Is your boat worth it?

CharlieCobra · Jul 5, 2011

People who calculate their enjoyment like that soon end up as ex sailors or repo candidates. While my old girl was in the water, I sailed her weekly, sometimes four times per week. Pretty good investment for a $20.00 classic yacht. Now she's been feet dry as a project for three years and the investment has grown, I simply don't care. I'll sail her far and wide when she's finally done.

Joe · Jul 5, 2011

I'm with Charlie, but I have a very low maintenance boat, and it's paid for.... I think the question should be: "what is the cost of NOT owning it?"

Regarding your actuarial friend: time sailing and time enjoying the boat are two different things... but he/she wouldn't understand that, probably.... also...... how do you decide what dollar amount is acceptable?

Kermit · Jul 5, 2011

The biggest expense for me now is getting to and from the boat. 42 miles each way. A 5 gallon tank of ethanol-free gas and oil lasts me several months depending on how often we get stranded with no wind.

I do keep a record of what I spend on it with Quicken, though. So far, I've never looked to see what I've spent. Just too much fun to worry about the cost. Oh, should I tally the cost of Subway sandwiches if we decide not to cook onboard? Should I also include the cost of ice cream at Lake Wateree State Park? Or the cool new waterproof digital camera so I can photograph the boat from the water or the grandchildren swimming around it? Sailing is much too fun for me to even think about looking at the totals.

But to try to answer your questions, we don't sail nearly as often as we want to, but apparently more often than other members at our club. And infinitely more often than those without blowboats.

Randy6414 · Jul 5, 2011

Joe, you hit the nail on the head from my perspective!

When I got my C27 11 years ago I was using it 1-2 days per week for 5-6 months of the year. I'd put 50-100 hours on the engine each year, with much more time spent sailing.

When the kids came along starting 7 years ago, the frequency of usage initially stayed high, though the trips got a lot shorter.

As the kids became old enough to participate they grew to love the boat. But they also grew to love fishing (aboard my dad's boat), crabbing from the dock, the beach, etc. Their various interests ate into sailing time, so the number of trips dropped to half its former total.

Now I'm up against baseball, basketball camp, friend's birthday parties, etc. At ages 7, 5, and 2, they still love the boat, but they love their other activities too. I might get 25 or so hours on the engine this year.

As much as I'd like to boost the number of sailing trips, I'm not going to force it, which will lead to them hating it.

It takes virtually the same amount of time, money, and effort to keep the boat in shape whether you're using it or not. In the last year or so I've wondered whether it's "worth it". On a cost per trip basis, probably not. However, the cost of being without one is unacceptable! I've had a sailboat since I was 13 and I don't intend to be without one!

I recall Jimmy Buffett once saying that as soon as he had enough money he bought a sailboat, just so he'd never be without one. Couldn't agree more!

Someday my free time will increase, and I know the kids will continue to enjoy sailing as they get older, allowing more & longer trips. Someday I envision a larger boat for all of us to enjoy. For now, the C27 will continue to do the job, even if it's not getting as much usage as I'd like.

Randy

Scott T-Bird · Jul 5, 2011

More expensive in the winter ...

I find that she's more expensive in the winter than during the sailing season! Winter storage is far more expensive than my mooring was and slightly more expensive than my slip is now (I have only one option for winter storage so that's a problem). And then there are all those purchases which are made over the winter when not pre-occupied by actual sailing!

The first season I owned my ski boat (over 20 years ago), I kept up with all the accounting as Warren described for most of the season. I've never done any kind of accounting or budgeting for anything recreational either before or after. Maybe that's why I have little money and counting on the lottery for retirement!

sailormanbigd · Jul 5, 2011

got my "free boat" 2 years ago, sailed her 90+ miles to get her home and been 2 years on rebuild. Costs $200 a month for in water dock and I've used her 1 time since that delivery. Free boat (worth maybe 1-5k) dock fee(200$) dream of sailing away and the feeling of accomplishments when parts of project are done< (PRICELESS) if you don't dream, and follow those dreams-might as well be dead.

Freedom77 · Jul 5, 2011

As the "man" (believe it was Van Derbilt) once said when asked how much his yacht cost. "If you have to ask, you can't afford it." I'm a bean counter by profession. The last thing I think about on the water is making a spreadsheet on the price of my Freedom. Fair Winds and Full Sails....

mark_swart · Jul 5, 2011

A friend of mine came up with a theory that we called the 'fun factor'. Every hour on the water is worth $50 in 'fun.' You can add it all up against your dockage, payments, etc and by that math, most boats pay for themselves pretty quickly!!
Or at least that's what I keep telling myself!

shemandr · Jul 5, 2011

Thinking about my trip back from Essex Ct. across LI Sound yesterday, the answer is yes.

Tim R. · Jul 5, 2011

Absolutely. We live aboard so we use it every day(sort of). We get out sailing every weekend between May 1 and Dec. 1 if we do not have a conflict. We walk home for lunch on the boat many days. We both work within a 5 minute walk in Portland.

