If you have to ask, you can't afford it?

[Greg Pecaut]

Beat Ya!

How about this, got one of my Newport 23's just to get it out of the way. cost me $300 to get the trail operatable. The other cost me 2500, but came with an outboard, with generator, new sails, anchor etc. Total csot this year for 3 Newport 23's under 3,000.

 

[Jay Hill]

Too Much Coffee, Bob?

Hey Funset! Relax man, the whole question is a fun little joke. Ease up on the coffee and go sailing more often; you're taking the whole thing too seriously.Have a Nice Day!

 

[Jim22315]

Other cost.

With a swiming pool,G scale out side Railroad I do not care what the cost is to disp.I enjoy everything to much to care about it. To worry about the cost to disp. with other high cost fun items is not worth owing anything. Just find ways to keep cost down and fun and enjoyment up,you will live longer. jb.

 

[DG]

Allied princess 1981

I was a little reluctant to figure this out however now that it is done I am comfortable with my boating costs. Excellent point made by one poster re lost income on investment versues cost of borrowing. I don't believe I am in the depreciation side of the equation as Princesses have appreciated by a couple of thousand over the past two years. The calculations show 3.5 to 4.0 per hundred #. Heavy boat sure makes a difference. Berth fees are $ 700.00, Ins $350.00, fuel and berthing fees (at other marinas and docks)while cruising for four months $1200.00. new gear $2500.00 (3 new batteries, holding tank, refeer). Winter storage $100.00, lift in and out$400.00. Tarps $150.00. total $5400 (canadian $) divided by 1450 = 3.72. I do concur with all the good comments about not being to analytical regarding cost as it can easily detract from all the positives as sailing and sailors are unique experiences that one can cherish for a life time and averaging the cost over a life time that really lowers that cost factor. As well there are many people who will never be able to recall a special sunset, incredible sailing or special friendships as they don't down to the sea in boats. I enjoy all the comments made in these forums thanks for the opportunity to share my perspective.

 

[Mike16388]

Beneteau 393

$401 per day of sailing$95 per 100#~~$ of enjoyment per day x days of life remaining = A bargain at twice the price.Cheaper alternative of $350 per Barcolounger is too expensive given the opportunity cost of lost sailing days.Theoretically, you could just buy a coffin wholesale and lie in it and wait.

 

[s sauer]

Priceless

How many boat dollars to give your 8 year old the tiller the first time heading out of the marina; how many dollars for his 1st place finishes on J105's many years later? How many dollars for your 12 year old's 20" blue fish caught from that first sailboat; how many dollars for sharing all the years since fishing together. A day spent sailing is not deducted froms one's lifetime.

 

[Sailor Joe20804]

It's not just about the money, right?

Well just for fun I did the math. I'm running about $120 per 100# on my Hunter 320. I would estimate the cost per hour of sailing at around $40-$50. Probably less if I count each person on board. But like others have said, it's not worth over-analyzing. That's no way to live. Intense economic analysis would indicate that I and my family live in the cheapest possible housing that we can stand, always take the bus and eat Ramen noodles for every meal. That way we could invest every possible dollar we make and not lose out on any "opportunity costs". Who wants to live like that and maybe not even live long enough to reap the rewards of spending it? I've enjoyed everyone's comments but especially those regarding family time, making memories, pride of ownership and the benefits of living a life enjoying and learning about sailing.

 

[Tony Gore]

Costs, what costs

Someone once told me that sailing was like standing in a shower tearing up £10 notes ($20 bills). I have been financing my wife's horse riding (much more expensive to run than a MacGregor 26M), so we don't count the cost.Too many people we know have died young, especially of cancer. Enjoy life whilst you can, and provided debt isn't a problem, so what.I traded up to a new 26M from a second hand $1000 Shipmate, which cost me very little to run. Economically, this was absolute madness. But I have never had such fun sailing, and take more people out who have never been.

