NEW BOAT OWNER: Maintenance costs?

[BoatingBoy]

My wife and I are looking to pick up a 34'ish cabin cruiser and a slip on Lake Michigan; our weekend apartment in the city. What I'm needing to get a decent picture of is, what kind of maintenance expenses can I expect? We will probably take the boat out every weekend, and are probably looking at anywhere from 6 to 10 year old boat.<br />I've got experience in driving boats, but none at owning them. Thanks for any help or insights.<br /><br />Keith

 

[robpoe]

Re: NEW BOAT OWNER: Maintenance costs?

I apologize that I have no knowledge of that kind of boat, but only stopped in here to say<br /><br />BOAT ..<br /><br />Break Out Another Thousand...

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: NEW BOAT OWNER: Maintenance costs?

look at a huge cost to maintain, unless you do it yourself. Then just plan on everything taking twice as long as you thought.

 

[imported_scott_m]

Re: NEW BOAT OWNER: Maintenance costs?

I've heard that a good rule of thumb if you're paying someone is about 10 percent of the purchase price each year. So if you're paying 100,000 for a 34 footer, expect to pay about 10K in maint - not really unusual when you wrap insurance, slip, mechanical work, bottom paint, zincs, lift fees, etc. into that figure. I've owned a 36 for about 7 years now, and until this year, I've done my own work - probably around 3-4 percent of the value of the boat each year, but this year I'm paying to have all the work done and will easily be 10 percent of the value of the boat.

 

[noydb]

Re: NEW BOAT OWNER: Maintenance costs?

About three times what you expect it to be and always at the worst possible time. Boat ownership is not for the faint of heart.<br /><br />Of course it's loads of fun, creates lifelong memories and beats the heck out of not owning a boat.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: NEW BOAT OWNER: Maintenance costs?

A hole in the water in which you pour money.<br /><br />How true that saying is! But I love it all!

 

[alden135]

Re: NEW BOAT OWNER: Maintenance costs?

The 10% mentioned above + fuel.Only buy and slip a boat that big if money is not an issue. Where I'm at in Maine w/my smaller boat it's $85 a foot for a slip, and you don't get a slip most times unless you use the marina for winter storage, also at an additional cost. All this after working your way up the waiting list for a few YEARS. So I guess with my boat the maintnence is a few hundred percent of the value.<br /><br />Needless to say, I'm on a mooring.

 

[baileys]

Re: NEW BOAT OWNER: Maintenance costs?

when i got my shetland 535 which is 17ft 6 long i thuoght once allthe safety equip was buoght that would be it but no then comes boat storage fuel then paint then up grading eg bigger engine engine repairs fishing kit oh boy and all the rest so beware it all adds up and this is only a small boat as i am now un employed it makes it worse but i keeping it and nothing wiil make me get rid of it

 

[ZmOz]

Re: NEW BOAT OWNER: Maintenance costs?

Originally posted by Stillfishing:<br />A hole in the water in which you pour money.<br />

Mine seems to be a vacuum that actually sucks the money directly out of my checking account.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: NEW BOAT OWNER: Maintenance costs?

Reefpoint in Racine WI which is an outstanding marina. <br /><br />35ft seasonal slip - $2200<br />approx $ below<br />Launching Fees - $500<br />Winterization - $300 ($800 w/shrinkwrap)<br />Gas - $3.65/gal<br />Wax & buff - $600<br />Winter storage - $1250<br />Routine maint. - $350<br />misc. - $500<br />upgrades - $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$<br />Insurance - $500<br /><br />God help you if something goes wrong.

 

[prockvoan]

Re: NEW BOAT OWNER: Maintenance costs?

It is always something or work on a boat that stays in the water.If you know how to work on a boat,it will take alot of your time.If not,it will take alot of your money!<br />With that said,I wouldn't give mine up for a million bucks,but then again maybe one million and one!<br />I had dry dock mine (a 30' flybridge)last sept for a complete rebuild.After around $20,000 and me doing all the work,that is one thing that I will never do again,but I miss using her this past year as my wife too!