Boating getting too expensive

[airdvr1227]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

I'm amortizing repairs/maintenance/fuel/storage over the amount of times I use it. Pretty easy. For example if my mortgage and utilities cost $3000 a month - you could say it costs me about $100 per day to live in my house.

I see the problem now..you need to sell that house

 

[jkust]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

I'm struggling a little to understand the expenses as well as the others. We get a decent amount of boating in and I just can't say I have the same complaint. The biggest expense is gas for the boat and truck to get there. I'm happy to spend whatever it takes to go boating and am happy to own one. I'd be happy to spend triple do it. My only problem is I want a much larger boat but don't have the space for it. I get the frustration but maybe you could cut down expenses elsewhere or earn some more money? I have to say though that owning a newer boat has provided for frustration free boating for us for a long time. The gas, food and a couple extra props and annual maintanance cost is there but there's just been no issues since new. I feel like you are a candidate for a much newer boat and you'd have had a different experience.

 

[Flysfloatsor]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

I see the problem now..you need to sell that house

Ha! Thats even an understated example of real life too because I knew someone would ding me on that.

This is prob all my fault. Because I didnt clarify - not too expensive as in I cant afford to do it, If that were the case I simply wouldnt, right?
I mean too expensive as in I dont see the value proposition in it. As in - I never add it all up and get to that "Priceless" moment... Im still at "I know exactly how much this S#%t costs..."
Its funny how incredulous some guys get when I say I only like, but dont love the thing(boating) that they LOVE.

Anyway, I understand. To offsent the cost per use, use boat more.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boating getting too expensive

I'm amortizing repairs/maintenance/fuel/storage over the amount of times I use it. Pretty easy. For example if my mortgage and utilities cost $3000 a month - you could say it costs me about $100 per day to live in my house.

now get the square footage of the garage, compare to the size of the house, apply that ratio to your monthly mortgage, and that's what you pay to store a boat in the garage for "free."

Or don't, and go catch more "free" fish

 

[southkogs]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

...I mean too expensive as in I dont see the value proposition in it. As in - I never add it all up and get to that "Priceless" moment... Im still at "I know exactly how much this S#%t costs..."

There's the key. It becomes a gut check, "is this something I like/love enough to put up with all of the hassle?"

To be honest, I like the idea of having a bigger boat that I can overnight on (26' or so). But the reality is that it would be a bigger hassle than the one I have now and I'm sure I can't use it enough to justify the expense or hassle. The boat I own right now fits (even with all the work I have to do on it). It's cheap to operate and easy to take care of. If I happen to not be able to use it for a little while, it's not sitting there chewing up my wallet in a slip, storage or with a payment. It fits.

Gut check: do you like boating? If yes, then you probably need a different boat that fits you better. If "no, not really," then best (probably) to move on to something you like more. I hear general aviation is cheap and easy

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

I hear general aviation is cheap and easy

Yup just $5500 to get your license and then it is practically free

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

Yup just $5500 to get your license and then it is practically free

You must be finding some discounted rates, lol. I spent $6K, and got my ticket in 41hrs (40hrs is FAA minimum). The average for most people is above 60 hrs. Figure 50hrs @ 110/hr (Cessna 172) = $5500. Pay your instructor ($35/hr) for at least 30hrs = $1,050. Headset, books, maps, test fees, misc= $600. Toal cost if you're lucky is over $7K, even higher if you rent on the coasts where the hourly rate goes up!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

You must be finding some discounted rates, lol. I spent $6K, and got my ticket in 41hrs (40hrs is FAA minimum). The average for most people is above 60 hrs. Figure 50hrs @ 110/hr (Cessna 172) = $5500. Pay your instructor ($35/hr) for at least 30hrs = $1,050. Headset, books, maps, test fees, misc= $600. Toal cost if you're lucky is over $7K, even higher if you rent on the coasts where the hourly rate goes up!

Local guy that I took an intro flight with ($5500-$7000) http://www.inflightpilottraining.com/id69.html

Still thinking about it

 

[jmarty10]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

I'm struggling a little to understand the expenses as well as the others. We get a decent amount of boating in and I just can't say I have the same complaint. The biggest expense is gas for the boat and truck to get there. I'm happy to spend whatever it takes to go boating and am happy to own one. I'd be happy to spend triple do it. My only problem is I want a much larger boat but don't have the space for it. I get the frustration but maybe you could cut down expenses elsewhere or earn some more money? I have to say though that owning a newer boat has provided for frustration free boating for us for a long time. The gas, food and a couple extra props and annual maintanance cost is there but there's just been no issues since new. I feel like you are a candidate for a much newer boat and you'd have had a different experience.

