purchases on credit to achieve a priceless state of happiness......or perhaps not! The point being: what I consider priceless may be different from some or many others. Cash is one measure but not necessarily the only one.
Whenever I get the bank balance blues, I simply express my annual operating costs as a percentage of my acquisition costs and take comfort that I didn't buy a small boat..... Jes kidden!! Ask yourself if the amount you spend annually for your boat could give you more pleasure spent elsewhere or saved. If the answer is yes, sell the boat. However, console yourself with the fact that you have tried what many dream of doing but don't attempt. fair winds to you wherever you may go and good luck with your decision.
Whenever I get the bank balance blues, I simply express my annual operating costs as a percentage of my acquisition costs and take comfort that I didn't buy a small boat..... Jes kidden!! Ask yourself if the amount you spend annually for your boat could give you more pleasure spent elsewhere or saved. If the answer is yes, sell the boat. However, console yourself with the fact that you have tried what many dream of doing but don't attempt. fair winds to you wherever you may go and good luck with your decision.
Second Home
Think of your boat as your second home. Look at your first cost and your annual costs and do the math. Then think about purchasing waterfront property and the associated cost of the house, along with annual taxes, maintenance, et al. The comparison is obvious, and your boat is portable. If you don't like your neighbors, raise the anchor and move. Boats most certainly are not expensive!!!
Bruce & Jean
S/V AERIE
Catalina 380-310
Rock Hall, MD
Think of your boat as your second home. Look at your first cost and your annual costs and do the math. Then think about purchasing waterfront property and the associated cost of the house, along with annual taxes, maintenance, et al. The comparison is obvious, and your boat is portable. If you don't like your neighbors, raise the anchor and move. Boats most certainly are not expensive!!!
Bruce & Jean
S/V AERIE
Catalina 380-310
Rock Hall, MD
Not Only Boats!
Today I was at Mack Boring in Union, NJ for day 1 of their 2-day advanced sailboat diesel maintenance course. A couple of years ago I took their initial 1-day seminar followed by a 2-day basic diesel maintenance.
At any rate, with the marine industry going as bad as it has been over the past couple of years Mack Boring has added a new profit center. They are now an Indian Motorcycle dealer & service center. Indian makes a new Chief model that offers the identical paint schemes as the original Chief models. It is a very recognizable model - a big v-twin with a single saddle-type seat with fringed leather saddle bags. A REAL sharp looking sled.
The sticker price was $37,896.00!
Today I was at Mack Boring in Union, NJ for day 1 of their 2-day advanced sailboat diesel maintenance course. A couple of years ago I took their initial 1-day seminar followed by a 2-day basic diesel maintenance.
At any rate, with the marine industry going as bad as it has been over the past couple of years Mack Boring has added a new profit center. They are now an Indian Motorcycle dealer & service center. Indian makes a new Chief model that offers the identical paint schemes as the original Chief models. It is a very recognizable model - a big v-twin with a single saddle-type seat with fringed leather saddle bags. A REAL sharp looking sled.
The sticker price was $37,896.00!
You've received lots of good responses. My suggestion is evaluate the type of sailing you do. Do you really need a 25' boat with a fixed keel? If you're day sailing, a smaller boat with fewer accommodations might be sensible. Many expenses come from the boat being berthed in a marina and the maintenance from being in the water full time. A trailerable sailboat can eliminate those expenses. A trailerable boat can be stored at home or a cheaper storage area. For me, the annoying part of a trailerable is setting up the sails, mast and fixed rigging. Of course this goes much quicker with a smaller boat. I keep my trailerable, a MacGregor 25, in a mast-up lot right next to a launch ramp that costs about $120 a month. I can launch in fifteen minutes from when I arrive at the lot. Even so, I'm thinking of trading down to a 22' to make it easier.
On important consideration is that with a trailerable, you must have a suitable tow vehicle. Most cars there days can't tow more than 1000 lbs which limits you to a Potter 15 or similar. An SUV or pickup can tow more but then you have to consider that your daily gas mileage will be much lower, raising gas expense substantially. Note that some ramps are steeper and more slippery than others, and you may need 4-wheel drive to pull a larger trailerable out.
A trailerable boat wouldn't have a deep keel like your O'day. Centerboards, swing-keels, stub keels and water ballast all have their advocates but you'll not likely get the windward performance you have now.
On important consideration is that with a trailerable, you must have a suitable tow vehicle. Most cars there days can't tow more than 1000 lbs which limits you to a Potter 15 or similar. An SUV or pickup can tow more but then you have to consider that your daily gas mileage will be much lower, raising gas expense substantially. Note that some ramps are steeper and more slippery than others, and you may need 4-wheel drive to pull a larger trailerable out.
A trailerable boat wouldn't have a deep keel like your O'day. Centerboards, swing-keels, stub keels and water ballast all have their advocates but you'll not likely get the windward performance you have now.
the hundredth guy in the "cockpit"?
It may be cheaper but do you really want to be the hundredth guy in the "cockpit"? :naughty:
not sure where on long island sound you are, but City Island has winter storage on the hard for $30/ft... it's not much cheaper but every bit helps.
btw, what time sunday were you out and where? I saw someone near greenwich sailing wing on wing around 5pm
btw, what time sunday were you out and where? I saw someone near greenwich sailing wing on wing around 5pm
Living is expensive, but that doesn't make dying a good investment. If your boat is bringing you and yours joy, its worth the cost.
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
being the hundredth guy in the cockpit
is still cheaper than owning! NO waxing! You get to ride it hard and put it away wet! No cleanup..
is still cheaper than owning! NO waxing! You get to ride it hard and put it away wet! No cleanup..
