Month 57 Expenses of Cruising and Living on the Boat

[sailorboy1]

Spent the whole month in a marina in Jacksonville FL trying to work through a family issue.

General living – Did a little restocking, plus we have spent time with family that we always end up buying groceries and dining out.

Boat – just the normal stuff like some water filters and consumables. Around $100 got spent on rope rode and stuff to deal with a rusted anchor chain.

Dining and drinking out- I thought the month was going to be higher as in my mind we spend more considering we took along daughter and mother-in-law a lot of times. But guess over all we were fugal in choices.

Entertainment – I think it was all spent at putt putt golf.

Communication, shipping, and storage – month of cell phones, changed cell service and got 1 new phone (is never “free” like the commercials say)

Fees - were credit card cash back. Adds up to a free brewpub trip 😊

Marina cost was 2 months of marina because of the days they processed the charge.

Medical/dental was monthly ACA plan payment.

Transportation was gas we spend coming back from vacation last month and for when we borrow cars to get around.

Grifts – wife 60th birthday plus some stuff got others

The total expenses were $ 3,721.10. Cost breakdown as follows for planners and hecklers and spreadsheet attached:

General Living - Food, soda, alcohol, clothing, sundries, other - $ 1,231.77
Boat costs - upgrades, repairs, maintenance - $ 214.36
Fuel (diesel, gas, propane) - $ 0
Dining and drinking out - $ 850.21
Entertainment - $ 52.98
Communication, storage, shipping - $ 199.85
Fees – $ -62.03
Marina - $ 617.00
Electric - $ 43.00
Medical - $ 46.99
Transportation - $ 146.27
Gifts – $ 421.70

[sailorboy1]

These threads appear to have lost their reading interest. The first ones would have 10,000+ views and now they barely maybe break 1,000.

[dfelsent]

1000 isn’t bad!!!

[jleonar]

I find it useful as my wife and I plan for liveaboard lifestyle. Getting as many data points is extremely useful

[TravelinLight]

I enjoy them and have a question if I may. The medical charge? If it is ok to ask for this detail. Is that expenses on top of insurance? That is the one expense I am trying to determine if I want to cast off early. (Prior to being medicare eligible)

[Narfi]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

These threads appear to have lost their reading interest. The first ones would have 10,000+ views and now they barely maybe break 1,000.

I have been reading them since I joined, appreciate the time you put into it and really helps me paint a picture for what we will need to plan w/ our own variables inserted. Thanks!

Originally Posted by TravelinLight

I enjoy them and have a question if I may. The medical charge? If it is ok to ask for this detail. Is that expenses on top of insurance? That is the one expense I am trying to determine if I want to cast off early. (Prior to being medicare eligible)

Looks like its just the monthly ACA plan payment.

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Medical/dental was monthly ACA plan payment.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by TravelinLight

I enjoy them and have a question if I may. The medical charge? If it is ok to ask for this detail. Is that expenses on top of insurance? That is the one expense I am trying to determine if I want to cast off early. (Prior to being medicare eligible)

that is our monthly cost ON TOP OF the full Federal ACA subsidy that gets paid directly to our insurance provider

[TravelinLight]

Originally Posted by TravelinLight

I enjoy them and have a question if I may. The medical charge? If it is ok to ask for this detail. Is that expenses on top of insurance? That is the one expense I am trying to determine if I want to cast off early. (Prior to being medicare eligible)

The answer was pointed out which I missed. Thanks

[wingssail]

I really appreciate you doing this, I think it is helpful to many.

For that reason I am including (attached) our Budget and Actual for May 2021.

That month we prepared for and departed on an intended 3 month cruise, so as we stocked the boat with food, liquor, and fuel expenses. So those were high.

We also spent some money on the car and boat repairs were also high.

On the other hand the marina was low (1/4 normal). Other misc and entertainment items were also low.

Total for the month was $3172, a little less than typical.

[VChild]

I think it is very useful. Thanks

[ohdrinkboy]

Thank you Sailorboy1

[AKA-None]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

These threads appear to have lost their reading interest. The first ones would have 10,000+ views and now they barely maybe break 1,000.

So quick question
How do you budget for things like sails and haul outs?
Do you set aside money or just pay from a previous fund?

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by AKA-None

So quick question
How do you budget for things like sails and haul outs?
Do you set aside money or just pay from a previous fund?

Other than trying to be aware of what I spend I don't really budget for anything. I started out with a "target" monthly spend of $3000/mo. I have since raised that to $3500/mo. Boat costs are the big wild card and if you look at the spreadsheet you can see that. The next big wild card is medical. You can
"budget" for things like sails some, but really all the other unexpected boat costs that are always happening it is hard to do, Of course you can not budget for medical at all. All you can do is have enough funds saved or in reserve to cover.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by VChild

I think it is very useful. Thanks

SB1 is definitely providing some useful information with his posts.

We can see that many cruisers sail very little and that it's all about the marina life.

We have several new retirees at our marina now that have nice boats but have yet to sail across the bay.

So I'm thinking instead of buying a larger boat to live on I can sail my Bristol 27 for a few months at a time south to Florida, the Bahamas, and maybe Mexico then come back home to the house which is 2100 Sq ft and hunt or fish with maybe an 18' Boat which can be used here and other places I have lived like Tennessee.

Everyone has a different idea of what they would like to do when cruising.

Lowe Jon Boats. Hopefully this downloads I'm on the boat and have sailed for two days and have seen 3 sailboats in the bay out sailing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmvlnpCKOvU

[bensolomon]

I, too, find these posts immensity helpful. 57 months! That's amazing!!!