 

[Paul]

Live for today

Far too many people I know have died young. They worked hard, saved their money and never enjoyed the fruits of their labour because the got sick and died. Such a shame not to live their dreams...

 

[Bob]

Living Aboard - You Can Do It

I left my job in Atlanta after seven years at the age of 32, took a 3 year old child and a reluctant wife and we sold all our possessions including our house to buy a 35 Coronado Sloop to live aboard and cruise. Why I never wrote a book about the experience is beyond me, but here we were sailing all over the eastern seaboard and you know what? All those folks we came across who talked about it, were terrified to leave the secure confines of terra firma and take a step into the unknown. We met so many folks whose wish was to cruise and live aboard, but were afraid to take the plunge. We heard it over and over again and shrugged our shoulder's having taken the move already. It really was no big deal. People, it was easier then we thought and the rewards are beyond description. We were no more than coastal cruisers who just explored our great land from a waters view, and had the adventure of a life time. After two and one half years we sold our boat and moved ashore and bounced back better then what we left. In other words it was very easy. We plan on doing it again without the kid(s) and on a smaller vessel (Catalina 30). For those dreaming of it, plan it now and go for it. So many folks here write of friends dying young and not fulfilling their dreams. I am an example of the liveaboard experience, and it was just fine. Sure it took planning, and it is in essence, a process. FDR said it so frankly, "what we fear is fear itself". Fear was the greatest barrier we identified with so many who wanted so much to sail for extended periods. Follow your dream, be true to your ideals, pursue your passions and GET OUT THERE! Life is shorter then you think and it certainly isn't a dress rehersal.RegardsBobAtlantaBreezin II

 

[HukilauMike]

Not a healthy way to look at things

I spend about $2700 per year for my 3000 lb. Oday 23. Under this formula, I guess that makes me "efficient;" however, I can only find the time to go out about 12-15 times per season, and some of those outings are more memorable than others. So by that measure, it costs me over $200 every time I want to go sailing. I think both ways of looking at it are nuts. No one has a boat because it is cheap or easy entertainment; we have boats because we LIKE BOATS. Let's face it: trying to apply economic justification or analysis to something like boat use or ownership is plain old silly. Any use of a boat is (by my definition anyway) time and money well spent. I might not be able to afford it to the same extent as others, but if you can, go for it. I have never looked down upon those fellow boaters who use their boats as floating cocktail palaces. It may not be how you or I would use an expensive piece of recreational equipment, but I think we all have had some pretty pleasant evenings at tied up to the dock with friends and demon rum. And, hey, if that's the extent of their boating, then who am I to say it's an "inefficient" use of their boat? To each his own.

 

[Peter J. Brennan]

Worse investment

Responding to "It could have been Enron and the .coms." Damn right. About the time the market was at its height I urged my wife to sell all and buy an Amels Super Maramu. They were selling for about $500,000 at the time. Collapsing dollar now makes it $600,000. Collapsing market means we can no longer even think of such a thing. Had we done just that, we would own a boat worth a lot more than our present security holdings and had a lot of cash to boot.Tracking boat expenses is a futile and depressing exercise. We knew to the penny what our first boat was costing us. We stopped keeping track with the present boat. Afer all, all those guys with the Monster Trucks manage to afford it. So can we. It is simply not a question of "If you have to ask, you can't afford it." Somehow, one does.

