Published Costs of Cruising

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by Jacko

Its just none of the askers listen.

We tell folks how much it costs and then they run off and play in the Cruising on $500 per month thread.

What do we have to say? LISTEN it costs more than $500 per month! LISTEN lots of folks put out their budgets and expenses. LISTEN they have cruised all round the world to more places you've ever heard of.

Janders, your figures bare out what I am saying, what we are all saying, but nobody listens.

If people can do it less than Janders good. But few can do it for half. Let alone that pathetic $500 per month.

Your right on the button I always get a bit of when I never see budgets for refits I just wonder if some people let thier boat fall to bits and then just step off. I am very maitenance minded and being steel am right on top of painting but after a 2 year adventure out sailing and no down time in a marina or yard at the moment Iam just coming to the end of a good 4 months getting up to speed for the next couple of years adventures. Sooooo if you newbies dont allow for some down time to do a good stint of mainenance you are missing a large part of budgeting and will end up one of those boats that is always being towed or broken down at some ungodly place waiting for parts at double the going price !!! I dont aim to put a downer on criusing but not all things can be done on the hook, otherwise I would do it in a good safe spot Jacko

reality of it is--if you are smart and havent much income, it does not HAVE to be as you ar describing--it CAN be as i am saying i am experiencing at present, in reality in mazatlan. my reppairs have been only under 150 dollarrs here , whereas they woulda been 8000+usdollars..LOL
i pay less than 2 dollars PER DAY for food to eat that i dono thave to cook--is already cooked and is take out....LOL--keep your eyes open and pay attention nd cruising can be under the minimum amount allowed to be spent..LOL..as i AM DOING. my this month is gonna be , with my 41 ft formosa, under 500 usd. INCLUDING repairs..LOL. and i am out here, not behind a desk. and not in virgins-- that is a lil more than maztlan....west coast offers some reallly cheap cruising grounds.
oh yes--repair under way and dont haul for items to be repaired that can be fixed in water. that includes a surprising nmber of items...
yes , sails are more and those months will cost a lot more -- even with reasonably priced used sails..

[Zonker]

Well I wonder what those ppl do which can live off $500 a month if they lose (crash ?) their boat. Any plan Bs out there ? Start as a dish washer and hope for a $1M ? And what if you need some expensive medicine ?

[Doodles]

[QUOTE=zeehag;706796]

Originally Posted by Jacko

reality of it is--if you are smart and havent much income, it does not HAVE to be as you ar describing--it CAN be as i am saying i am experiencing at present, in reality in mazatlan. my reppairs have been only under 150 dollarrs here , whereas they woulda been 8000+usdollars..LOL
i pay less than 2 dollars PER DAY for food to eat that i dono thave to cook--is already cooked and is take out....LOL--keep your eyes open and pay attention nd cruising can be under the minimum amount allowed to be spent..LOL..as i AM DOING. my this month is gonna be , with my 41 ft formosa, under 500 usd. INCLUDING repairs..LOL. and i am out here, not behind a desk. and not in virgins-- that is a lil more than maztlan....west coast offers some reallly cheap cruising grounds.
oh yes--repair under way and dont haul for items to be repaired that can be fixed in water. that includes a surprising nmber of items...
yes , sails are more and those months will cost a lot more -- even with reasonably priced used sails..

I think the $500/month is definitely doable, especially if its $500/person/month ... is it? But like zeehag says its got to be a place like Mexico or here in Thailand where you can eat very cheap. I don't live on a boat here but from my experience living ashore I'm sure I could live on the hook for $500/month. You can eat out, good food, for $2-3 a day .. that's $60-90/month for food eating out and you can buy it at the market and do better. I really didn't understand all the costs in Janders budget but it looked like a lot was in the US and Canada, and there were costs for medical, car and boat insurance and townhouse expense which of course someone on the $500/month budget can't afford.

[John A]

In my case, I took my Social Security payments and modest investments and moved ashore.
At 71 I look back on the increditable adventure and am very thankful that I did it.
I always lived life for the enjoyment and, while aware of the what ifs, found that a positive atitude has prefered to sitting in a little puddle of worry and not doing anything..

