How much are your operating and maint. costs?

[mickjetblue]

I was just wondering how much folks pay for their boat's operating costs,
for fuel and oil, and how much for maintenance costs, like tune-up, repairs, etc.

For my 19' Bayliner, my operating costs are a few hundred per year, and
virtually under a hundred per year for maintenance. I do the maintenance.

For the jon boat, it is much less, overall.

Anybody else?

 

[mthieme]

Re: How much are your operating and maint. costs?

I'm in the same ballpark.

 

[dingbat]

Re: How much are your operating and maint. costs?

A lot more.
I just picked up a case of 2-stroke oil that will get me thru the first couple of weeks of the fishing season.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: How much are your operating and maint. costs?

Are you amortizing the costs of maintenance across the years of service for a maintenance item? For example, say a pair of exhaust manifolds for a I/O lasts 10 years and costs $700 to replace. That would be a $70/year maintenance cost.

I once figured that my I/O would cost about $300 more per year than an outboard, due to these mainenance costs. Of course a lot of that extra maintenance costs was made up in fuel and oil economy.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: How much are your operating and maint. costs?

Our new boat (20' Cuddy) is costing us around $1k for registration, storage spot and tune-up/oil change. We will have, per month, $99 storage fee, $80 insurance pay (for 5 months, than all insurance paid for) and our gas (don't know how much that will be yet. Even though boat is a V-8, gas won't be that much b/c were not into speeding across the waterway; just cruising at a nice easy pace. And, we won't be going very far.
Insurance cost is b/c we live in Florida and in an apartment that doesn't have a boat parking/storage area.
But, costs do come with pleasure!

 

[Shizzy]

Re: How much are your operating and maint. costs?

I burn about 6 gallons of gas over the summer, new gear oil in the fall. that must be about $20 for the season.

14' tinny is cheap!!

 

[bekosh]

Re: How much are your operating and maint. costs?

Couple hundred for a spring tune-up.
Couple hundred for winterizing.
Couple hundred a year for insurance.
$21/per year for launch sticker.
Last year, $1900 for gas.
(Hopefully it will be more like $1000 this year. I like $2.15/gal alot more than $4.30/gal.)

 

[Ron-O]

Re: How much are your operating and maint. costs?

Carb rebuild last year $160 from the mobile marine guy.
Winterizing a couple hundred for all supplies and tools.

This year $250 for bottom epoxy and paint, $650 for slip.

Hopefully cheaper gas this year... $4.20 a gallon last year on the river.

 

[Biggems]

Re: How much are your operating and maint. costs?

Interesting range of figures....you should start a poll on this thread to see what the average operating cost is.

I haven't had my 14.5'tinny for a hole season yet as I got it very late in the season last year but I did get to take her out 4/5times. No outboard, just a 27#electric trolling motor. So far I've spent, $30 to re-wire the trailer with a new light kit, $60 for a boat cover from Walmart that works great...and thats it! So far the most expensive thing is the gas for the truck to go pick up the boat and drop it back off! I did get a great deal on the boat that came with ALOT of stuff and needed nothing done to it.....

 

[bassboy1]

Re: How much are your operating and maint. costs?

Well, lets leave tournament entry fees out.....
I do use the boat on average twice a week during the spring/summer/fall months, and once a week to once every 2 weeks in the winter.

But, for the boat, new gear oil every fall, and a new impeller every 2 years. 20 bucks.

6 gallon tank lasts me 2-3 trips on average, depending on length of travel. I probably average out to 2 gallons a trip, probably 75 times a year. Call it around 150 gallons, at call it an average of 2.50 a gallon (hopefully). So, 375 in fuel, give or take.

Throw in a new battery either for the motor, or trolling motor, 1 a year - 85 bucks.

Corps of Engineers annual parking pass - 30 bucks.

2 stroke oil, 1 quart for 12 gallons of gas. Call it just over 3 gallons. 30 bucks.

Vehicle gas isn't much different with or without the boat, due to the size of the vehicles, compared to the size of the boat.

We aren't going to mention fishing tackle costs......

So, this year, provided gas stays under 3 bucks, and I get the same use as I anticipated, we are looking at a little under 550 bucks. Pretty high given the size of the rig, but then again, it is used 75 times a year, if not more than that. Now, fishing tackle and tournament entry fees add a lot to that, but I am not going to count them in my boating operation costs.

 

[rusirius]

Re: How much are your operating and maint. costs?

Mine is pretty cheap... 15' glass with a 30 hp Johnson on the back... Live in DE so there was no excise tax, no sales tax, etc.. Everything else is extremely cheap.. I think I pay $12.50 per year for the trailer tags, $10 per year for the boat registration, $40 per year for a "boat" fishing/crabbing/clamming license...

As for maintenance, gear lube once a year, new impeller once every year or two, etc... I did just replace the full waterpump kit (seals, housing, etc) which was like $32, two new ignition coils which were I think $13 a piece, a thermostat which I think was $10, etc...

A new deep cycle battery for the trolling motor once every 3 or 4 years... That's about it...

All in all I'd guess probably about $100-$125 per year averaged out...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How much are your operating and maint. costs?

i have no idea, with multiple boats i just spend it and enjoy. i do my own maintainance. if i have to worry about cost, it takes the fun and relaxation out of it.

 

[5150abf]

Re: How much are your operating and maint. costs?

I probably spend more on gas towing the boat than I do on the boat itself but even that isn't much.

My launch is 15-20 minutes from the house and my favorite hole is 10 minutes from the launch so I make sure the truck has at least 1/4 tank and I get 2 gallons for the boat and I go every other week from March thru November, throw in a gallon or 2 of oil and a couple lower changes and I am probably under $200 for the year including gas for the truck.

Easily the best money I spend and I am with TD, it is what it is and I'm not gonna stop so why worry about it.