The Cost of Sailing / Cruising

[bobfnbw]

Seriously, both of you.. lighten up please.
Sure there are cliques in life, and affluent people with their nose out of joint, and poor people that make a moorage into a slum... and for the rest of us, just normal people trying to get by, have some fun, and be there for others when they need help.
All kinds of people in cruising, like in real life as well. Hell even the bad guys love their mothers, or kids or dog or something, and even the good guys loose their temper, and have fits, and secret opinions and agendas. Its called life.
The original poster asked a question about the cost of cruising, not about who is a wanker or in a clique. Get over it.

[Vic de Beer]

Mark,
I have been cruising (spent 8 years out on the ocean) and would like to go again, hence the original question as to the costs involved.
After determining that the costs are around $1000.00/month, I am seriously considering going again.
However, from the drift that I get from reading these posts, there are areas that one, who is cruising on a budget of $1000.00/m should avoid, as the costs for being there, could increase to way more than your budget may allow, and, as you are most likely aware, once you've arrived, it is not always easy to just up-anchor and leave again.
So,to get to the point I was trying to make, prior to being called a "wanker".... :
There seem to be areas where the cost of living is controlled by those who have set the standard, and maintains it from their airconditioned.... whatever ..............That is my comment....: That these areas seem to exist....and they are being controlled..... nothing more, nothing less

[Vic de Beer]

Thanks bobfnbw..... my point exactly...

[osirissail]

Actually. Vic de Beer, brings up a very valid distinction in the costs of cruising. As on land when a particular place becomes a "tourist magnet" or on water - "a major cruising destination/way stop" the prices of escalate - sometimes significantly.
- - The Bahamas is a good example, especially Georgetown, Exumas. 20 years ago maybe a dozen or two boats would stop waiting for a weather window for heading further down island. A beach bar, a little town with one grocery store, a smattering of little mom & pop stores were about all that was there. Fast forward to 2004-5 and now over 400 boats stop there. You will find a major cruising regatta; the grocery store is not charging US$10/6 oz bottle of A-1 sauce and other prices double or more; Mega T-shirt shops, Tiki bars and hotels, fancy dinghy dock (although one major improvement - free R.O. water) and officials sweeping the anchorages looking for boat that did not pay their US$300 (35' or over boats.) It used to be under $100 15 years ago.
- Other major stopping points all down the Caribbean island chain have experienced exactly the same situation due simply to major multiples of numbers of boats now stopping versus 20years ago. But that's life, there is no way to reverse time.
- So where can low budget cruisers stop and enjoy the place for "old fashioned" costs? I would say - Dominican Republic; Viegues; St Croix; ??Nevis??; Dominica; St Vincent and sort of - Carriacou/Grenada. Basically the islands that have major local agriculture to support their population or are "out of the way" from the main super-highway of boats heading down island.
- - Anybody else have real low-cost island stops? High cost ones?
- - The "sort of" or marginal places have a dual economy, one low priced for natives and the other high priced for tourist/visitors. If you can find out where to buy and how to get around like a native, the costs drop steeply.
- - Another technique to keeping costs down is to "stock up" in the low costs islands and then when visiting the "high costs" islands, live off your supplies and avoid the "candy parts of their tourist/visitor economy." I love to visit giant shopping malls and "window shop". The beauty of living on a boat is the lack of space for "extra stuff" - so you can look and oogle but you cannot buy. Great entertainment and free.

[John A]

osirissail,

Well said, thank you! I'll not tell of my favorite ports in the fear that they will not remain so. There are many stops throughout the Bahamas, that were a delight, as were stops on the west and south of Puerto Rico.
The Virgin islands, which are full of bare boat charters, hellbent on spending $5000 for ten days of forced enjoyment, are no longer fun.
St. Barths. While there I was charged $35 a day to anchor a 15 minute dinghy ride from the docks. A lunch of a salad, two beers and ice cream came to a total of $52 US! But watching the rich and famous celebrate New Years Eve, to mingle with them to enjoy Jimmy Buffet for free was, to this scruffy singlehandler, worth it.
The really great thing about the whole cruising experience is that if you're not happy where you are, pick up your anchor and go somewhere else.
regards John A

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by osirissail

The beauty of living on a boat is the lack of space for "extra stuff" - so you can look and oogle but you cannot buy. Great entertainment and free.

This is why I'm putting a lot of investment in staying independent of the shore (solid ground tackle and plenty of it, self-sufficient in power, water, and plenty of stowage for provisions).

It is "the shore" that is the enemy of cruiser budgets. Due to proximity and convenience (not always the same thing), and combined with the habit of cruisers to endorse particular spots, some islands develop quite extensive and expensive "service industries" adjacent to the customary anchorages.

And then they charge an arm, a leg and a testicle for the privilege.

Frequently, this reflects not only price-gouging, but the real price to the locals of shipping what to them are North American luxury items to some tiny, distant, and usually poor island.

If you go from the anchorage, however, and past the "shore", and go inland or to the other, less developed part of the island, you can get food and drink at what the locals pay (or close to it). You may not recognize the labels (if there even is one), but if you insist on Doritos and a Bud at every place you stop, then maybe cruising wasn't the best choice.