Agree with this 100%. Bought a new boat 4 years ago and the damn boat runs better than my trailblazer. Wish I could commute to work with the boat. The biggest expense for me is the slip and storage fees and EOY maintenance fees. All together everything cost about 2k. The boat payment and insurance is miniscule. In October I have to start saving again for next years slip fee ($1600) I will not trailer the boat, my wife and kids will not trailer the boat. Too much headache. We camped a couple weekends ago about two hours away with a full truck and hauling the boat, it was a PITA. You guys who trailer long distance have a lot of patience. We live two blocks from the slip so when you can walk to your boat its pretty convenient and worth the money. Nothing better than going out into the no wake, dropping anchor, lighting a cigar and listening to a summer concert at the nearby park.

 

[jkust]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

Agree with this 100%. Bought a new boat 4 years ago and the damn boat runs better than my trailblazer. Wish I could commute to work with the boat. The biggest expense for me is the slip and storage fees and EOY maintenance fees. All together everything cost about 2k. The boat payment and insurance is miniscule. In October I have to start saving again for next years slip fee ($1600) I will not trailer the boat, my wife and kids will not trailer the boat. Too much headache. We camped a couple weekends ago about two hours away with a full truck and hauling the boat, it was a PITA. You guys who trailer long distance have a lot of patience. We live two blocks from the slip so when you can walk to your boat its pretty convenient and worth the money. Nothing better than going out into the no wake, dropping anchor, lighting a cigar and listening to a summer concert at the nearby park.

Ha thats funny because I have a 9-7x and a Rainier (cousins of the Trailblazer). I'll also add that in addition to nothing but smooth sailing engine wise the Chaparral seems as if it was made with a really picky buyer in mind. Everything from vinyl, fiberglass floor, excellent accessories, everything is just like new. Every time I use it, it's like stepping into a new boat. The quality of everything just adds to the positive experience we've had over the years. I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for when you make what should be a very purposeful boat buying decision. Zero problems in 9 years.
Beyond all that, maybe the OP wasn't brought up boating and loving everything about it as many of us were. I feel like I almost have to own a boat to stay complete. Not sure how to say it but boating is almost in my DNA. Boating goes well beyond a hull and engine for me and I hope my kids someday feel the same and keep it going. This isn't all that uncommon in MN given the sheer number of lakes. We do a lot of trailering visiting many very different lakes but trailering wears on me sometimes.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

I'm amortizing repairs/maintenance/fuel/storage over the amount of times I use it. Pretty easy. For example if my mortgage and utilities cost $3000 a month - you could say it costs me about $100 per day to live in my house.

OK, that makes sense. I thought you were actually shelling out 300 bucks every time you hit the water.

On a related note, this is why I have a $500 aluminum boat....

 

[muskyfins]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

Break
Out
Another
Thousand

 

[muskyfins]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

Did some of you miss the point? Getting too (or more) expensive?

OP didn't say he couldn't afford it. Or doesn't want to afford it. But that costs have increased faster than everything else. This might be true. In the last 8 years, my living expense increase has outpaced my income level increase by quite a bit. Did the cost of boating increase more than our incomes? More than other hobbies? More than other expenses?

And to those claiming how far off he is on calculations, you're leaving out lots of costs. Adding them up would be so depressing you just don't do it. Not including the cost of the boat...

Fuel
Registration for boat
Registration for trailer
Use permits (where applicable)
Launch fees (where apllicable)
Fuel for tow vehicle
Maintenance for boat and trailer (probably where most of the unaccounted for money is spent)
Winterize/summerize
Insurance
Storage

I also know a 16 foot tinnie costs much less to operate than a 26 foot go-fast, but again the question is has the cost increased too much. In other words the percentage increase would be same regardless of total dollars spent.

 

[muskyfins]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

I don't want to make three posts in a row, but this got me to thinking and now I'm depressed.....

