I've heard a saying....

[rebel heart]

Another captain that worked on a fishing boat with me spent five years cruising around with his family. He was sort of bummed because he was broke. I looked over and reminded him that I know plenty of people who are broke (or worse, in crazy debt) who really never did anything worthwhile.

It's not like sailors are the only people strapped for cash. Every idiot driving a car he can't afford with a high maintenance wife and a McMansion in the suburbs is broke.

At least I have something to show for it all.

[Ex-Calif]

Sailboat racing - A rich man's sport invented so poor people can go sailing.

[zeehag]

some folks dont have to throw money at their boats-- some actually wisely repair older stuff and replace with newer stuff, at 400 percent over retail. if you choose not to be bent over by retail chandleries, you dont have to spend so much money. there ar alternatives to paying retail plus 400 percent.
when one has a house to all home,one spends unwisely on boat as the house is home and boat is toy.
when boat is home there is a slight difference in attitude. still many continue to use retail plus 400 percent--they gripe. i smile. life is awesome and my boat is my home and isnt overly pricey. but then i am not the norm as to demographics of boat owners and users.....

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

It's not like sailors are the only people strapped for cash. Every idiot driving a car he can't afford with a high maintenance wife and a McMansion in the suburbs is broke.

At least I have something to show for it all.

While building a steel boat at Moores boatyard in Santa Cruz, Ca., I had a middle aged couple killing time by walking through the yard checking out half built boats. I got the "Oh, boats are a hole in the water" ect, ect, ect... I said, "Oh...and your house isn't". I explained to him that although he might think he owns his house...he doesn't. The bank does. That if he purchased it for $200,000. (This conversation was the early 90's) that he was going to pay for it at least twice with the interest.

[jgbrown]

Throwing it in is too slow. I use a shovel.

[Azure42]

"Boat" Bucks = Break Out Another Thousand

[zeehag]

shovel,hell, i use a skip loader..LOL..
accurately, one spends only as much as one has to spend on one's home. whether that home is on land or in water, same deal.
luckily, my skip loader has a small basket....

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

.......
I like - "If it flies, floats or f&^#!cates, it is cheaper to rent it."
.......

I thought the expression was "If it flies, floats or f****, its cheaper to rent it".
Haven't found any of these to be the case

[mbianka]

I'm finally seeing my boat now as finally not being that proverbial hole in the water as my major expenses have been dwindling. I did buy two hundred feet of 3/8" anchor chain this years to replace chain that had been on since 1986. But, at $3.00 plus per foot dockage fees in my area it will pay for it's self pretty fast.
I also added an AIS transponder but, only because West Marine had a rock bottom closeout price on the Vesper AIS display unit. Saved about five hundred bucks by jumping on that deal and added a nice safety factor to my cruising.
Going to electric propulsion five years ago has saved me hundreds in maintenance costs and spare parts. It's the boatyard and insurance fees that are the major expenses these days.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by mbianka

......
Saved about five hundred bucks by jumping on that deal and added a nice safety factor to my cruising.
.........

My husband always absolutely cringed each time I came home and said "guess how much money I saved today?" Far fewer opportunities for this when at sea.

[mbianka]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

My husband always absolutely cringed each time I came home and said "guess how much money I saved today?" Far fewer opportunities for this when at sea.

Well there are advantages to being a single sailor. But, yes you do save money at sea. It's when you get to land where the expenses mount. An AIS unit has been on my wish list and I was thinking perhaps next year since my priority this year was having new anchor chain. But, when a five hundred dollar display drops to one hundred dollars I could not afford to look away. The good thing is I have nothing else on my wish list for the boat. So it's just maintenance and up keep.

[CeesH]

A former boat owner told me that the 2 happiest days in his live where;

#1. The day that he bought his boat.
#2. The day that he sold it.

CeesH