Published Costs of Cruising

[boatman61]

Ehhhh... what has happened to the old pioneer spirit of 'get up and go'....
Everyone needs spread sheets and risk/cost evaluations these days....
I can just see myself visiting a boat one day and finding the cost evaluation/sheet of toilet paper and flushing the loo pinned on the back of the door...
You wanna do someting... do it... you gotta ask 'How Much'... ya can't afford it...
Stay in bed....

Hoi n de Polloi's

[John A]

I don't think we're ever going to get a concensus on this topic. On one side you have the folks who've gone cruising and adjusted to their personnal situation. On the other you've got the folks who are contemplating a drastic change to their lives.

To go from a regimented life of always knowing how much it takes to finance a month or a year based on past experiences to a lifestyle of the maybe's and it depends is quite a leap in faith.

We cruisiers were all there once. Go easy on the newbies apprehension.

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

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.

- - I would suggest that the "it depends" and "as much as . . ." are actually valuable. Once you get a feel for the 3 basic levels of cruising budgets, it is very important to realize that it is extremely difficult to remain within whichever one you think fits you. If you have any resources left over, you will be spending that on that special boat "thingy" you always wanted. Few, in any, cruisers can discipline themselves to stay within their "budgets" unless forced to by simple absence of any funds left over. So maybe being forewarned is being fore-armed.

[Doodles]

Originally Posted by osirissail

- - I would suggest that the "it depends" and "as much as . . ." are actually valuable. Once you get a feel for the 3 basic levels of cruising budgets, it is very important to realize that it is extremely difficult to remain within whichever one you think fits you. If you have any resources left over, you will be spending that on that special boat "thingy" you always wanted. Few, in any, cruisers can discipline themselves to stay within their "budgets" unless forced to by simple absence of any funds left over. So maybe being forewarned is being fore-armed.

I would hope its the other way around, that after cruising and getting some perspective about what's important and what's not, you would realize a new "thingy" is not going to make things better. It's just something else to break or have to be maintained. Better to realize you can eliminate a "thingy" you already have and thereby improve the budget.

[Aussie_Sequoia]

I have more experience than my wife sailing and we've both lived quite a frugal lifestyle when required, but the list of personal blog's budgets posted earlier was a very helpful tool for her when we deciding to start cruising permanently. Thanks for that list!

[capttman]

It's not about the amount of money you need it's about the amount you do not need

[wolfenzee]

Cruising you end up not spending money on stuff you really didn't need to anyway...it's not a sacrifice, your just not following the sociological imprinting that tells you what you "need".

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by Doodles

I would hope its the other way around, that after cruising and getting some perspective about what's important and what's not, you would realize a new "thingy" is not going to make things better. It's just something else to break or have to be maintained. Better to realize you can eliminate a "thingy" you already have and thereby improve the budget.

Nope, I suggest we are generally all weak when it comes to that leftover few dollars burning holes in our pocket. I have found the only best way to stay within budget is to cruise to someplace where you simply cannot spend that extra money because nothing is available to spend it on.
- - The Dominican Republic or Dominica are a good examples - you just cannot spend much money there try as you might. However, a place like St Martin is like a boater's candy store of opportunities to overspend on stuff you just cannot do without.

[Doodles]

Originally Posted by osirissail

Nope, I suggest we are generally all weak when it comes to that leftover few dollars burning holes in our pocket. I have found the only best way to stay within budget is to cruise to someplace where you simply cannot spend that extra money because nothing is available to spend it on.
- - The Dominican Republic or Dominica are a good examples - you just cannot spend much money there try as you might. However, a place like St Martin is like a boater's candy store of opportunities to overspend on stuff you just cannot do without.

I have to disagree. There are "spender" and there are "savers". Having spent my career as a financial advisor I have a bit of experience working with couples, and almost always there is one of each. One will take that extra dollar and spend it on a boat widget and the other will put it in the rainy day fund or invest it. So, find the "saver" and give he/she the cc and checkbook.

Just ask yourself are you a saver or spender? Savers do well with budgets, spenders don't.

[Nomad57]

Originally Posted by VirtualVagabond

I found this article to be well written and helpful.

Xwaters.com | Liesbet

Keep up the good work.

Vic

Very interesting and informative. Thank you for posting.

Nomad

[NorthPacific]

I am one of those who will be gone in 1 year and 1 month. Some of the budgets I cringe at others make me believe I can do it.

Thanks for the effort, one thing that has been re-enforced their are places I can afford to cruise and others I can not. I hope to one day add my frugal budget plan to the tread. Now if anyone can tell me the cheapest place to find beer and spirits in the South Pacific that would be helpful.

[wolfenzee]

There are those who try and emulate a six figure lifestyle and those that live qute comfortbly on what by land stanards would barely be enough to sweak by. In either case it is possible to live beer for less on a boat.

[NorthPacific]

No pretensions of a six figure lifestyle on land or at sea. We are already planning to go some places and skip others because of costs. Then again, that is life. When we eventually make Thailand we can decide what we want to do from there.

That will be at least 3 years from our departure date. Still trying to buy all the bits. If I don't have them all then we will do without. I do know that it is one thing to dream and another to have a realistic plan. So this thread has been great. Is great!

Lots to do before we go, but now it feels like it is doable.

[Livia]

Glad people are enjoying the list. I've udpated it a few times on our blog.

Originally Posted by NorthPacific

Now if anyone can tell me the cheapest place to find beer and spirits in the South Pacific that would be helpful.

We are leaving Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia right now and once you've checked out of Papeete (not the country, just the harbor) you can take your clearance to Kim Fa and buy duty free alcohol. Bottles of wine for <$5, large heineken beers for about $1.50, a bottle of rum for $5. For more info, google "the compendium society islands soggypaws". You can't drink the booze until you leave French Polynesia but it is a great restock option.

[NorthPacific]

Cheers Livia,

been reading the blog. This thread has been great at us being to understand what we can and can't afford. We are not at the $500 a month level but well below the 5* lists that appear. Enjoy the season and stay safe! MAybe bump into you next season.