[Jacko]

Zeehag $150 for an $8000 repair are we on the same planet ??????? Jacko

[Doodles]

Maybe not very relevant but I just had a 60cm x 200cm custom quartz counter top made for a kitchen cabinet. Cut, edges and corners finished and delivered to my house and installed all for $150. Similar size custom stainless steel kitchen prep table cost $450. That would have been $2,000 in the States.

[capttman]

How many people here, the doubters, and nay sayers, have ever cruised for more than a fun vacation or short trip... Lets say more than 3 months, so the honeymoon will be over?

If you are a doubter maybe you should start your comments something like this, I have only sailed weekends but I believe you cannot blah Blah Blah

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by capttman

How many people here, the doubters, and nay sayers, have ever cruised for more than a fun vacation or short trip... Lets say more than 3 months, so the honeymoon will be over?

If you are a doubter maybe you should start your comments something like this, I have only sailed weekends but I believe you cannot blah Blah Blah

I would suggest adding that those who have never spent a considerable amount of time outside the USA/North America living or cruising should disclose that fact. It is not really their fault but the only frame of reference they have is what it costs to live "inside" and know not about the realities of living "outside."

[John A]

Originally Posted by osirissail

I would suggest adding that those who have never spent a considerable amount of time outside the USA/North America living or cruising should disclose that fact. It is not really their fault but the only frame of reference they have is what it costs to live "inside" and know not about the realities of living "outside."

Then too, there are those who have visited the "outside world" via resort or cruise ship.

A first good test would be to turn your cable TV off for a month and find something else to do.

[zeehag]

jacko-was 20 dollars for the 8000 dollar repair---and same planet--- san diego isnt on htis planet-is where the estimate was 8000 dollars..LOL.... greedy bastids in marine repair in sd are not getting my money--i WILL find an alternative--i use my ssdi reasonably well, usually--but when a mechanic lies to me and overguesstimates the need my boat has for repair, then i get even by finding a better alternative. they are out there....i will use shrimper yards and fisher boat yards rather than snotty yotty yards s the fishers and shrimpers depend on their boats for their income and know how to fabricate for less than having to have the shiniest newest thingie. the naysayers tell me that the work is rough... so what--my boat is rough-- and the work done in the yards to which the pro fishers and shrimpers go is a lot better quality than what i have seen done by the snotty yotty yards...LOL....less money and better quality--aint no choice i see--is obvioous where i will go for repairs. ROFL.

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by John A

Then too, there are those who have visited the "outside world" via resort or cruise ship.

A first good test would be to turn your cable TV off for a month and find something else to do.

Notice the phrase - "considerable amount of time" - that eliminates resort or cruise-ship people. Maybe I should have phrased it "continuous considerable amount of time."

[Livia]

Sorry to come back to the original post but I now have links to cruising budget estimates published online for 23 boats and thought I should share:

SV Estrellita 5.10b: The Cost of Cruising

I am not asking for your personal information. If you know of someone who has published their cruising budget online (but not on a forum), please send leave a comment on that blog post with the link and I'll update it when I'm able (as in--when I have wifi, because we're out cruising).

Thanks everyone who suggested links!

Livia

[capttman]

Originally Posted by Zonker

Well I wonder what those ppl do which can live off $500 a month if they lose (crash ?) their boat. Any plan Bs out there ? Start as a dish washer and hope for a $1M ? And what if you need some expensive medicine ?

Not everybody worries like Americans, what's meant to be is meant to be

[wolfenzee]

some people buy a 6 figure yacht and equip it accordingly in an attempt to emulate their six figure life style. some people can barely squeak by on land but a $500 budget in the water is quite comfortable.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Livia

Sorry to come back to the original post but I now have links to cruising budget estimates published online for 23 boats and thought I should share:

SV Estrellita 5.10b: The Cost of Cruising

I am not asking for your personal information. If you know of someone who has published their cruising budget online (but not on a forum), please send leave a comment on that blog post with the link and I'll update it when I'm able (as in--when I have wifi, because we're out cruising).

Thanks everyone who suggested links!

Livia

I for one say THANKS! Far as I'm concerned only these type of things help answer the "how much does it cost" question. By looking at each blog one can see their numbers and also get an idea of their cruising style in order to undestand how it may compare to you.

On the other hand all the normal "it depends" and "as much as you can spend" answers while probably being true are in the end worthless for planning.