Is boating for the rich? Feeling dismayed

Rustybarge said:

Wealth destroys the rich guys life, they turn into self obsessed tyrants. Do this, bring that, go there, come here.....the power of wealth corrupts the nicest of ordinary people.

And on a phycological level rich people send every day worrying what would happen if they lost it all; nobody would then respect them and all their 'bought friends' would avoid them.

The rich and famous have a terrible life; better to live a simple natural life.

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Good con job RB. You've got me laughing.

Some years ago I supped at Castlemartin not too far from Dublin, owners have last name O'Reilly. Many happy family members there.

O/P my friend, this seems to have devolved far from your original question and concerns.

IMHO, as stated by others earlier on. Depending on how much you're willing to sacrifice, age of the boat, repairs and upgrades and equipment, assuming you've done your planning and your financial house is in order, There's absolutely no reason that you can't own and enjoy many years of cruising with your retirement income. There are others doing it on considerably less.

Good luck.

Ok, back to pimp slappin' the rich and famous...

Skinny said:

Does this mean that the "I hate people with larger boats than me but my hatred is justified because they are unhappy" thread is coming to a close?

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Northern Spy said:

Doubt it.

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I'll change that to a "nope".

I'm rethinking the question "Is boating for the rich?" on my second visit to the thread.
Maybe it is.

I goes it depends on your perspective. There are some parts of the world where only the "rich" have dugout canoes.

Many people I know wouldn't be able to afford the boat I have. Not the initial purchase price, marina fees, repair bills. Even a tank of fuel may take a substantial percentage of their discretionary spending for many who are struggling with a mortgage, a low paying job, and a young family.

Maybe not for the rich, but for the "comfortable".

Boaters need lots of disposable income. Disposable income for boating can be increased by spending less on non-boating activities as in the areas of housing, automobiles, clothing (including shoes and handbags), dining, and so on. In my instance, once the kids' college educations were paid for, boating became more affordable.

sunchaser said:

Good con job RB. You've got me laughing.

Some years ago I supped at Castlemartin not too far from Dublin, owners have last name O'Reilly. Many happy family members there.

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Hey folks, there seems to be some very strong feelings on 'boat' sides of this argument.

One things sure, however much money you've made you can't buy back a wasted life.

Me, start a firefight?

Anyhow, I once had these friends who were socialists (I'm a rightwing conservative) who used to say ' I think the queen should retire and the UK become a republic; she would love to be able to pop down to the shops to buy a new pair of nickers with out all the hassle'. They have a point, all that money and no constitutional power to speak of, and a full protection 'squad' every where she goes.

She lives in a gilded prison.

The big question: who does she invite around for beer and a chat? Other kings and queens? Other super rich people?

Who do you invite onto your superyacht? Just other rich people?

Aha....!

Huge difference between just rich and just famous or a notable figure.

You can be a bankrupt mass murderer and have the same problems as the Queen with the public and media.

Try and generalize, any forum will shoot your logic full of gaping holes.

Look at any major topic here.....never a consensus, hardly ever a changed mind.

AusCan said:

I'm rethinking the question "Is boating for the rich?" on my second visit to the thread.
Maybe it is.

I goes it depends on your perspective. There are some parts of the world where only the "rich" have dugout canoes.

Many people I know wouldn't be able to afford the boat I have. Not the initial purchase price, marina fees, repair bills. Even a tank of fuel may take a substantial percentage of their discretionary spending for many who are struggling with a mortgage, a low paying job, and a young family.

Maybe not for the rich, but for the "comfortable".

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Most people grow into boating. They may start on a lake or in a protected area, buy a small used boat for $10,000 and use it for their young family to enjoy. May trailer it. Cost of ownership low as they use it 40 hours a year. Then they may buy their first new boat as they get a bit more money, maybe $30-40,000. Then more may come after the kids are through college.

And for the 3.6 million making minimum wage or less even in this country, a boat is the furthest thing from their mind. Nor are the 8.7 million unemployed thinking about boating.

Greetings,
I started with my daddy in a boat he built himself in or about 1954. 11' plywood with a 1949 2.5HP Evinrude. Used that boat for nigh on 30 years. Still have very fond memories. First "big" boat (34' wood) cost us $8K.

Talking about boats, size of them and happiness, a little story fits in this thread.