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

. . . It is "the shore" that is the enemy of cruiser budgets. Due to proximity and convenience (not always the same thing), and combined with the habit of cruisers to endorse particular spots, some islands develop quite extensive and expensive "service industries" adjacent to the customary anchorages.
Frequently, this reflects not only price-gouging, but the real price to the locals of shipping what to them are North American luxury items to some tiny, distant, and usually poor island.
. . . . You may not recognize the labels (if there even is one), but if you insist on Doritos and a Bud at every place you stop, then maybe cruising wasn't the best choice.

- - As to the shore being the enemy - I would not agree - anymore than I would blames guns for killing people. We cruise to experience and explore the "shores" of the islands or continents and the people who live there. Otherwise we might as well stay in our home waters and sail in circles.
- - As I have discussed before there are some roughly 3 categories of folks out cruising- and each group has different needs and perceptions. Some definitely want the Doritos and Bud -light- at each island. Absolutely nothing wrong with that as in everywhere in the world the population is constantly growing - for some unknown reason . As the population grows up they need jobs and money so they can make more population. Those Buds and Doritas are providing the jobs and money. Otherwise they may be forced to liberate our money without providing goods or services. So I would suggest that those folks into the Buds and Doritos may be doing us a favor.
- - As to "price gouging" I hesitate to invoke that phrase as this is a "capitalistic" world, not a socialistic world. The locals will charge "what the traffic will bear" which is a first princi

[Kratch]

Originally Posted by osirissail

- Other major stopping points all down the Caribbean island chain have experienced exactly the same situation due simply to major multiples of numbers of boats now stopping versus 20years ago. But that's life, there is no way to reverse time.

I think what Mark may be taking offense to is the implied accusation that it is the affluent, air conditioned boats with washing machines that are causing these increases in prices, rather then simply increased traffic and natural inflation (... as well as the implication that these wealthy boaters don't care so much for the "real" boating lifestyle and instead want a "condo" lifestyle on a boat...Which, I should point out, is Vic establishing a clique in and of itself, such as, but opposite to, what he is complaining about (Bigotry is not limited to wealthy, white, males. Contrary to popular belief)).

As to the actual costs of boating, I see many people stating it can cost a lot and that nickle and dime stuff adds up quickly, only to get jumped on by people stating it can be done for cheep (and to be fair, I see equally, people jump on those who say "it can do it on the cheep"). What my problem has been is that, very few people actually acknowledge that to live on the cheep requires a degree of experience and knowledge (a concept that is not limited to being on the water). For example, I could live in a number of small towns in PEI/newfoundland or similar areas for $900 or less quite easily. I can live in Toronto for the same amount of money, but only because I am familiar with the city and have connections and know how to find cheep shelter/furniture and know good places to shop for cheep food, etc. Could I then move to another major city and live on that budget? not likely. Could someone else come to Toronto and live on that budget? again, not likely. So, when someone asks (and thus demonstrates a lack of the knowledge/experience needed to live the lifestyle) how much it costs to live aboard, saying it can be done for $1000/month or less is one thing, but not helping them to know how to do so (such as places to go/avoid to reduce anchorage costs), nor acknowledging that the costs can quickly mount up and overwhelm people is only encouraging them to fail.

What I have learned from these threads has been, when I finally start out, I will establish a budget, but I will have the funds available to double that budget, thus, if I fail to meet that budget, I will not be left short, and if I succeed, I will double my sail time (or simply return with next years budget already saved).

[surfingminniwinni]

Originally Posted by rusky

Out cruising, there are millionaires and dole bludgers. No one asks "What do you do for a living?" except for multihull people!!! All are equal -yachties. Some more better off, but all with the same view on life and conversations always are on anchorages/equipment and friends etc.

Now how do I become a dole bludger on a yacht???? Any tips would be appreciated.

2 months to the day & we are off.

[surfingminniwinni]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

"wankers" - I love you down under people :-)

don't know what this means but I bet most of my guesses would fit close enough

Umm put it this way, its Australia's national pastime. Wanking that is.

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Kratch

What I have learned from these threads has been, when I finally start out, I will establish a budget, but I will have the funds available to double that budget, thus, if I fail to meet that budget, I will not be left short, and if I succeed, I will double my sail time (or simply return with next years budget already saved).

That's a great plan, especialy if you plan to cruise with a wife. Well, my wife anyway.

She manages to double my budget all the time...

[sailorboy1]

OK, lets back to the orginal question because this is starting to turn me off and crush my plans/dreams. How much does it Cost!!!! Not how much it might if this, if that! Lots of posters here are/have been out there. What did it cost YOU and where did you go, what was the basic lifetsyle of your trip. Fess up now it doesn't which group of spender you fall into. Hell I hope you got to be the high spender. Mark you're cruising and proud of your 30 years of work life, so what's you answer (not picking on Mark). Given that you can eat almost anything with enough kethup/salsa, I need to determine if I will be able to buy kethup/salsa for my store brand dogfood :-)

[Talbot]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

That's a great plan, especialy if you plan to cruise with a wife. Well, my wife anyway.
She manages to double my budget all the time...

That is a very generous attitude, does she know that you have offered her services

I have the same attitude, very happy for anyone to go cruising with my (ex) wife.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

OK, lets back to the orginal question because this is starting to turn me off and crush my plans/dreams. How much does it Cost!!!! Not how much it might if this, if that! Lots of posters here are/have been out there. What did it cost YOU ...

It cost me $1.50/hour to cruise the Bahamas.

[rusky]

Hey, did I hear my name mentioned.
Surfingwinny - just wait 2 months and you will see.

You will need to forget about all the BS before you get across the BS. Also I want to see a photo of you surfing the bow wave.