Sail more and worry less
I have a trailer and the only use it gets is from the back yard to the marina in the beginning of the season and again at the end of the season. Having the boat in the water is the best. You have your little shore retreat on the water all season long. Last season we got out over 30 times and when I looked at the expenses it cost me $58.00 per trip during the season, not counting the days the wife and I sat out on the mooring relaxing, fishing, whatever. I also have a couple Harley's and I find the mental escape I get when riding is the same as when sailing. I am a cancer survivor from a 50-50 chance and live everyday as if there may not be another. The carpet can be pulled out from under you so fast and you may have missed real living. If you scrimp and save for the future you may not be here to enjoy it, what is the sense. But, on the other hand if you don't have the cash to survive, than maybe your priorities are not correct, and you should focus on getting your house in order, not buying and sailing a boat.
There will be seasons when your costs are minimal and you can sneak by with only a little bottom paint and there will be years where you have major investments which might be very expensive. Just think about living and have a great time, enjoy every minute, do most of your own work, meet lots of new friends, and end the season with great memories. Think about each new expense you enbrace and whether you really need whatever it is you are looking at spending money on.
Jim
I have a trailer and the only use it gets is from the back yard to the marina in the beginning of the season and again at the end of the season. Having the boat in the water is the best. You have your little shore retreat on the water all season long. Last season we got out over 30 times and when I looked at the expenses it cost me $58.00 per trip during the season, not counting the days the wife and I sat out on the mooring relaxing, fishing, whatever. I also have a couple Harley's and I find the mental escape I get when riding is the same as when sailing. I am a cancer survivor from a 50-50 chance and live everyday as if there may not be another. The carpet can be pulled out from under you so fast and you may have missed real living. If you scrimp and save for the future you may not be here to enjoy it, what is the sense. But, on the other hand if you don't have the cash to survive, than maybe your priorities are not correct, and you should focus on getting your house in order, not buying and sailing a boat.
There will be seasons when your costs are minimal and you can sneak by with only a little bottom paint and there will be years where you have major investments which might be very expensive. Just think about living and have a great time, enjoy every minute, do most of your own work, meet lots of new friends, and end the season with great memories. Think about each new expense you enbrace and whether you really need whatever it is you are looking at spending money on.
Jim
Last edited:
Years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you did NOT do than by the ones you did do.
So – throw off the bow lines! Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the tradewinds in your sails.
Explore! Dream! Discover!
~ Mark Twain
Kind of sums it up pretty well for me
Jim
So – throw off the bow lines! Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the tradewinds in your sails.
Explore! Dream! Discover!
~ Mark Twain
Kind of sums it up pretty well for me
Jim
Then the day will come when say to yourself, "I need a bigger boat!" I don't want to squash any dreams, but know that the cost of boat ownership rises by the cube of the waterline length. Put that in your calculator and crunch it! If you can look at that number, and say out loud, "I don't care!", then you're a true boat-nut, and there is nothing for it but to do it!
The co-owner of my boat, my girlfriend, and I had a discussion on what our recent repairs would have cost if we hired someone to do the work.
The following repairs were needed on a C310 2001'
Replace flywheel, damper plate (requires removal of engine), cutlass bearing, input shaft on a Hurth 50, motor mounts, raw input water hose.
Re-do packing, align strut (cut out 4" of glass, re-glass and shim), align engine, and install flexible coupling.
Parts and Labor?
P.S your probably asking yourself why would you need to replace the flywheel?
Because the manufacture put the wrong one on using the wrong damper plate that caused the failure to begin with.
In doing these repairs myself, I did not actually replace the flywheel, but manufactured an adapter ring to solve (2) problems, mounting the correct damper plate, and because of the thickness of the ring, it placed the collar on the new damper plate further into the input spline shaft where there was no damage, thus eliminating the need to replace the input shaft on the transmission. I also did not shim the strut, I drilled it out and epoxied the new cutlass bearing in correct alignment. So far everything is running very smothly, but only have maybe 15hr on it since. I spent ~$800. I doubt anyone I could hire for these repairs would ever think of solving these problems in the manner I did, saving time and money.
My point to all this rambling is, if you have limited financial resources, or just want to save money, but still would like the sailing experience to be on call (hey it's going to be blowing this week end let's sail) than learning how do your own maintenance and repairs is imperative. Learn about your boat, knowledge is money in the pocket.
The following repairs were needed on a C310 2001'
Replace flywheel, damper plate (requires removal of engine), cutlass bearing, input shaft on a Hurth 50, motor mounts, raw input water hose.
Re-do packing, align strut (cut out 4" of glass, re-glass and shim), align engine, and install flexible coupling.
Parts and Labor?
P.S your probably asking yourself why would you need to replace the flywheel?
Because the manufacture put the wrong one on using the wrong damper plate that caused the failure to begin with.
In doing these repairs myself, I did not actually replace the flywheel, but manufactured an adapter ring to solve (2) problems, mounting the correct damper plate, and because of the thickness of the ring, it placed the collar on the new damper plate further into the input spline shaft where there was no damage, thus eliminating the need to replace the input shaft on the transmission. I also did not shim the strut, I drilled it out and epoxied the new cutlass bearing in correct alignment. So far everything is running very smothly, but only have maybe 15hr on it since. I spent ~$800. I doubt anyone I could hire for these repairs would ever think of solving these problems in the manner I did, saving time and money.
My point to all this rambling is, if you have limited financial resources, or just want to save money, but still would like the sailing experience to be on call (hey it's going to be blowing this week end let's sail) than learning how do your own maintenance and repairs is imperative. Learn about your boat, knowledge is money in the pocket.
- Status