Go Back   Cruiser Log World Cruising & Sailing Forums > Cruising Forums > Living Aboard
Cruiser Wiki Click Here to Login

Join Cruiser Log Today

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-10-2009, 03:47 PM   #1
Ensign
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 7
Thumbs up

I"m new here (obviously) and will have some really basic questions for all of you experienced "live aboarders." My husband, Jon and I are in the infantcy stage of researching the possibility of first, learning to sail! Neither of us have learned before...we've been on motor boats etc. but never a sail boat. We're obsessed with this idea now and are spending hours upon hours of time reading, reading, and reading more trying to quench this thirst for knowlege of all things sailing and living aboard. Our plan (so far) is to eventually sell everything we have and buy a boat & live aboard while coastal cruising to our hearts content. We're both in our mid & late 40's and have a grown son.

I'll try to space my questions out and not bombard y'all with everything all at once.

Question of the day...

What are some typical expences that we will incur on a daily, weekly, monthly, etc. basis that maybe we don't know anything about at this stage? I'm not asking for specific dollar amounts, although, that would be nice to know. I'm just asking for maybe a list of things that require income.

Thanks in advance!
__________________

__________________
Phyllis

Jon & Phyllis

Lathrop, Missouri
Cowgirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2009, 04:08 PM   #2
Moderator
 
redbopeep's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Home Port: Washington DC
Vessel Name: SV Mahdee
Posts: 3,236
Default

Hi there, again

If you haven't picked up the Pardey's Cost Conscious Cruiser and Annie Hill's Voyaging on a Small Income, you might do so now. Both talk about budgeting, etc. Both focus on ways to voyage with only the income one can make while voyaging--so they are quite focused on smallest boat possible and recognizing the sorts of things that can break your budget if you're not careful. If you will have a nest egg, retirement income, etc, you can evaluate your own situation differently, of course.

Further, the link I gave you earlier to the Bumfuzzle adventure is good because that couple included a wonderfully detailed budget for everything they did as well over a four year period.

I've read in several places that you won't spend less than what you spend on land for food, alcohol, eating out, etc. Some folks budget about 30% more than their land-based food costs. We're still in the US, and can't speak to what other folks do here or internationally. We do happen to spend less when we're staying on the boat for extended periods but that is because there's no eating out at those times.

When you get a boat, a good surveyor can assist you in understanding the maintenance requirements of the particular boat. Many folks throw out numbers stating that if you do a good job keeping up with your boat maintenance (sails, engine, hull, systems, everything) that you'll spend x percent of the boat's initial purchase price in maintaining it. I've heard 5% frequently stated, and I've heard numbers from 3% up to 10%, so I think it depends on the boat size, materials, fit-and-finish and expected state of condition throughout your ownership of it. Also, if you're a DIY type person vs having everything done by professionals.

Fair winds,
__________________

__________________
"Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda

What we're doing - The sailing life aboard and the Schooner Chandlery.

redbopeep is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2009, 08:19 AM   #3
Commander
 
Frank's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Home Port: Puerto Montt
Vessel Name: Westerly Serenade
Posts: 115
Default

Gday Cowgirl,

I spend 6 months of the year living on my boat. The other 6 months she normally spends in a marina with a typical cost of $US6 (Chile)-$US10(Argentina) a day.

Sailing coastwise in the US I think you may find marina costs substantially higher.... and it will be directly related to size of boat. Annual cost will depend on how much time you spend at anchor

My annual budget is a bit like this....

Airfares getting too and from the boat twice a year $US4000.... not applicable in your case

Insurance ... allow maybe 1% of value pa ... unsure what you would pay in the US... rates for me are more in the order of 2% cos of where I sail...

Vittling..... about the same as I would spend living ashore for food and wine. That varies a lot from boat to boat... people have differing lifestyles...

Maintenance ...

Hauling and antifouling once a year... I don't know what US costs are...

Overhauling and replacing broken stuff... depends on the condition of the boat when you start but I spend about $US 2000 a year on general maintenance.... even if you reckon she is in good order you need a fighting fund to allow for the unexpected....

What sort of boat are you thinking of buying?
__________________
= Chile,
I've Contributed to the Cruisers Wiki: Chile
Frank is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
living aboard


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Logistics Of Living Aboard redbopeep Living Aboard 6 01-10-2013 05:38 AM
Living Aboard Simulator redbopeep The Poop Deck 2 12-13-2009 08:48 PM
Living Aboard & Cruising Trim50 General Cruising Forum 1 07-25-2007 12:37 AM
Tell me about "living aboard" srreality General Cruising Forum 10 02-21-2007 09:52 PM
Living aboard in the BVI DannyT General Cruising Forum 7 11-23-2006 09:58 PM

Our Communities

Our communities encompass many different hobbies and interests, but each one is built on friendly, intelligent membership.

» More about our Communities

Automotive Communities

Our Automotive communities encompass many different makes and models. From U.S. domestics to European Saloons.

» More about our Automotive Communities

RV & Travel Trailer Communities

Our RV & Travel Trailer sites encompasses virtually all types of Recreational Vehicles, from brand-specific to general RV communities.

» More about our RV Communities

Marine Communities

Our Marine websites focus on Cruising and Sailing Vessels, including forums and the largest cruising Wiki project on the web today.

» More about our Marine Communities


All times are GMT. The time now is 11:52 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
×