Josevaldo Guerra was a school friend 43 years ago. He lived in the same street asI did and we used to go to high school together. I went to college of Engineering and he went to medical school. We have never seen each other again until February 19th 2015. During Rainha Jannota’s second cruise while we were on a hook in a quiet cove, I heard somebody calling my name clearly.While looking around to the 3 or four sailboats, I heard the second question; “Here at you 2 o’clock. We went to high school together, I am Guerrinha, remember?”.The name was familiar and I looked at a 28’ sailboat moored about 300 yards from me.

There he was looking at us with binoculars, I remember he was 1 or 2 years older than me, but he was fit and now he could easily overcome the 350 lbs. I got in my dinghy and went to visit him. He was in the boat with his wife Leida, both in their early 60’s. After refreshing all memories and talking about the past, I asked him at what point in life he decided to have a boat.

“Josevaldo always loved sailing. In his career as a medical doctor in the rural area of my state, he has always been very far from the ocean. Yet, he used to sail in lakes and rivers in Lasers, Class 470, etc. Then, he started to get fat and he never asked why until his joints started to collapse and be a serious problem, 2 years ago when he reached 312 lbs. By then, he was diagnosed with Arthritis rheumatoid. He decided to retire and 2 weeks later he was confined in a wheel chair.

Several months later, on his way to Germany looking for a way to get out of the chair, while in the airport, he decided to buy a second hand sailboat. He called his older son on the phone and asked him to look for a boat so and so to be waiting for him on his return to Brazil. That was almost 2 years ago…

Well the man bought $24k old sailboat, he sails with his wife slowly, no hurries. He is very happy in a very small budget. Kicked his wheel chair to the garage, is back below 275 lbs and basically lives for his pleasure.

When we want to be happy, we do not need to be rich
Portuguese

Guerrinha's sailboat and the mist of early morning.

markpierce said:

Boaters need lots of disposable income. Disposable income for boating can be increased by spending less on non-boating activities as in the areas of housing, automobiles, clothing (including shoes and handbags), dining, and so on. In my instance, once the kids' college educations were paid for, boating became more affordable.

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I think that the "Great Recession" with lots of older boats being abandoned at marinas and tales of mysterious sinkings showed what happens when disposable income disappears. My parents went from a three thousand dollar wooden sloop and continued with bigger and better sailboats over the years. They certainly weren't rich but it was a high priority for them. I think that a wealthy person might own an expensive yacht and only use it a couple of times a year. My sense is that most of us, on this forum - wealthy or not, aren't like that.

The biggest surprise with my boat ownership was the ongoing costs associated with it. As long as my wife and I keep using our boat and staying on it as often as we do those costs are just the dues we pay to enjoy the great boating life.

I may not have read every earlier post so I apologize if I'm being redundant

Jeff

RT Firefly said:

Greetings,
I started with my daddy in a boat he built himself in or about 1954. 11' plywood with a 1949 2.5HP Evinrude. Used that boat for nigh on 30 years. Still have very fond memories. First "big" boat (34' wood) cost us $8K.

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Wifey B: Oh RTF, I just love hearing your stories from ancient times....:lol:

BandB said:

Most people grow into boating. They may start on a lake or in a protected area, buy a small used boat for $10,000 and use it for their young family to enjoy. May trailer it. Cost of ownership low as they use it 40 hours a year. Then they may buy their first new boat as they get a bit more money, maybe $30-40,000. Then more may come after the kids are through college.

And for the 3.6 million making minimum wage or less even in this country, a boat is the furthest thing from their mind. Nor are the 8.7 million unemployed thinking about boating.

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BB - Got stats on the bold areas in your last paragraph? I feel those numbers may be way low. But, you are very correct... in that, "... a boat is furthest thing from their mind."

Boaters are blessed in several parameters, a couple are:

1. We all have some level of free-spend cash.

2. We're Boaters - for - intermittent pleasures, or live aboard for pleasure!

Wonder what %age of world population are pleasure boaters? Maybe .001?

Whatever the % number - We're part of a blessed, select group for sure!

Very inspiring story Portuguese, and thank you for sharing it with us.

OD

Northern Spy said:

I'll change that to a "nope".

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Looks like money is still being discussed as the definition of rich

You can be poor and own a boat, probably would need a small set of hand tools and know how (or as I call it being resourceful or capable of reading). Oh wait, poor people are stupid...that is why they are poor. I guess boat ownership is out of the question then.

