Dark side pull

[Don L]

It has been 13.5 months since the collision that ended 7.5 years of full time sailboat cruising for my wife and I. We have a dirt dwelling now, but the other day I saw cracks developing in my wife's crash PTSD. She is starting to get the cruising bug again, but is not going back to full time live aboard or to a sailboat. It may be because it was so freaking cold in Jacksonville Fl this winter and Facebook took pleasure of showing me posts from The Bahamas etc. So we are looking at 3-4 months a year cruising mostly in Florida Keys and Bahamas. That means we cruise areas that in general we have been before many times, which is OK as there are lots of places we couldn't go on our 6'4" draft sailboat. So ..............

I feel the pull of the dark side to a mid 30s foot old trawler type of POWER boat (the shame). Two things are my major concern; 1-The cost to store the boat when not in use. 2- The lost opportunity or what I could do with the money instead.

But I have till next Fall at the earliest to figure out out IF The General decides she want to go back to being an Admiral part time.

So be warned I may be asking stupid trawler type boat questions again.

 

[High Wire]

Maybe charter a week or two before jumping back in. May the Force be with you.

 

[Don L]

Maybe charter a week or two before jumping back in. May the Force be with you.

Thanks. But I will probably never charter. By the time I fly in, pay the charter and fly back I used a years worth of boat storage for 5 days of iffy weather that could travel hardly anywhere except to the other charter locations. I have 7.5 years of full time on a boat, I understand cruising a little.

 

[CharlieO.]

Welcome Back Don.... The right boat will just jump out at you when you least expect it, then you can just tell your wife - look what followed me home.

 

[rgano]

Best of luck to you.

 

[slowgoesit]

You may be able to hook up with someone else, and go with them on their power boat for a short while, say 2 weeks or less. That should give you an idea as to whether or not you like stink pot cruising.
Do you know other folks with boats? And where did you typically cruise? I read your thread about the collision, but can't remember where you liked to cruise.

 

[Don L]

You may be able to hook up with someone else, and go with them on their power boat for a short while, say 2 weeks or less. That should give you an idea as to whether or not you like stink pot cruising.
Do you know other folks with boats? And where did you typically cruise? I read your thread about the collision, but can't remember where you liked to cruise.

I have a friend currently in the Bahamas with a Nordhaven 57. Will that do it

 

[O C Diver]

While I should welcome you to the dark side, why not consider another sailboat. While maybe spend more time motoring and avoid overnight cruising, on nice days, put up the sails and scratch the itch.

From what I'm being told, the sailboat market seems a better value. While I only have a very basic knowledge of sailboats, maybe something like a Fisher motor sailer could keep everybody happy.

Ted

 

[mvweebles]

Welcome back Don. I'll look forward to seeing if the twinges develop into a stronger desire. No one knows better than you the costs of ownership. How that feeds into the balance of time and financial security is a very personal decision.

About the only nugget I can suggest is buying a well known brand that might be a bit more expensive at purchase but will be a quicker sale if/when you decide to reverse course. I don't have direct experience, but some of the Mainship models seem to have an active following. You may also be able to find private mooring options along one of the canals to reduce monthly costs.

Good luck and I look forward to your developing saga. Glad to hear the trauma of losing your boat and narrowly escaping personal injury is fading.

Peter

 

[Kapn]

There's a little known 5 year grace period. You can hang onto your sailing identity for the first 5 years of trawler ownership. At that point you have to cease referring to yourself as a sailor when meeting someone at a docktail party. Unless of course you get the lifetime exemption by purchasing a wooden sailboat sitting forlorn in the corner of a boatyard. Then you can continue to refer to yourself as a sailor even if the boat never goes back in the water.

 

[Don L]

so complex

 

[rslifkin]

About the only nugget I can suggest is buying a well known brand that might be a bit more expensive at purchase but will be a quicker sale if/when you decide to reverse course. I don't have direct experience, but some of the Mainship models seem to have an active following.

I agree. That, or something older that's already well depreciated and won't lose much value. That should keep you from losing much on the value of the boat when you decide to sell it eventually. Most of your costs at that point will be dockage / storage and usage related costs at that point.

For 3 - 4 months of cruising per year, you can always expand your range by cruising somewhere away from home and instead of returning home with the boat, store the boat somewhere with reasonable prices, fly home, and go back for a couple more months of cruising later. That may give some opportunities to keep costs down and also to cruise a wider range of places. The downside is that you lose the opportunity to use the boat on weekends, etc. in between.

 

[slowgoesit]

Peter, I wholeheartedly agree that buying a well known brand will help with resale. We fully intended on doing that, and were looking primarily at DeFevers . . . . but fate had other plans, and we found and bought our Unicorn!

Few people we run into on the water have ever heard of Robert Beebe, much less read his book, Voyaging Under Power. Fewer still have heard of Gardner engines, and Hundested CCP's.

