Published Costs of Cruising

[Livia]

Vic - That was an interesting article. I would love to see their breakdown. We are too lazy to keep great track so I understand why more people don't do that (and even if they keep track, many don't feel comfortable making it public).

PJ - Fantastic!

Everyone else: Still looking for links (referencing/linking to the original source) to publicly published cruising budgets from cruisers websites or blogs.

[RTB]

One from the Bums....http://www.bumfuzzle.com/Pages/Main%20Pages/Cost.php

[Livia]

Awesome! I forgot about theirs.

[CFR]

Hi from Germany, i im just in the same situation planning how much one need to start. Here on page in german from Bobby Schenk the german Dashew Homepage von Weltumsegler Bobby Schenk
He asked more than 20 couples who did live their dreams over the last 20 years, although it is in german i assume you can figure out the graphs. Overall he is comming up with an average of 2000 eur/month or 2500 usd all in.
I also think that in Europe you need minimum 500.000 eur as an investment wether in 1-2 appartments or at the bank to get the necessary money on monthly basis. The big question is today where to put the the money to have a safe return over years. Bonds Shares real estate currency. If is recall the last 5 years meanwhile i have no clue where or whom to trust for such important investment. I can sell my house because it is not very easy to rent it out but what to do with the money ......#

We are 45 at the money has to be save for many years.
This is a more complicated decission than outfitting the boat which i am doing right now ( alumimium 44 feet)

[Livia]

Thanks - I tried to muddle through that link with Google translate and was semi-successful.

[CFR]

yes i know google translation is quite funny sometimes. it is mainly a summarize of single interviews with sailors over the past reg. boat length, material, ages, best places and costs.

[Livia]

I put up the list on our blog here:

SV Estrellita 5.10b: The Cost of Cruising

Readers have suggested a bunch of sources and I found 7 specific cost reports in the IWAC interviews so the list has grown. Enjoy and please suggest any others!

[Kettlewell]

Personally, I find this a ridiculous exercise. Look around you. People live on all sorts of different budgets, from near zero to $Billions per year. Why would it be any different on the water? People spend what they have and what they want, no more or less.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

Personally, I find this a ridiculous exercise. Look around you. People live on all sorts of different budgets, from near zero to $Billions per year. Why would it be any different on the water? People spend what they have and what they want, no more or less.

I disagree about it being a ridiculous exercise! Granted what people live on varies a great amount. But in looking at budgets from various cruisers who also have a blog in general I find it great info. I read their blog to see what type of boat and cruising lifestyle they have, compare it to what I want to do, and then the budget is pretty useful.

But without the blog it would just be numbers just like on land.

[Livia]

Hi Kettlewell,

I agree with part of your point - people are very different. Some might find looking at others' costs to be ridiculous while some will find it useful or interesting.

The good news is that we are all in charge of our own happiness so each of us can look at the links in that post...or not...as we like.

Livia

[capn_billl]

I think it is very usefull. Yes there are some who may be only interested in the cost of 5 star dinners in each country, but for the rest of us, the cost of diesel, and the cost of a burger, is of direct and imediate interest. And may very well determine if I can afford to cruise there. And how much I need to budget in burger and fuel kitty before I push off.

[avb3]

Livia, if your going to do a spreadsheet, why don't you set one up in Google Docs, share it, and in effect have cruisers act as a "crowd-source" asset?

Google Docs allow for a very easy form set up, and that way you can standardize input, and even allow a note section for any extra-ordinary items.

Just a thought... I've used the method with clients numerous times.

[zeehag]

life on water as a cruiser is EXACTLY like on land as a lubber only the rent is less..LOL.

[skipmac]

The main limitation I see to budget planning for cruising is how to allocate those periodic big expenses. For example, how does one plan or budget for a blown engine or transmission which can turn that cruising on $500/month to spending $5000/month for a couple of months.

New sails and rigging are a little more predictable but the usefull life of both can vary dramatically depending on where, how, and how much one cruises.

How do you handle this aspect of cruise cost planning?

[zeehag]

for me, cruising is less pricy than keeping a boat in sd..lol.. go figger--i can save money easily and find sails for 100 dollars for back ups..LOL... need to be able to find the locals who do not steal and make requests. my new battery cost me 100 dollars instead of 250 LOL.....fuel-- clean diesel , will be 100 dollars for 50 gallons instead of 350 for same amount.........the amount ye pAY IS WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY, NOT WHAT THINGS COST IN MARINE STORES.