After six years of owning a sailboat, I've had it. I'm outta here. I'm now looking for that "other" happiest day. I enjoy sailing, and I'll continue to sail. It's owning a boat that I'm done with. Last year I paid over $5000 dollars for a slip and winter storage, haul-outs and launches, all to have a boat for a 5-month boating season here in New England. I've spent countless hours doing repairs and maintenence, some very unpleasant (replacing my holding tank). I just looked at some web sites for a bareboat charter company in Newport, RI. I can charter a newish 40-footer for a week for just a couple hundred more than my current monthly boat expenses (slip + storage + mortgage + insurance + misc). I figure for what I spend on my summer slip alone, I could fly my family to the BVI and charter two weeks in high season, and pocket the boat payment. When I bought my boat, I was realizing a nearly lifelong dream. After 6 years and over $70,000 spent just to have a boat sitting in a slip while I go to work every day, this is clearly -- for me -- a case where reality didn't come close to the dream. Maybe I'll try again when I retire. Adios, and fair winds. Thanks to all for your help over the years. Paul sv Escape Artist h336
Put it up for sale today...
- Thread starter Paul McGhee
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A Bit Misguided
I have has this same discussion many times with other boaters. Nobody ever said that boating is a money-making proposition. You have to look at it as a cost for recreation. It will cost you, from every angle, to keep a boat afloat and use it. We (most of us) have all been fortunate enough to view it that way and make it justifiable. It irks me to listen to someone complain about the cost of boating. If they want to get out of the game, then that is their prerogative. Just don't bend my ear making excuses. *box
I have has this same discussion many times with other boaters. Nobody ever said that boating is a money-making proposition. You have to look at it as a cost for recreation. It will cost you, from every angle, to keep a boat afloat and use it. We (most of us) have all been fortunate enough to view it that way and make it justifiable. It irks me to listen to someone complain about the cost of boating. If they want to get out of the game, then that is their prerogative. Just don't bend my ear making excuses. *box
I'm feel your pain...
I feel a little of your pain. A few years ago I calculated what it was truly costing me per hour to sail my boat and the cost was expensive, in excess of $100/hr. It was then I decided I had to sail more to make the whole endevor more cost effective. I tried last year, but the weather wasn't very cooperative (worst summer in years). This year is shaping up to be much better, It's still expensive, but manageable. Your slip/storage/haul costs are twice what it costs me to sail lake Ontario for 5 months of the year. If it ever started to cost me like it cost you I might just see you in the BVI. Good luck to you Paul I
I feel a little of your pain. A few years ago I calculated what it was truly costing me per hour to sail my boat and the cost was expensive, in excess of $100/hr. It was then I decided I had to sail more to make the whole endevor more cost effective. I tried last year, but the weather wasn't very cooperative (worst summer in years). This year is shaping up to be much better, It's still expensive, but manageable. Your slip/storage/haul costs are twice what it costs me to sail lake Ontario for 5 months of the year. If it ever started to cost me like it cost you I might just see you in the BVI. Good luck to you Paul I
southern comfort
It appears sailing in the south , the fees are half as much , and the season last twice as long, go figure?
It appears sailing in the south , the fees are half as much , and the season last twice as long, go figure?
I think...
you have to enjoy spending the money. If you don't, it's not worth it. If you do, and have it, it's a great way to go. What's different from golf ($$), camping with an RV ($$$), flying a plane ($$$$)? Do like I did, quit work, move on the boat and reduce all the other expenses...
you have to enjoy spending the money. If you don't, it's not worth it. If you do, and have it, it's a great way to go. What's different from golf ($$), camping with an RV ($$$), flying a plane ($$$$)? Do like I did, quit work, move on the boat and reduce all the other expenses...