However this boat really spoke to us, and has be an awesome boat over the past 4+ years. Basically, we realize that a boat, except in very rare occasions is NOT an Investment, and is rather a Depreciating Asset.
That said, when we looked at our financial planning, we are factoring in that the boat will be worth NOTHING when we get around to selling her, in other words, even though it will actually be worth SOMETHING, we aren't counting on the sales $$$ in our planning.

What I'm trying to say here, is don't limit yourself only to "Known" boats, as a real jewel may slip by. For the same reason, we don't do improvements and/or changes to our boats based on what the "next owner" may or may not want. If he/she doesn't like the boat, there will be other buyers.

 

[Don L]

The math says that a boat not being used for 9 months will still cost me $4800-6100. This reminds me that I have never understood all the boats that owners never use.

 

[rslifkin]

The math says that a boat not being used for 9 months will still cost me $4800-6100. This reminds me that I have never understood all the boats that owners never use.

I have similar thoughts for the 5 months or so every winter that ours sits on land. But then I see what some friends and coworkers spend to go sit in some Carribean resort for a week or 10 days every year and realize that they're spending 2/3 to 3/4 or more of my total annual boat costs and they aren't even getting 2 weeks out of it, while we get months of use from that cost. Once I started seeing it that way, the boat started to sound like a pretty good deal.

 

[Don L]

yeah but that doesn't change much for me and is just like how most boat owners pay all that money to have a boat they don't use

Compared to my full time cruisng days my cost already are going to be $1300/mo more because I have a dirt dwelling to maintain and pay for. So while cruising 4 months it cost me $5200 more than before for the house and when not cruising it costs me $4-6k more have the boat.

This is different from back when I was working and made 3 times as much a year as now.

Yes I understand this is common

 

[CharlieO.]

We are currently a family of three so really need two staterooms. If we were empty nesters I would really consider a trailer trawler.

 

[slowgoesit]

Don, some problems can't be solved with math!
When I pull away from the dock, or sometimes sitting at anchor with a sundowner watching, well, the sun go down I just can't help but think:

"Wow, I can't believe Dad let us have the keys again!"

 

[Don L]

Don, some problems can't be solved with math!

I know. But I have to live with the math because ignoring becomes a big problem. I wouldn't want my boat to become one of the abandoned boats on the Florida waterway.

 

[rslifkin]

yeah but that doesn't change much for me and is just like how most boat owners pay all that money to have a boat they don't use

Compared to my full time cruisng days my cost already are going to be $1300/mo more because I have a dirt dwelling to maintain and pay for. So while cruising 4 months it cost me $5200 more than before for the house and when not cruising it costs me $4-6k more have the boat.

This is different from back when I was working and made 3 times as much a year as now.

Yes I understand this is common

I agree, it still doesn't make it cheap or easy to stomach. And it may or may not work for you. But even for 3 months of use every year, it still doesn't pencil out too badly if you look at it as "time spent using the boat for recreation / travel vs dollars spent". An RV is probably cheaper, but lots of other travel / recreation options will cost more per unit of time.

 

[Don L]

I agree, it still doesn't make it cheap or easy to stomach. And it may or may not work for you. But even for 3 months of use every year, it still doesn't pencil out too badly if you look at it as "time spent using the boat for recreation / travel vs dollars spent". An RV is probably cheaper, but lots of other travel / recreation options will cost more per unit of time.

I mostly agree.

I am a numbers guy. I looked at RVs and they make sense only if you want to stay in one place a long time. Other wise it is a better to deal to plan campground stops at Hampton Inn and get breakfast breakfast at same time. We are thinking of doing a 1 month road trip in March so we will see. I I am on the RC forum and have te same debate with them)

 

[psneeld]

RV travelling to me is similar to cruising in boats. So much is personal likes and desires and how much one is willing to spend.

While I basically am not one, there are people that would spend their last dime travelling by RV because they hate..... air travel, using toilets and beds rather than their own, have very particular dietary habits, and who knows what else.

I have already started thinking about my last freedom travel before I just run out of steam. Running the numbers loosely for the last decade..... travel by car compared to RV sometimes relates to my suggestion some boated should travel/loop by Cigarette at 60mph and stay in B&Bs or hotels that have docks (at least nearby). Both could easily replace the others but there are tradeoffs.

When I am done exploring different parts of the country by RV (2 left - Great Lakes and Southwest).... travelling to see my boys (NJ & TX) might be in the sports car and thick wallet that I have never had yet but can be in my grasp soon. It will replace my lengthy RV trips involving lots of fishing and small boating but will be tough to gravitate to until as I said, I just plum run out of steam.

 

[slowgoesit]

The cost of boat ownership is getting out of control. Fortunately, at least for us, we were able to mitigate some of that cost by purchasing a home that had a dock large enough to put our boat . . . well, several boats, if the truth be known. I'm considering starting a chapter of Boater's Anonymous, (Hi, my name is Scot, and it's been three months since I dragged another boat home . . .) but I digress.