Skinny said:

Looks like money is still being discussed as the definition of rich

You can be poor and own a boat, probably would need a small set of hand tools and know how (or as I call it being resourceful or capable of reading). Oh wait, poor people are stupid...that is why they are poor. I guess boat ownership is out of the question then.

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I like your viewpoint.
:lol:I agree that we can be "rich" and "broke" at the same time. BTDT
"Wealthy" might be another thing LOL.

OD

Post 199 brings an interesting ( to me) thought. I have never in my life been employed by a poor man. I like the "rich" by default, I suppose. Beats the hell out of starving.

Skinny said:

Every wonder why you can go to a grocery store and get an on the spot flu shot free of charge paid for by your medical plan?

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Stupid me. I always thought it was because it helps to protect people from the flu. But now, thanks to you (post 193), I know the real reason! The rich people are trying to kill all of us common folks!

What a bunch of a$$holes!

Nsail said:

Stupid me. I always thought it was because it helps to protect people from the flu. But now, thanks to you (post 193), I know the real reason! The rich people are trying to kill all of us common folks!

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To add to this thought, I know middle class people who get their flu shots at the pharmacy in Safeway, and I know multi-millionaires who get their flu shots at the pharmacy in Safeway. You'd think if the multi-millionaires were trying to kill off the common folk, they'd know better than to get their flu shots at the pharmacy. Go figure.....

OH MY GOD I got mine at SafeWay last year.... How long do you think I have. Need to clean out the bilge before I go. Would not want next owner to think i was a slob.

Toolbuddie said:

OH MY GOD I got mine at SafeWay last year.... .

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Well, you're toast apparently.

In the words of Gordon Lightfoot--"Fella's it's been good to know yuhHHHHH!!!"

"The rich people are trying to kill all of us common folks!"

A common idea . " A Modest Proposal"

Yes, boating is expensive. However, lots of people enjoy boating and cruising on a tight budget. Just be prepared for the unexpected expensives. Also remember no one lives forever. I met a couple this summer doing the loop. They noticed thier friends were passing away, they went out brought a boat and started their loop adventure. No, homework, no experience just went out and did it.

Is boating for rich? Depends what you mean by rich and what you expect from boating.
I doubt boating is for people earning the bare minimum for sure but at the same time you don’t need to be millionaire.
I got my first boat last year for the price of a decently nice car ( and not a luxury car). Sure it is not a shining prince’s yacht but I enjoy boating aboard.
Do I feel rich, honestly yes, more than 90% of people in the whole world. Am I rich like millionaire, certainly not. I am just working and lucky enough to earn a fair amount of money that allow me to enjoy life as much as I can but without being a golden boy.
So is boating for the rich, I don’t think so, but is it accessible to anybody, again I don’t think so.

L

If you can find a good boat that will serve your needs (I would suggest 40 ft. to 50 ft. range - stabilized) and that boat is not financed and you can do some of you own maintenance and repair work, cruising on $5000 per month income should be no problem. My wife and I cruised the west coast of California and into southern Mexico for 12 years on a 48 ft. stabilized Hatteras LRC. We came across many boaters who where cruising for far less money than you will have. Some sold everything to do that but they were cruising and having a great time. You mentioned boats having $70,000 worth of electronics - they must have had every imaginable toy known to mankind on their vessels. We had a SSB / Ham radio, 50 mile radar, two depth sounders, a Chart Plotter, two mounted VHF radios, a hand held radio and a backup hand held GPS. Total cost for under $10,000. Go for it.

The Avatar is our LRC sitting at anchor off of Isla Isabella which is about 1/2 way between Mazatlán and San Blas on the Mexican mainland west coast.

If you are not at least what most poor people would consider rich than owning a boat will soon make you what most rich people would consider poor.

There use to be a saying about having to keep up with the Joneses. Yachting has many of those people. Too many others worry about seen as inferior because they didn't buy the best or most expensive. Yacht builders and other businesses that cater to yachties play on that feeling.
A lot of fun is out there on the water and living aboard is even better. I don't give a f--- what people think. I buy boats and marine products that suit me and my current boat. But then I come form the commercial side.
As long as you don't buy the Queen Mary, most people have the ability to maintain and operate a decent boat and shouldn't worry about buying the most expensive, overpriced marine items some people buy. Usually those items are available somewhere else for a lot less money.
There will always be people with more money than brains. Makes me wonder how they got the money.