Big Boat Little Boat
I've owned big boats & little boats - expensive & cheap - pristine & well used. There is a lot to be said for a $1,500.00 Columbia 22 or Santana 22. You can spend all weekend waxing or you can say "to hell with the bright work let's go sailing" Latitude 38 has a Columbia 24 for sale this month for $1,000.00. I'll bet there's $10,000.00 worth of fun left in that $1,000.00 boat. The more high tech a boat is the more you become a systems engineer not a sailor. Keep it simple. If you hate mooring fees buy a trailer. There's also one of those in Latitude 38 - that will fit the Columbia 24 - for $1,500.00. If you want to look good at the yacht club then buy some expensive fancy clothes and park a nice expensive car in the lot. If you want to have fun sailing buy a beat-up old boat and go.
I've owned big boats & little boats - expensive & cheap - pristine & well used. There is a lot to be said for a $1,500.00 Columbia 22 or Santana 22. You can spend all weekend waxing or you can say "to hell with the bright work let's go sailing" Latitude 38 has a Columbia 24 for sale this month for $1,000.00. I'll bet there's $10,000.00 worth of fun left in that $1,000.00 boat. The more high tech a boat is the more you become a systems engineer not a sailor. Keep it simple. If you hate mooring fees buy a trailer. There's also one of those in Latitude 38 - that will fit the Columbia 24 - for $1,500.00. If you want to look good at the yacht club then buy some expensive fancy clothes and park a nice expensive car in the lot. If you want to have fun sailing buy a beat-up old boat and go.
Too Late
I was in the market to buy your boat last month but its too late now. I'm back in for boat #4. And for what its worth, the 3 months between #3 and #4 were stressfull and not fun. I needed my fix!
I was in the market to buy your boat last month but its too late now. I'm back in for boat #4. And for what its worth, the 3 months between #3 and #4 were stressfull and not fun. I needed my fix!
Sailing, for sure ain't cheap, but.............
...I don't spend anything near that kind of money and I live just across the Sound from you. My total for winter storage, mooring fees, launch service, and insurance amounts to about 1/2 of what you are spending in Conn. Of course, maintenence is a widly ranging number. One new main or genoa per year can set you back $5000. I spend about 20 hours/ week on my boat for 6 months or 500 hours/year. At $2500/year that amounts to $5.00/hour. My sailing sanity and weekly H2O fix can afford those fees. Don't forget a bad day on the water beats a good day on land!!!
...I don't spend anything near that kind of money and I live just across the Sound from you. My total for winter storage, mooring fees, launch service, and insurance amounts to about 1/2 of what you are spending in Conn. Of course, maintenence is a widly ranging number. One new main or genoa per year can set you back $5000. I spend about 20 hours/ week on my boat for 6 months or 500 hours/year. At $2500/year that amounts to $5.00/hour. My sailing sanity and weekly H2O fix can afford those fees. Don't forget a bad day on the water beats a good day on land!!!
Good luck...
I've been sailing for 33 years and I've owned one sailboat or another for the past twenty. I don't know if I could handle not owning a boat. As others have said, maybe you need to simplify. Get a trailerable sailboat and mix it up with the BVI charter thing. Whatever you end up doing, good luck to you.
I've been sailing for 33 years and I've owned one sailboat or another for the past twenty. I don't know if I could handle not owning a boat. As others have said, maybe you need to simplify. Get a trailerable sailboat and mix it up with the BVI charter thing. Whatever you end up doing, good luck to you.
The figuring does not figure
I wonder, since you have figured the cost of the BVI trips so intensely why the costs of your current boat are such a surprise? I would think you would have also checked out the approximate costs before purchasing your boat. I also agree with the others to simply downsize to an affordable level rather than giving up owning a boat. Besides think of how not owning a boat will affect the local marine business you have been supporting. Good luck, for what it is worth
I wonder, since you have figured the cost of the BVI trips so intensely why the costs of your current boat are such a surprise? I would think you would have also checked out the approximate costs before purchasing your boat. I also agree with the others to simply downsize to an affordable level rather than giving up owning a boat. Besides think of how not owning a boat will affect the local marine business you have been supporting. Good luck, for what it is worth
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