We don't worry much about costs. It is still cheaper than living on shore and having a boat. Combining them was the key. We live debt free and know we can throw off the lines at any time with nothing holding us back. Money in the bank does me no good so we might as well spend it and experience life.

Anyone who questions you about how much you spend needs to learn about my "roller coaster" theory.

Folks who love riding roller coasters travel all over and ride them for a fee. They get nothing more out of it then the pure joy of the ride.

Sailing is my roller coaster.

r.oril · Jul 5, 2011

Money is made to be spent.

My wife told me to get my boat as a way to keep my mind active and keep Alzheimer's at bay.

Works for me!

Roger Long · Jul 5, 2011

Joe Diver · Jul 5, 2011

Yes.

Considering the cost of gas, a powerboat would blow the budget big time. I have a friend with one of those big, dual V8 engine boats. Sure looks pretty sitting on the trailer. It costs close to $500 to fill it up and that monster will burn through the gas in a day or less. I get to go sailing 3 - 4 times a week. Let's say, 16 times a month....if my buddy took his monster out that much, he'd be paying $8,000 in fuel costs each month.

Even just a regular style powerboat will eat gas like there's no tomorrow. I looked at one that had a 40 gallon tank...okay, $200 to fill it up. (marina gas is at least $5 a gallon around here) Docs on it said it would run wide open for 2 hours, about a 95 mile range. so, you have to be pretty light on the throttle to make a tank last a day....16 days a month = $3200 in gas.

I know, I'm exaggerating a little...but not alot really...and powerboaters can get a bit more for less....but in answer to your question, YES, my sailboat is worth it.

Bad Obsession · Jul 5, 2011

Having a boat isn't a simple choice for some of us, it is a lifestyle. Having the boat is no different than being into any other hobby. True, it costs money but you will spend that money on something else anyway.

I know that I, at times, have lived a life that others dream about. I have seen countless sunsets and sunrises from aboard my boat and realized that it was as close to heaven as you can get in this world. Being out there means all is right with the world.

There a numerous things that get in the way for sailing. I find less time for it in the past few years but every year I still get that one descent trip out into the Chesapeake Bay. During that time I am living the dream.

In the end the real question is what would it cost us not to have a boat?

Deadhead · Jul 5, 2011

Without a doubt - worth every penny.

BobM · Jul 5, 2011

Worth Every Penny

Well...my monthly costs are about $5000 year. $2400 of that is the boat payment and about $1800 is winter storage. About $750 is club membership / waterway fees / mooring / maintenance...etc...

I probably get to sail 10X per year. I probably work on the boat about another 4X per year, which I also enjoy.

At the moment I am quite well paid, but the job is very stressful.

The boat is worth every penny to me. My Wife? Well...let's just say she isn't fond of sailing...she has a two hour limit then she has had enough. She also tends to only be interested in "our boat" when someone else wants to go sailing that she likes (better than me I guess!). I try to respect her limitations and as a result I sail solo a lot. We discussed it and agreed that she wouldn't feel guilty about going and I wouldn't enjoy having miserable company aboard.

The photo is me and my oldest Niece, Lynn. Unfortunately it was her first time aboard one of my boats and I have had a sailboat for about 7 years now. Fortunately her fiancee wanted to go and they had a great time. We also just spent two days aboard with friends from CA. The list of friends and relatives that want to go is lengthening, so hopefully we will have some fun this summer and blow that 10X/year out of the water!

JVB · Jul 5, 2011

My friend's 43 foot boat with twin Caterpillar diesels can easily burn $800 of fuel per day. Sailing looks mighty cheap by comparison.

eliems · Jul 5, 2011

You know I have been amazed at how inexpensive this has been for me! The moorage is not that much and once I leave the dock costs go to next to nothing. One 1/4 gal diesel per hour, free Hotel Room where ever I anchor, Home Cooking on the BBQ and free seafood. Most of the best docks around Vancouver give free parking for 3 hours and free dingy dock, (stay for 15 days on a free anchor permit and then renew it if you wish while enjoying False Creek ... highest real estate values in the city).

The views are always fantastic and friends are everywhere!

Maintenance has been 90% elbow grease 10% parts, maybe $500 in all.

The price of this yacht was $24K out of pocket at 3.5% interest in the line of credit ... $70/month.

Sailed 15 days sine June 1st so it doesn't get any better than that!

Rick · Jul 5, 2011

When I think about "is it worth it" I dont so much think about the cost of the boat. I think about how the boat(s) have enriched my life, strengthened my marraige, and given me a plan for the future that is more than a house with a picket fence. Every month when I write the check for slip fees... I smile.. Right now I am thinking about the 5 days I just spent on the boat over the 4th of July with my wife and my great friends who all share the same vision on their own boats.

I say life is pretty good when your on a boat whatever the cost.

Cheers

Is your boat worth it?

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