Month 22 Expenses of Cruising and Living on the Boat

[sailorboy1]

Under budget this month again and that makes 3 months in a row! This month we traveled from Washington DC to New London Ct.
Boat costs were mostly a couple of capacitors for our generator and a new bow nav light after our spinnaker ripped the old one right off the bow. The rest was general maintenance items like cleaners etc.
Marina costs were for 1 night on a mooring In Havre de Grace, and it was too much for the location!!! Was going to spend a couple days there, but it was so terrible on that mooring that we just left. On the plus side this is the lowest marina monthly costs we have ever had (bless the mighty anchor).

Did a few good grocery runs. Dining costs were high and I’m sure we were thinking “haven’t spent money in marinas so let’s eat out”. Also, it was freakin hot the past month and think we ate out sometimes just to sit in air conditioning. Still it was less dining out than last month, so we showed great restraint.

Brought a lot of fuel! Some of the fuel costs really were from motoring the month before. But we basically motored all the way up the Potomac to DC and back to the Chesapeake. Then up the Chesapeake and through the C&D Canal to Cape May, then from Sandy Hook NJ to Port Washington NY. Still we have sailed a fair amount lately and I was surprised at the fuel costs.

The total expenses were $ 2,463.24. Cost breakdown as follows for planners and hecklers:

Food, soda, alcohol, clothing, sundries - $ 638.39
Boat upgrades, repairs, maintenance - $ 276.11
Fuel (diesel, gas, propane) - $ 401.08
Dining out - $ 812.79
Entertainment - $ 174.78
Communication, storage, shipping - $ 96.12
Fees – $ -60.19
Marina - $ 32.29
Electric - $ 0
Medical - $ 20.19
Transportation - $ 60
Gifts - $ 28.48

[sailorboy1]

Didn’t spend anything yesterday and the day before because one day it too rainy to go into town ad was underway all day yesterday. Toast night I anchored in Newport and so far today we: did laundry, got a couple of rigging pins to fix the block that broke yesterday and a bottle of frabic protectant, went to store and got soda and a few groceries, got some beer and a box of wine.

So that’s $176 and it’s only 2pm. Some research says there’s pizza ashore for later.

And that’s how a cruiser budget works if you get close to “town”.

[Sparx]

There are a bunch of great restaurants within a short walk from the dinghy landing in Newport.

Lucia Italian restaurant on Thames street is a favorite for pizza and anything else Italian. I have stopped there just for a great afternoon coffee.

[sailorboy1]

See I knew where would be pizza. Isn’t cruising great

[alansmith]

Living the life. I loved your statement about the hecklers.... about a year from now I will be retired. Talking about licking my chops. I’ll go down to San Carlos in November for 2 week orientation on the new boat with the previous owner.

Your posts... have been very informative for me. Keep posting up.

[sailorboy1]

Thanks. But I think my real life numbers don’t agree with a lot of people I’ll probably stop at my two year point and let people go back to the mysterious “whatever you can afford, or $500/mo” budget answers.

[a64pilot]

In fact if you backed out the “luxury” things, your living awfully cheap.
I’m not knocking you at all, don’t think that, I spend on luxury items myself, but your numbers validate the possibility of living cheap if you had to.

[sailorboy1]

We try to do more than just “live”

[kmacdonald]

You might want to increase the alcohol spending. It's on the low side.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

We try to do more than just “live”

Then you’ll need a cockpit fridge to store your beer.

[SV Bacchus]

Hecklers seem to be falling off. I think they have figured out you are for real and these are real world numbers!

Good on ya SB1, we will catch up with you when you head back our way.

[Mnbear]

Thanks for update Please keep it up. Just got my boat in water in June still lots of work to do before I head out. Don't let the haters bother you

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

You might want to increase the alcohol spending. It's on the low side.

It's just a monthly reporting variance.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Then you’ll need a cockpit fridge to store your beer.

Whiskey don' need no steenkin' fridge.



-Chris

[sailorboy1]

Bad weather is a budget saver. Been in Fall River Ma the last couple of days to see the battleship. Nothing really in walking distance for much of a money spending temptation. Blowing nasty out so yesterday we didn't leave boat. Today got stir crazy so we moved 10 miles down river to a more exposed cove before we realized it would be crazy to go out in the Sound. So now we aren't ever in a place that we could spend at.

It is getting dire on the boat, getting down on wine and coffee.