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Hang on a minute...
Regarding fuel cost in this cool old tug:
Over the last few days there has been a love fest going on over on another thread over a Fleming or something like it.

So a used Fleming in this length lists for $3,750,000 In Stuart Florida today and it sells with 820 horsepower aboard.
This boat sells for 250K with 675 horsepower aboard it.
Why are we panicking??
If you put down 500K for this old tug, you would have the boat (250K)and all the fuel(250K buys 60,000 gallons) it could use for the next ten years, so cruising fuel would be free from the day of purchase. That is ten fills and would cover around 50,000 nautical miles which almost no one on this forum will cover in the next ten years in any vessel.
Perspective people!:rofl: This is good cheap fun right here.

I'm with you - though not with that vessel. (The one below most definitely)
Similar thoughts have been working fine for us for 5+ years now.

Ours vs buying something shiny, difference in purchase price is a lifetime of fuel and mostly paid maintenance.

Shiny boat still has to find money for fuel and paid maintenance on top of purchase price.
 
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Hey if y’all like that big tug what about this big girl? And she has twin Gardners so wouldn’t burn as much fuel.

7174659_20200316231946679_2_XLARGE.jpg


https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1962-custom-research-yacht-7174659/

Ohhhh baby
Pretty much love everything but the engine colour.
 
Don’t think I’ve ever seen a red Gardner.
 
Your cost are

You could also invest a lot less with a big LFP bank and more panels........if you do some homework.
8 X 250w panels ....$560
Midnite classic 150mppt....$800
Victron multiplus 5000/120....$3000
Victron 712 battery monitor....$200
840ah @ 24v lifepo4 ....... $4000
Total $8560 AUD
= $6182 USD


near similar at our, we even cheaper because for mppt/inverter/charger we use "all in one" made in China:eek: but still working after 3 year (crossfinger),

the lifepo4 look cheaper in US than in France
Also solar panels are cheaper in US
We fit by ourself at the hand cost are similar far below the 10/20000...:angel:
 
As I said once before, there's nothing more expensive than a cheap boat!
 
As I said once before, there's nothing more expensive than a cheap boat!

I understand that fully - at the same time if I were in my 20's or 30's I'd be all over that assuming it's basically functional (check the fuel tanks for corrosion!) You could live aboard, explore the entire PNW up to Alaska, learn boat systems & glass work, and recoup your investment. Aside from the tanks and assuming the engine's not been trashed there's not that much on a single-engined CHB34 that can't be fixed by someone with time and a modest amount of $$.

Lots of functional sailboats in that price range, but few powerboats. She'd be perfect for the PNW.
 
I understand that fully - at the same time if I were in my 20's or 30's I'd be all over that assuming it's basically functional (check the fuel tanks for corrosion!) You could live aboard, explore the entire PNW up to Alaska, learn boat systems & glass work, and recoup your investment. Aside from the tanks and assuming the engine's not been trashed there's not that much on a single-engined CHB34 that can't be fixed by someone with time and a modest amount of $$.

Lots of functional sailboats in that price range, but few powerboats. She'd be perfect for the PNW.

True if you have plenty of time and money. When you have one you don't always have the other!
 
As I said once before, there's nothing more expensive than a cheap boat!

I'll disagree
After 5 plus years on our cheap boat doing paid maintenance every 18mths we are still an easy $million plus in front on a decent 2nd hand Flemming of similar size and comfort
 
I think it should be "there's nothing more expensive than a cheap boat poorly bought"
 
I'll disagree
After 5 plus years on our cheap boat doing paid maintenance every 18mths we are still an easy $million plus in front on a decent 2nd hand Flemming of similar size and comfort

It's all relative and I don't disagree with you at all. But how many 20-30 year olds have available funds to restore or maintain an old boat? They may have lots or time and energy, but most (my son included at 35) have about enough to get through the month and pay their living expenses.
 
It's all relative and I don't disagree with you at all. But how many 20-30 year olds have available funds to restore or maintain an old boat? They may have lots or time and energy, but most (my son included at 35) have about enough to get through the month and pay their living expenses.


Actually, I did exactly that with a 34' Monk when I was 22 years old! Bought it right, used if for 6 years, sold it for more than I had into her. :thumb::D
 
It's all relative and I don't disagree with you at all. But how many 20-30 year olds have available funds to restore or maintain an old boat? They may have lots or time and energy, but most (my son included at 35) have about enough to get through the month and pay their living expenses.

Not many can, doesn't mean it can't be done

My partner of 30 years and I managed to buy a crappy house and in our "spare" time build a 10 metre catamaran from scratch when we were 25, neither of us on good wages.
 
In my mind, even if you buy a project or near project boat, have the funds and the time (weekends) and skill, the yard fees will be a killer. You want in the yard on the hard and out of there as soon as possible. Once back in the water things can slow down a bit.
 
I'll disagree
After 5 plus years on our cheap boat doing paid maintenance every 18mths we are still an easy $million plus in front on a decent 2nd hand Flemming of similar size and comfort

Sort of.....

When you go to sell you will get less than a used Fleming. Sure, you may be ahead in the short term. When a used Fleming sells it will get bring a higher price reflecting the higher initial price.

"There's nothing more expensive than a used boat" also applies to airplanes. I've seen friends buy a bargain airplane, put $100K (or lots more) into it and when they sell it doesn't get back all they put in it. I've bought some used, but almost new, planes for a premium that required no additional repairs and sold every one two or three years later for what I paid for it even after putting several hundred hours on it.

I feel I came out ahead of my friends.
 
They say it also holds true for a cheap luxury car (e.g. Mercedes). Probably true but I have no real experience exept when my son bought an old Saab. Costly repairs when things break.
 
In my mind, even if you buy a project or near project boat, have the funds and the time (weekends) and skill, the yard fees will be a killer. You want in the yard on the hard and out of there as soon as possible. Once back in the water things can slow down a bit.

Just about every place I know has less expensive "yard fees" [on the hard] than in the water dock fees.
 
Sort of.....

When you go to sell you will get less than a used Fleming. Sure, you may be ahead in the short term. When a used Fleming sells it will get bring a higher price reflecting the higher initial price.

"There's nothing more expensive than a used boat" also applies to airplanes. I've seen friends buy a bargain airplane, put $100K (or lots more) into it and when they sell it doesn't get back all they put in it. I've bought some used, but almost new, planes for a premium that required no additional repairs and sold every one two or three years later for what I paid for it even after putting several hundred hours on it.

I feel I came out ahead of my friends.

I've no experience with airplanes but every time I spreadsheet this out with boats it's the opportunity cost of capital that kills the expensive newer vessel. A $2m new Fleming 55 (drool) represents $100k/yr at 5%. Brokers fees are also rough on re-sale, and property tax in CA is about 1%/yr of assessed value. Insurance is also higher I suspect, and depreciation as well.

Try as I might I have had a hard time justifying the higher initial capex on an economic basis (plenty of other reasons to buy new). Things might be different in todays market though with used boats so high, inflation concerns, etc.
 
Sort of.....

When you go to sell you will get less than a used Fleming. Sure, you may be ahead in the short term. When a used Fleming sells it will get bring a higher price reflecting the higher initial price.

.

Of course I'll get less than a used Flemming
It cost a million or more less

More important is I didn't need to work all those extra years to find that million plus extra to buy the Fleming plus maintenance and fuel on top and instead am enjoying a very early retirement on a vessel of similar size and comfort level
 
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