Shoestring Sailors (Cruising on $500 per month - part II)

[sparrowhawk1]

Well my latest experiment on how to save money and it will also help me eat better hopefully is an automatic sprouter. Just got it so too soon to give a good report. will post on either a sprouting thread or growing your own food thread when I have results. Will put a note on here what thread I put it on when I do it

[Mike OReilly]

We sprout while underway. Great way to have fresh greens all the time. I use a stackable set of trays. I keep stagger-start them and then just keep rolling as we go along. That way we always have a new crop ready to eat.

We also got with a few fresh herb plants, although to be honest we've not had as much success with these. I'm really not much of a green thumb. But sprouts are easy, nutritious and cheap.


Why go fast, when you can go slow

[sparrowhawk1]

Mike did you ever make your Solar dehydrator?

[onestepcsy37]

there is a 'provisioning; food and drink' forum here where you can find other posts on sprouting.

i've tried some basic sprouting with a single jar i bought in a health food store. worked out really good for the most part - depends on how well i 'tend' my garden, although it requires only minutes a day. i ate the sprouts right out of the jar and also added some to scrambled eggs. could be nice in places where fresh veggies are expensive, like the bahamas.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by sparrowhawk1

Mike did you ever make your Solar dehydrator?

I'm about 1/2 way done. I still need to build the trays. Now that the snow is almost gone I can get to cutting the wood outside (don't have a shop) and finish it up. I'll post a pic once it's done. Hopefully I can actually put it to use this summer.

[tryrsh]

If anyone needs advice on cruising on $5000 a month I think I've got a pretty good handle on it!

[weavis]

Originally Posted by tryrsh

If anyone needs advice on cruising on $5000 a month I think I've got a pretty good handle on it!

LOL.

[lorrie]

Originally Posted by white rabbitt

I saw a movie years ago where this couple (male&female) cruised around the caribbean. When they saw another sailboat they would sail up to it, befriend them and then shoot the occupants killing them dead, steal whatever on their boat and then sink said boat with the people they shot secured in said boat. In the movie they never were caught. Just saying

Now that's keeping it positive!

[weavis]

I just concluded a quick projection of cruising costs for me. (sailing catamaran)

Excluding cost of purchasing a sail boat, (assuming no debt on it.)

Med East coast Spain.

Marina (home berth) P/A. $16000 including paperwork and fees etc.
Traveling marina berthing (assume 40 nights) $ 4000
Diesel: $ 3000
Insurance: $ 1000
Repairs: $10000
Food: $ 5200
clothing $ 500
Extras. S3000

total cost = $41.200
Or Sterling = £24.500
Or Euro = €29.700

So, that is neary $3500 a month (£2000 or €2475)

Now I can knock huge chunks off this projection, but even if I take 50% off, its still not within the $500 a month.

Conclusion: Boats are expensive, but not as expensive as living.
Still we do it anyway

[toggles]

Originally Posted by tryrsh

If anyone needs advice on cruising on $5000 a month I think I've got a pretty good handle on it!

Do tell!

[weavis]

Originally Posted by toggles

Do tell!

LOL
I love this thread for the hopes it build up in us to actually "DO it! and do it cheaply!"

I traveled to the south coast yesterday on a boat check with a buddy who is looking for a new boat.........

Petrol 1/10th a credit card. Food, another 10th. Needed new deck shoes, another chunk of the plastic. Associated costs with the day.......dont ask.

Got home and found a wobble on the front end..... new track rod. Frickin' rough road in marinas........

I have no idea how to live cheaply on a boat. Even if the vessel doesnt move, something will have corroded or fallen off or get U.V. damaged even though it was never taken out of the package. LOLOL on one boat we went on, his radio was all crackly from lack of use... cleared up with tweaking the volume control.......

[sparrowhawk1]

Originally Posted by toggles

Do tell!

There's another thread for that. And the ones that are taking this thread seriously would never consider paying $20,000 in slip fees. It's not for motor yachts unless you take the fuel expense out of the equation

[toggles]

Originally Posted by weavis

LOL
I love this thread for the hopes it build up in us to actually "DO it! and do it cheaply!"

Yeah, I'd really like to know how much I need, is a boat + $1m (~$25k/year) enough? Or do I really need to double that and get it up closer the the $5k/month figure??? Neither sound like "Go small, go cheap, go _now_!"

Ha!

[weavis]

Originally Posted by sparrowhawk1

There's another thread for that. And the ones that are taking this thread seriously would never consider paying $20,000 in slip fees. It's not for motor yachts unless you take the fuel expense of the equation

In the western MEd......... please try and find ANYWHERE to moor that is safe on the hook for long. I really would like to know........ and I do take this thread seriously, and it is a sailing vessel that Im basing my costs on. The MEd is not kind to Cats for into wind sailing... hence the cost of fuel.

it just doesnt relate to some places.

As far as I can see, all the good anchorages have been confiscated by the Spanish gov and sold to businesses for waterfront development....... Forget the Balearics, forget anchoring any where around because when that wind blows up........ it is nasty.

Its not going to be cheap. You WILL pay $200+ a night because that is what they charge in season.....

I REALLY believe it is possible to live on $500 a month. But not where I want to be, and that will change completely if the engine barfs or sails need replacing. and thats the sad thing.

[sparrowhawk1]

Originally Posted by weavis

In the western MEd......... please try and find ANYWHERE to moor that is safe on the hook for long. I really would like to know........ and I do take this thread seriously, and it is a sailing vessel that Im basing my costs on. The MEd is not kind to Cats for into wind sailing... hence the cost of fuel.

it just doesnt relate to some places.

As far as I can see, all the good anchorages have been confiscated by the Spanish gov and sold to businesses for waterfront development....... Forget the Balearics, forget anchoring any where around because when that wind blows up........ it is nasty.

Its not going to be cheap. You WILL pay $200+ a night because that is what they charge in season.....

I REALLY believe it is possible to live on $500 a month. But not where I want to be, and that will change completely if the engine barfs or sails need replacing. and thats the sad thing.

Good point. So this thread probably wouldn't apply to anyone wanting to sail your cruising grounds. It's also my opinion ( imagine that me having an opinion) that this thread is for people that have already outfitted their boats and if an engine needs replacing,sails need replacing or if you have major medical expenses it's not going to be in the budget. And before some wise guy says that's all part of cruising. No its not. its when I stop cruising and go back to work full time