 

[l turn9]

Cost of Sailing

Howdy -We recently sold our Catalina 27 (last May) after not putting a foot aboard for 3+ years due to my health. I held onto it as long as I did in the hope I'd recover enough to starts sailing again. The memories of the time my wife & I spent on that boat also played a part in keeping it and paying the yearly slip fee. The money we got from the sale of the boat went into a seperate savings account for the next boat - one big enough for me to be comfortable. The savings account was my wife's suggestion. It's impossible to put a dollar value onto the wonderful times we spent on that boat - like the credit card commercial says, "Priceless". About the people who talk about sailing off into the sunset but never take the leap - many people think that's a romantic idea but are too fond of their stuff to give it up. I'd have a very hard time selling my sports car - which I dreamed of for 30+ years before finally buying it - to take up the live-aboard/cruising like. True, I'd love to sail the tradewinds for weeks on end, but I'm not willing to make the sacrifice. For me, it's a moot point, I have to stay kind of close to my doctors anyway.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Regardless of the cost

We keep track of what we spend, but never add it all up!Living in earthquake territory, I keep kidding about using it as a life-raft. We may have to do that someday and a reasonable dose of self sufficiency is quite important.And also, it's a great getaway vehicle, just in case...(of what, you fill in the blanks) Stu

 

[Gregg]

Earthquake???

I too live here in the ever shaking area. My boat is a trailerable, and I have also joked about this. I have yet to head out to the Bay, but we are planning a trip for sometime in the spring after I get the wood all complete, and a reliable motor. Do you know where I can get charts of the bat from Richardson Grove to The Bat Bridge. I would love to sit in Mc Covey Cove during a Giants game. Have you done that? Is it any fun? Also, where is a good (inexpensive) place to launch my boat in the north part of the bay. Sausalito is too much $$. I would also like to be in a safe place to park my car while I am out.Thanks,

 

[Tom Monroe]

76.5

Mine is somewhere around 75.Owning a 27 foot sailboat at this point in my economic life wouldn't seem to be a real great decision. Doing so on a 8x2 mile lake with an eight month max sailing season is plain economic foolishness. And Sunday afternoon a couple weeks ago was worth every penny of it.A guy I know has a new theory. He says we delude ourselves when we hit 50 and then go 50, 51, 52, 53 each year. He says we'd better understand ourselves in time if we went 20, 19, 18, 17 ......15 and sailing!!!!Tom MonroeCarlyle Lake

 

[John Shullo]

money well spent

For me, sailing represents the best hours of my life each week. It makes me smile, forget about problems large and small. It keeps my blood pressure down. I like to sail with friends and the comraderie that entails and I like to sail alone for the sheer joy of sailing. I have been sailing the same boat on the same lake for 27 years and each time I arrive at my dock, I am still excited and ready to sail.When the wind is not blowing, cleaning, maintenance and all the little things that are part of pride of ownership fill a happy day. Sometimes just hanging out around the dock, talking to other owners and dock friends provide the days entertainment. To me, all of this is priceless. As long as I can write the check and stay mobile enough to sail, I will show up each week for another great sail.Once, early in our marriage, my wife noticed the happy look on my face when sailing along in a stiff breeze on a Summer day. She asked,"what would you rather do...sail or make love to me?" After a moment of thought, I responded"how much wind?" That sort of sums it up. Cost is not a consideration.

 

[Stu Jackson]

SF Bay Sailing

GregYou get a chart at West Marine, unless you're good on the Internet and can find one to print out. Chart #18562 or something like that.There are launching ramps all over the Bay, so it depends on where you're coming from. Loch Lomond Marina has one in the north bay.Lots in the east Bay including Berkeley, Richmond and Grand Street (free) in Alameda.Stu

 

[Dan McGuire]

Calculating it Right?

I would bet that most of the people participating in the survey are not calculating it correctly. I consider myself fairly frugal, but my cost is about $150/one hundred pounds. I include all costs including slip fees, gasoline, auto costs, repairs, upgrades. I sail a quite a bit, about 100+ hours/year. Maybe some of the respondants own a boat, but never use it. I would like to see some of the calcualtions of those who fall into the lower category.

 

[Bob James]

100 and $444 per week

It really doesn't matter, but, the boat (Winter Dream'n) costs $1,000 per month, 12 months a year. I figure I get 27 weeks of enjoyment and 25 weeks of "Winter Dream'n". Does it make financial sense? Hell, no! Who cares, I would do it again in a heartbeat!