8 years of cost data

[chuckr]

OK here is the cost data for our last 8 years. this was an expensive year as I had to have gall bladder removed in Turkey - A few Turks have told me I got taken and should have check around a bit more - We do not carry medical insurance as getting it and the cost when you are over 70 is hard and expensive
It was also a year for major work on the boat before we headed to the Black Sea with major rebuilds on the prop and windlass along with a new spurs shaft line cutter. We spent a lot on making sure the boat was in as good as shape as possible for there are no small problems in the Black Sea only big ones.
There are no real anchorages in the Black Sea so dockage cost was high and we had to use agents in Georgia and Russia and it did cost a bit to get into Russia.
We also travelled inland to Armenia, around Russia and in Ukraine to Krakow and Moldova.

hope this helps

[SSgtPitt]

Lot of great info, thanks.

[StuM]

See you worked out how to save a .xlsx as a .xls file.


Very interesting data. Thanks for that.

[a64pilot]

The surgery does drive costs up doesn't it?
If you don't mind the question how did you handle it? Do you have an uh-oh fund? Do you intend to try to replenish the fund if so by tightening the belt?

Money issues aside how was the standard of care? Did it seem clean and sterile? Successful outcome? Are you glad you didn't fly back to the US? Would you do anything different?

If these are too personal, of course just tell me so, I'll bug off.

I do want to thank you for sharing what a great many would consider none of our business. I am not trying to pry too much, just I have zero experience with cruising full time, and at this stage in my life, its unlikely that I could cruise for five years, run out of money and go back to work, so I'm trying to get a realistic view of what it costs.
I know that if I try to cover every base, we will never leave, so I'm trying to determine that balance of realistic risk.

Before you left, did you replace all standing rigging, get new sails etc. or is that something you plan on buying as necessary?


Again, thank you

[bennenrkc]

Thank you! I have poured over all of your sheets and will do so again.

[nextis12]

Alcohol runs at 5%! Is that due to quality or quantity?

[Symphony]

as always - THANK YOU for keeping, categorizing and sharing your experience.

[Rigdaddy]

Originally Posted by Symphony

as always - THANK YOU for keeping, categorizing and sharing your experience.

Agreed, every time I get serious about keeping track of boat expenses, denial sets in. Glad somebody perseveres.

[majones]

Great information. Gives real life costs of cruising. For those of us that don't cruise, and need to know if it is affordable, this is the information needed. Clearly this is not a budget but the real world costs for cruising.
From this data it is easy to determine if cruising will fit into my budget. For sure, some years you spend more some years you spend less. That is why you need savings to draw from in time of need which can be replenished in the years of lower costs.
Thanks much for the info.

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

The surgery does drive costs up doesn't it?
If you don't mind the question how did you handle it? Do you have an uh-oh fund? Do you intend to try to replenish the fund if so by tightening the belt?

Money issues aside how was the standard of care? Did it seem clean and sterile? Successful outcome? Are you glad you didn't fly back to the US? Would you do anything different?

If these are too personal, of course just tell me so, I'll bug off.

I do want to thank you for sharing what a great many would consider none of our business. I am not trying to pry too much, just I have zero experience with cruising full time, and at this stage in my life, its unlikely that I could cruise for five years, run out of money and go back to work, so I'm trying to get a realistic view of what it costs.
I know that if I try to cover every base, we will never leave, so I'm trying to determine that balance of realistic risk.

Before you left, did you replace all standing rigging, get new sails etc. or is that something you plan on buying as necessary?


Again, thank you

When we were in Turkey we utilized their medical system and found it pretty much as good as our own. Obviously no country even comes close to the costs of the USA system that's for profit. We had American friends who had a last minute medical emergency that required high tech eye surgery and we discussed the option of flying home. They decided to have the operation done in Turkey as the costs we quite a bit less than the airline tickets back home. Everything turned out just fine and it was a real eye opener for them, no pun intended. I saw two specialists when I was there and my fees were around $30.00 US. It will be interesting to hear Chucks views on this. R

[robert sailor]

One thing you should keep an eye on when discussing monthly cruising costs are...the extent of the refit you have done before you left and how long you cruise for. If you replace almost everything before you leave you will have spent a ton of dough on the refit, ie new rigging, new engine, new sails, new pumps, new windless, the list goes on then your boat maintenance over the first 5-10 years is going to be a lot less compared to the cruiser who maintained and refitted as they cruised. Also if you only cruise for a few years your costs to keep the boat up are going to be much lower. Another point is where are you cruising, if your crossing oceans and putting the big miles on your costs to maintain are going to be higher than someone cruising in the Caribbean or Med where the boat doesn't see the number of cycles that offshore boats see. People that hunker down in one general area and don't sail very much are going to experience lower costs all around.
We've found that on average we spend close to a thousand dollars a month on replacement and maintenance, some months higher and others much lower. If we quite traveling our costs would be a lot lower.

[GTom]

Thanks for the data! I am trying to establish a business case, how many weeks of sailing justifies buying a ~33' boat (less than 10m LOA - not feeding all kind of greedy govt.s and marinas in the Med) vs chartering it.

[Emouchet]

very interesting data. Thanks for sharing.

[sailorcherry]

Originally Posted by chuckr

I had to have gall bladder removed in Turkey - A few Turks have told me I got taken and should have check around a bit more - We do not carry medical insurance as getting it and the cost when you are over 70 is hard and expensive
It was also a year for major work on the boat before we headed to the Black Sea with major rebuilds on the prop and windlass along with a new spurs shaft line cutter. We spent a lot on making sure the boat was in as good as shape as possible for there are no small problems in the Black Sea only big ones.

I've family on the SW coast of Turkey, part of the year for over a decade now. Overall, it is a wonderful country and I really hope you can get down to its jewel: The Turquois Coast.

From seeing doctors/hospitals for antibiotics to back surgery, our family has had a lot of experience with HC there. On my first visit I had an infection and went to the local tourist doc and I totally got taken, for sure! But she is known as the one who rips off tourists and we we're still new there. So those Turks are probably right. You need locals to help you, to translate and such and shop around for HC or other important, costly matters. Opinions/help from a few different local expats will also help. Although, tese things can be difficult for cruisers as they move around a lot.

From my research and family exp in T, I believe its HC costs are less expensive than Mexico's. Particularly now with such a strong USD and weak Lira (1:3.6).

Mom had back surgery, done by a brain surgeon. Cash of course, but certainly a fraction of US prices. It was and is still successful.

Chuckr, feel free to PM for any questions. Our immediate and extended family do/have businesses there, we understand the Turkish culture pretty well.

[fabgo]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

One thing you should keep an eye on when discussing monthly cruising costs are...the extent of the refit you have done before you left and how long you cruise for. If you replace almost everything before you leave you will have spent a ton of dough on the refit, ie new rigging, new engine, new sails, new pumps, new windless, the list goes on then your boat maintenance over the first 5-10 years is going to be a lot less compared to the cruiser who maintained and refitted as they cruised. Also if you only cruise for a few years your costs to keep the boat up are going to be much lower. Another point is where are you cruising, if your crossing oceans and putting the big miles on your costs to maintain are going to be higher than someone cruising in the Caribbean or Med where the boat doesn't see the number of cycles that offshore boats see. People that hunker down in one general area and don't sail very much are going to experience lower costs all around.
We've found that on average we spend close to a thousand dollars a month on replacement and maintenance, some months higher and others much lower. If we quite traveling our costs would be a lot lower.

Hi Robert

What kind of boat do you sail (age and what size?). I am trying to get a better understanding of your maintenance costs.

Best regards,
- Fabian