Is your boat worth it?

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May 28, 2009
764
Hunter 376 Pensacola, FL
Owning, operating, insuring, and maintaining our boat for a year costs us less than what we just spent to do a nine day charter in the British Virgin Islands. So personally, I think owning our own boat is a terrific bargain.
 

zeehag

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Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
if i didnt have my formosa, i would be in dire straights--- rent on a house or apt is high,cardboard melts in wet weather, and there are fewer places to hide that stuff (cardboard) every day. besides, kat woulld be out of a dry place to stretch and bitch about not having fancy feast in mexico...LOL
i dont keep decent records--just general ones--so far--i win.
boat wins
kat wins
lightning so far has found other ways to ground...
we be good-- cant take a house or an apt from sd to mazatlan.
costs me less than my cars did
\i can sleep in rain and not get reallly wet....
peace of mined is a strange thing-- can cost millions or just a drop----but is worth every dime and every penny spent on it.


besides--what else would we have to complain about if it werent for the prices of all involved with our boats??????

the lifestyle is priceless, yes.
 

BI40

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Jul 6, 2011
19
American Boatbuilding Corp. Block Island 40 Palm Coast
"Whatever it is, it's worth it to the quality of my life and maintaining my sanity in an ever-increasingly nutty world..." Warren, I agree!

Years ago, I had a job opportunity in Nashville, TN. After always living on or near saltwater, I knew it would be a huge change so I had my then 30' Cape Dory ketch hauled to a lake near Nashville. While sailing a heavy, blue water boat in a "large pond" soon lost its excitement; I learned that just "knowing I could go sailing whenever I wanted to" was a big difference in how I worked with clients, how I related to Nashville and how I kept my sanity.

It's really priceless if it's in your blood.

Warren, we know Harrington Harbor North quite well, we had a slip towards the outside end of Club House dock several years ago; it was the very best sailing ...no matter which way the wind is blowing!
 
Aug 12, 2011
67
grand soleil soleil 46 annapolis
Honestly I only keep track of the expenses because a computer can do it for me. I used to take my boat out every weekend, so to me sailing doesnt really cost much because its a luxury vacation every week.
 
May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
You can't put a price

You just cannot come up with a dollar amount for personal pleasures. There is just no way to put a price on the peace and quiet sailing provides. As I do all of my own work, maintenance expenses are not that much, and I probably sail more than most. But I can assure each and every one of you that for me sailing is much more than just an enjoyable pastime. It has kept me active, which at my age is a very good thing. It allows me to go to places I could not afford to go if I had to buy fuel, pay for hotel rooms and eat in resturants. Not to mention that it adds to the years you can enjoy being alive, after you reach retirement years. Probably adds to the years you will be alive. If you have to count and keep track of the dollars, I feel sorry for you.
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Re: You can't put a price

We keep track of all of our expenditures for everything from groceries to utilities to the boat to our business expenses. We have had some tight times and we have been flush and have never considered selling.
 

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,187
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Yes, I Keep Records, But

...it is pretty meaningless in terms of expense to enjoyment ratio. Including slip fees, taxes, improvements and maintenance, and depreciation but excluding loan interest and my mooring in Catalina, it's just shy of $1400 a month over 11 years, well worth it in my estimation.

It's the same with my lease on my Catalina Island mooring. I would have to use it in excess of 50 days per year to break even compared to a daily rental. I use it about 30, which is way more than most lessees. But the knowledge that I don't have to worry about getting a mooring or being shuffled around is worth every penny.




 

taichi

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Feb 21, 2010
57
Hunter Hunter 23 Oshkosh Wisconsin
Albeit a tad late into the thread but -

One more thing to add in your calculation - how much is waterfront property? and no lawn to mow either !!!
 
Aug 12, 2011
67
grand soleil soleil 46 annapolis
Albeit a tad late into the thread but -

One more thing to add in your calculation - how much is waterfront property? and no lawn to mow either !!!
and how many of those water front properties can take you to dream vacations?
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Nancy refers to our boat as her little house on the water. She decides where she wants to live for a few days and we can move there in a day or three. ;)
 
Jun 3, 2004
298
'79 Hunter 33' HUN33190M79L Olympia
Ross said:
Nancy refers to our boat as her little house on the water. She decides where she wants to live for a few days and we can move there in a day or three. ;)
How many of you have seen the "cruising simulator" which asks you to imagine restricting yourself to a small room and then a whole bunch of other negative things associated with cruising? Then everyone chimes in about how true it is?
Well it's complete crap because it leaves out every good thing! Like this one! You can float your whole house as if on a cloud to millions of great places!
 
Sep 6, 2010
61
w.d.schock santana27 San Leon,Tx
mine was a well deserved b-day present to me and i seem to buy things right so i'm in it for not much
but if i had to buy it new and make payments the answer is still yes
its very therapeutic in a very stressful world
i just sold my house to buy a bigger boat to live on
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
My Icebox will keep cold for a week to ten days. I have a three burner stove with an oven and broiler. I have about fifty cubic feet of below the water line storage. We can food for provisions, take fresh veggies and make bread, cake and cookies while we are out. There is no TV, Telephone or computer. Nobody knows exactly where to find and interrupt me, and I don't have to spend a week's income to get there.
 

zeehag

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Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
did i say i LOVE my boat more each time i use her to go long distances?
did i say the night when you are at sea is so full of stars and other beautiful things--flying fish, dolphins and everything from day time is soooo much cooler at night...
did i mention that a house wont play with dolphins in the sea not have the ability to troll for yummy dinner?
wont go 8+kts in a 60 kt wind, either...LOL
 
Jun 28, 2009
312
hunter 23 Lake Hefner
I've only been able to sail 4 times this year due to extremely low lake levels. So.... for all the bottom paint, halyard replacement and labor, Lazy jack install, slip fee's, lake fee's, boat tag. No, its not worth the money I've spent just this year. But, I still go out to make sure my baby is doing ok. Keep her tidy as we both wait for there to be enough water in the lake. Maybe next year....:cry:
 

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,712
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
I don't bother to keep track of money spent. I can afford my boat no problem. I don't put dollar amounts on things in my life. If I can afford it and I enjoy it what else is there?
 
Sep 25, 2008
2,288
C30 Event Horizon Port Aransas
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!
You must balance the books for the U.S. government.
 
Aug 12, 2011
67
grand soleil soleil 46 annapolis
Also if you learn how to take care of your boats simple maintenance, it saves lots of money, and with the internet, I don't see why more people don't or cant maintain their boat.
 

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,505
Pearson 323 . St. Mary's Georgia
We pretty much live on it for the summer. We have three one week stretches that we do trips on during the school year. About 5 three day weekends and then about 10 regular weekends. That is for one boat we keep at the coast. We sail the other at a lake weekly.

Whatever the cost, I do not care, it is worth it!!!
 
Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Went out yesterday for the 4th time. One was to move the boat to it's new location. We normally get more use out of the boat but this year was projected to be a maintenance summer. After hauling it out (first time in 3 years and first time for us) there where lots of things to clean up and repair. Still working on stuff even now.
Factoring in it all I'd certianly say it is worth it. I had my first date with my wife on the boat after I invited some folks from work to enjoy and act as crew. One thing lead to another.
So Yea, it is worth it.
 
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