Expensive Hobby

As somebody new to the RV world I spend time on a couple RV forums similar to this one. I see them moan about RV expenses. Can't help but think 'You guys don't have a clue of what expensive is. GET A BOAT!'

They groan about 8 or 10 MPG. We boaters can talk in terms of GALLONS PER MILE. In doing estimates for our RV shakedown 'cruise' of 4000 miles in 8 weeks we figure about $120 per day which covers food, fuel, campgrounds plus leftovers for whatever. Even at the cheap rate that US fuel is & with my boats single diesel I'd burn that $120 per day in fuel alone.

Will I give up the boat? No way! Our at home lifestyle is very similar to vriceflyer. Sitting out on the boat, watching the sun go down while rafted up with friends, priceless.
 
quote:
Originally posted by pgilbert

I use Quicken and have a separate category for all "Boat" costs. I am not foolish enough to every look at the summarized annual costs. Someday I might but why get upset over it. Like others have said, it's a way of life we all choose to live.

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I use MS Money for my financial software and do the same for my boating line item. Since it doesn't handle (nor does Quicken) a running budget, I use Excel to get a monthly snapshot of at least gas usage. With a 32 gallon tank and roughly 12 hours a weekend it can run upwards of $400.00 a month for gas alone. My MPG is good since the Admiral likes to sun on the aft deck and go slow. There is only one motto on the boat and that's keep momma in the sun.
 
quote:
Originally posted by vriceflyer

Most things we enjoy cost money. We do not belong to the country club we do not play golf or the dinner clubs, plenty of good restruants.
Vince

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I love the game of golf for one reason only. I don't play unless I'm entertaining clients. My thinking is the more golfers there are, the less boaters there are. Hate traffic.
 
Another forum that I have visited, a boater has an attachment to his signature.

goes something like this

"if you can walk into your bathroom and flush a hundred dollar bill down the toilet and feel good about it, boating is for you"

I do not know if everyone feels that way about their "hobby", I know that I have worked hard to get to my current boat and living situation.

Boat- 1989 Carver Aft Cabin - No payment

Covered Fresh Water Slip- No payment, live on the water, built my house and boathouse.

Insurance- about 1700.00 per year (we live in Florida)

Fuel- Average 1 mile to the gallon. 1700 +miles first year, less than 500 miles per year last two years.

Misc Repairs- Bottom work, etc. about $1000.00 avg per year. (I do most all of my own work)

Watching the sunset to the west on the beautiful St. Johns River and a full moon rising, PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rod
 
Like So many others who have written here I shudder to consider the actual costs of living and traveling on our floating home.

In round numbers:

Monthly Payments = $0
Purchase Price = Don't Ask
Fuel from February to November (2006) = $8,200.00
Maint. = $10,500.00 (not under warranty) and still counting
Insurance = $35,750.00 For International Travel & Offshore sailing
Docking fees = $11,500.00
Customs & Immigration fees = $2,500.00
Taxes = $0
Bribes (Europe) = $500.00

Living the dream = Priceless

SeaQuest OE
A Lagoon 57' Catamaran
 
"Insurance = $35,750.00 For International Travel & Offshore sailing"

WOW - who wrote that policy?
 
please tell us more about that insurance bill.
 
quote:
Originally posted by In the know

"Insurance = $35,750.00 For International Travel & Offshore sailing"

WOW - who wrote that policy?

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Lloyds of London for a replacement cost of 1.2 mil

SeaQuest OE
A Lagoon 57' Catamaran
 
quote:
Originally posted by TigerPaws

Like So many others who have written here I shudder to consider the actual costs of living and traveling on our floating home.

In round numbers:

Monthly Payments = $0
Purchase Price = Don't Ask
Fuel from February to November (2006) = $8,200.00
Maint. = $10,500.00 (not under warranty) and still counting
Insurance = $35,750.00 For International Travel & Offshore sailing
Docking fees = $11,500.00
Customs & Immigration fees = $2,500.00
Taxes = $0
Bribes (Europe) = $500.00

Living the dream = Priceless

SeaQuest OE
A Lagoon 57' Catamaran

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With a base cost of 70K a year for living a great life, a life Tiger wants & loves - It's cheap
 
quote:
Originally posted by giolic

please tell us more about that insurance bill.

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Believe me when you venture offshore, I mean really offshore (like across the Atlantic and beyond) there are very few companies that will insure you. Lloyds is represented everywhere and their service is unmatched. While they were not the cheapest insurance they were within 5% of the least expensive so why not go with the best.
Lloyds also offers a number of other services, such as assisting if your vessel is seized or impounded by a foreign government. They are respected world wide and local assistance is usually on the scene within 24 hours if an incident should occur. They offer the widest range of coverage of anyone in the industry.

I have a long standing philosophy "Buy the Best and Cry Only Once"

SeaQuest OE
A Lagoon 57' Catamaran
 
I hate adding this up, the things I could do with this kind of money. But, I'm hooked and won't be giving up the hobby any time soon. If you really want to lose some sleep take your total outlay and divide it by the number of times you used the boat. Due to some health problems the last three years my wife and I have used the boat more for a hide-away than anything else. Anyway my numbers are below and do not include the items I do my self, tune-ups, water pump maintenance, fluid changes, fuel.

Summer Dockage $125.00/32ft $4,000.00
Payments $332.00 12/Mt $3,984.00
Insurance $85.00/12 Mt $1,020.00
Shrink Wrap $10.95/32ft $350.40
Storage $75.00/32ft $2,400.00
Winterize Engines $150.00/2 $300.00
Winterize Supplies$75.00/1 $75.00
Bottom Paint $9.95/32 $318.40
Paint/Supplies $200.00/1 $200.00
Power wash $6.95/32ft $222.40
$12,870.20
 
slip: $1900
Storage: $3400
Insurance: $1200 (guess)
Typical Weekend: $150-$400 for gas, food, beer, entertainment,
 
QUOTE:The most wasteful boating are all those boats which NEVER leave the slip. The owners have them just to say 'I own a boat'.

hey veebyes,

and that aint a horrible way to spend a day. hanging out at the boat, at the slip, having a beer, soaking a shrimp or two, conversing with your dockmates.

a few years ago we had a guy slipped directly behind us that was an avid fisherman. if i was there when he came back, he always loaded me up with fresh catch of the day.
i used to love seeing his boat gone when i showed up to hang out at ours!
 
ever think about storing your boat in a mine. I put my 20 ft. glastron cuddy in brady's bend limestone mine storage for the winter. put the boat in November, and take it out in April. the section I put the boat in is climatize to 65 degre's temp. and 65% humitity. When I pick it up in April it lookes like the day I put it in. total cost of storage is $235.00 for five months.
 
D Andrews recollections took me back ....: My Dad was never greatly excited about boating but liked to be with friends on their boats and we did use quite a bit a duck hunting punt we built together. He always supported my interest in boating/ fishing and one of the few times he agreed to go out on a former 23' Seacraft cuddy of mine a long time ago we ended up boating 3 120 lb yellowfin by handline and a tired songbird landed on his shoulder and stayed there for the whole ~50 NM trip back to land while he maintained a huge grin . He's gone now, but that trip remains so clear. Especially that and so many so very memorable fish trips with wonderful nieces & nephews & great fish pal rogues are valued so far beyond measure actual cost is merely laughable whether I can "afford it" or not. Happy memories to you all.

What was the question?
 
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