Is your boat worth it?
- Thread starter Warren Milberg
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How Much Did You House Value Drop?
With the economy the way it is today we are trying to figure what depreciated more, the house or the boat...
Happy sailing...
With the economy the way it is today we are trying to figure what depreciated more, the house or the boat...
Happy sailing...
Well he and oril are pretty lucky to have there boats so close, sometimes I got Friday off if I worked extra amounts during the week, and I really used that day to work on my boat, since she's an hour away, its not so easy to get out during the week.
I will be somewhere in the middle of Lake Miichigan until (insert date) and will have limited or no email or phone access.
Whatever it costs it's worth it.
Whatever it costs it's worth it.
A sufficient answer to the question, in few words.
It sounds as though we seek a cabin on Waldon Pond, but fit it into weekends, holidays, and retirement, and at length, pay far too much for simplicity. However, what Thoreau overlooked is that, for most of use, the hustle and the bustle and the jurney ARE the stuuf of life. We have sailboats--those that are following this thread--in part because we like the peculiar combination of simplicty and complexity. For others it may be status or the thrill of racing. I can't speak for everyone.
Yeah, it's worth it.
I took a 30K cut in salary and moved from Massachusetts to Annapolis so that the boat could stay in the water year round and I could sail her every Wednesday, Friday and weekends. Now I am retired and moved to ST. Croix where I sail about 120 days a year. I am trying to sell the 51 footer where my wife and I lived aboard for 13 years. The 36 footer I used for racing and short trips. The 51 cost was 15k-18k. The 31 8k/150= $66/day. However I visit the boat almost everyday since I am retired. The 51 came out 17500/365=$48/day. In both cases it includes dockage, insurance, utilities, haulout, bottom painting, etc. We keep a spreadsheet with every penny shown.
Not only is our boat worth it (whatever it is) but we'd like to speak for all of our friends who are not on this site and have boats that we enjoy all together.
Friday night we had a little wind, the evening race was too short and left us wanting so we headed back out and sailed until it was too dark. To look at everyone on the boat under these circumstances said it all: Skipper tried out all of the spots, even ended up laying down below to enjoy the rush of the water from below.....while he had me and another crew-gal at the wheel over the time. First Mate was on the bow almost asleep so content we accused her of purring. The sun was setting; the wind enough and we were a very happy boat. Saturday after a short race we all did the same, and again......pure contentment (oh, and a Blue Whale!).
My point? There is nothing, absolutely nothing as satisfying and awesome as moving along quietly under sail with everything set right for a sweet spot sail. We all try to put it into words but there are none sometimes, it is just overwhelmingly lovely. What price could one possibly put on that?
Friday night we had a little wind, the evening race was too short and left us wanting so we headed back out and sailed until it was too dark. To look at everyone on the boat under these circumstances said it all: Skipper tried out all of the spots, even ended up laying down below to enjoy the rush of the water from below.....while he had me and another crew-gal at the wheel over the time. First Mate was on the bow almost asleep so content we accused her of purring. The sun was setting; the wind enough and we were a very happy boat. Saturday after a short race we all did the same, and again......pure contentment (oh, and a Blue Whale!).
My point? There is nothing, absolutely nothing as satisfying and awesome as moving along quietly under sail with everything set right for a sweet spot sail. We all try to put it into words but there are none sometimes, it is just overwhelmingly lovely. What price could one possibly put on that?
It's worth it for sure to have a boat. You guys with the larger boats have to cough up more $$, but can stay on you boat longer than us with the trailerable boats. I keep a file on my boat but try to only look in it for info rather than costs. My boat's name is Wind is Free with a deliberate poke at my friend with the Merc powered cabin cruiser. My park&launch site costs a minimal amount and on seasons when we can go up the the lake more frequently the fuel costs to get there is more than boat usage(I pour 5 of the 6 gallons back into my tow vehicle in October).
That being said, since I've been unable due to medical reasons to get in the water lately (necessary to recover my boat) I found myself on the Golf course($50 for a couple hours on the course using clubs that average in cost from $100-250 ea.) in 10-15mph breeze on a beautiful day after hitting some of the best shots ever for me still wishing I'd gone sailing instead. maybe in Sept...
That being said, since I've been unable due to medical reasons to get in the water lately (necessary to recover my boat) I found myself on the Golf course($50 for a couple hours on the course using clubs that average in cost from $100-250 ea.) in 10-15mph breeze on a beautiful day after hitting some of the best shots ever for me still wishing I'd gone sailing instead. maybe in Sept...
In all honesty I don't calculate what it costs me. Sailing has changed my life and owning a boat provides me with happiness. Not a day goes by where I don't think about being on that boat. I work in a high stress job and treasure my time aboard. It's a time machine that transports me to a wonderful paradise. When the sails fill that wonderful motion melts all my stress away. Swinging on a hook cooking on the BBQ while watching a beautiful sunset is a mindset unto itself. Then as the boat gently rocks as the beautiful sunset turns into an incredible star filled light show at night. Cost? Priceless. Let's go sailing.
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who in his rigth mmind would ask himself such a question! the sea is so beautifull, seagulls, whales, dolphin,fishing, peace and quiet, sometime a display of natures power, it keep me sane in this world of money and cheats, love my boat even if it is a little smaller then id wish it was, i do not know wath it cost, i buy the toy i want and i use it as much as i can. LIFE IS SHORT! LIVE IT TO THE FULLEST! my kids inheritance will be an old boat well used and full of good souvenirs!
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