Our season is about 16 weeks long with a 50% use rate is 8 trips per year. I run a 20 foor bowrider with 5.0. My expenses not including cost of boat are about

Fuel----------$35 X 8 = $280
Registration Boat------=$52
Registration trailer-----=$18
Use permit (Fox waterway)-$80
Launch Fees--------------$20 (I usually use the public launch but it can be a pita)
Fuel in truck--------------$50 (conservatively the diff if I wasn't pulling trailer)
maintenance--------------$250
Winterize-----------------$300
Summerize----------------$200
Insurance---------------$100
Storage-$60/mo x 12---=$720

Total--------------------$2070/8=$259 per trip

Not including meals on the water or other activities because those can be worked around.

I prefer to think of it in terms of is it worth two grand per year for the fun of boating? YES

Is it worth $259 per day? probably not

Depends how you look at it?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

I don't want to make three posts in a row, but this got me to thinking and now I'm depressed.....

Our season is about 16 weeks long with a 50% use rate is 8 trips per year. I run a 20 foor bowrider with 5.0. My expenses not including cost of boat are about

Fuel----------$35 X 8 = $280
Registration Boat------=$52
Registration trailer-----=$18
Use permit (Fox waterway)-$80
Launch Fees--------------$20 (I usually use the public launch but it can be a pita)
Fuel in truck--------------$50 (conservatively the diff if I wasn't pulling trailer)
maintenance--------------$250
Winterize-----------------$300
Summerize----------------$200
Insurance---------------$100
Storage-$60/mo x 12---=$720

Total--------------------$2070/8=$259 per trip

Not including meals on the water or other activities because those can be worked around.

I prefer to think of it in terms of is it worth two grand per year for the fun of boating? YES

Is it worth $259 per day? probably not

Depends how you look at it?

Looks like time to figure out how to winterize your own boat. And what the heck is summerizing?

 

[muskyfins]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=192804

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

Just for grins - we use ours about once a week + and entire week on vacation. About 24 days this year since the weather has been nice, 20 would be more normal use. Fuel is tricky but best guess is that we will have run 10-12 tanks through.

Fuel----------12x24x3.5 = $1000
Registration Boat ($27 for 3 years) =$9
Registration trailer (MN lifetime registration $35) =$0
Launch Fees--------------$35 (season pass at Minnetonka launch)
Fuel in truck--------------$50 (Launch is 3 miles from house - trip up north doesn't take much additional fuel)
maintenance--------------$50 (misc minor stuff)
Winterize-----------------$60 (gear lube/oil/filter)
Insurance---------------$130
Storage (free -garage) = $0
Total--------------------$1334/24=$56 per trip

In contrast, the food and beverage that we have for the family at Fletchers or Maynards on the lake costs around $110

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=192804

Meh, fill with fuel - insert plug and go boating. Compression check and new plugs every year - crazy

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

I get some flake on here now and then that my 14' Lund isn't a boat but I'll tell you what. It does exactly what it's supposed to do. I have the water available to use a bigger boat, Lake Michigan, and have the finances to afford a much larger boat also. Yet I chose this boat for many reasons. 1st of all is my wife and I love to fish. 2nd, there is a FREE gravel ramp at the end of my street that I can use everyday when the desire hits. We do not waterski, tube, race or overnight camp.

Last season I fished on average of 3 times a week and used only 30 gallons of gas the whole season total. That season was from April unti November. Yes we spend a lot of time anchored or drifting but we were still on the water and yes we were catching a lot of fish. So I don't see were a $50000.00 bass/walleye boat with a big motor is going to catch us any more fish or increase our enjoyment for fishing or being on the water one iota. Same reason we got rid of our 4x4 Explorer for a 2X4 Canyon.

 

[jkust]

Re: Boating getting too expensive

Here's how it looks from my eyes.

Fuel----------Don't care
Registration Boat------not an issue
Registration trailer-----yearly given trailer weight not lifetime but concern is wasted time at DMV
Use permit -------------- none here in the land of lakes
Launch Fees--------------some charge but not a concern
Fuel in truck--------------glad I went to college
maintenance--------------nothing beyond winterization
Winterize-----------------$300 seems a bargain
Summerize----------------start on muffs in driveway, visual check of fluids is free
Insurance---------------$120/year prop and liab is an amazing deal for the agreed value and liab portion
Storage-----------------$in garage costs nothing

Total--------------------Could be $10,000 could be $1000, don't care.

I'd just earn more money if any of the above was a concern.