Not only do we have the advantage of not paying someone else for monthly moorage for the months we are not actively using our boat, but the boat is RIGHT THERE! Need to hop down to fix that leaking seal? Allrighty then, it's a 100 foot walk to the dock to get on the boat! And a table saw, welder, and tool, did I mention TOOLS are readily available?

Lots of little stuff are getting done, as well as trenching in the new underground wiring for boat pedestals, water lines, etc, but the point of this is that we are saving a bundle by having our own dock. Also, it is in Fresh Water! So engines and systems are well flushed by the time we turn off the main engine, the auxiliary engine, the water maker, the raw water wash down pump . . . you get the picture. Our boat sat from the end of April last year to mid January of this year while we were getting work done on our new to us house. When we got out away from the alligators, I dove the bottom, and there was NOTHING on it besides a light coating of slim, which was gone by the time we reached the Dry Torgugas (29 hours straight from the house). We kicked around for two weeks and returned. Did a few fix it jobs on the trip, and a few more after we got back, and she's ready to go again.

Plus I can get fuel delivered to our dock with just a phone call (and a credit card). No delivery charge if we get more than 400 gallons.

Point I am making is that there are avenues available to make boating more affordable even here in Florida if you want to search them out. For instance, people here in our neighborhood rent out dock space for crazy cheap compared to what you would pay on the coasts (East AND West), and you have the advantage of fresh water, and a relative Hurricane Hole, and SAVE $$ in the process. Disadvantage is it is a day (West) or two's (East) travel to get to the Lakes of Bitter Waters.

Don, if you're serious about getting a stink pot, ring up your friend with the Nordhavn, or come down here, and we'll have a chat. If the chemistry is right (and you're not allergic to cats) you can go out with us for a week or two to try it out.

Off my soap box for now. Now people, get in your boats and just GO SOMEWHERE!

 

[rgano]

There's a little known 5 year grace period. You can hang onto your sailing identity for the first 5 years of trawler ownership. At that point you have to cease referring to yourself as a sailor when meeting someone at a docktail party. Unless of course you get the lifetime exemption by purchasing a wooden sailboat sitting forlorn in the corner of a boatyard. Then you can continue to refer to yourself as a sailor even if the boat never goes back in the water.

Believe me, I get the gist of this, but just so you know, many of us blue water ship people refer to ourselves as sailors despite know knowing the diff between sails and hanging laundry.

 

[rgano]

"The cost of boat ownership is getting out of control. Fortunately, at least for us, we were able to mitigate some of that cost by purchasing a home that had a dock large enough to put our boat . . . well, several boats, if the truth be known. I'm considering starting a chapter of Boater's Anonymous, (Hi, my name is Scot, and it's been three months since I dragged another boat home . . .) but I digress"

While not necessarily doable for bigger boats, I find this the best way to own a saltwater boat. Run the engine/gen on freshwater after every run, and you'd never know it runs in only seawater. Love the lack of bottom care especially since the last boat I had in that spot was a wooden Grand Banks.

 

[Don L]

Don, if you're serious about getting a stink pot, ring up your friend with the Nordhavn, or come down here, and we'll have a chat. If the chemistry is right (and you're not allergic to cats) you can go out with us for a week or two to try it out.

Thanks for the offer

 

[Helmsman]

"The cost of boat ownership is getting out of control. Fortunately, at least for us, we were able to mitigate some of that cost by purchasing a home that had a dock large enough to put our boat . . . well, several boats, if the truth be known. I'm considering starting a chapter of Boater's Anonymous, (Hi, my name is Scot, and it's been three months since I dragged another boat home . . .) but I digress"

While not necessarily doable for bigger boats, I find this the best way to own a saltwater boat. Run the engine/gen on freshwater after every run, and you'd never know it runs in only seawater. Love the lack of bottom care especially since the last boat I had in that spot was a wooden Grand Banks.View attachment 162422

Your boat looks like it was just detailed. Really nice looking boat. I like the idea of a lift, too. Nice set up.

 

[Shrew]

It has been 13.5 months since the collision that ended 7.5 years of full time sailboat cruising for my wife and I. We have a dirt dwelling now, but the other day I saw cracks developing in my wife's crash PTSD. She is starting to get the cruising bug again, but is not going back to full time live aboard or to a sailboat. It may be because it was so freaking cold in Jacksonville Fl this winter and Facebook took pleasure of showing me posts from The Bahamas etc. So we are looking at 3-4 months a year cruising mostly in Florida Keys and Bahamas. That means we cruise areas that in general we have been before many times, which is OK as there are lots of places we couldn't go on our 6'4" draft sailboat. So ..............

I feel the pull of the dark side to a mid 30s foot old trawler type of POWER boat (the shame). Two things are my major concern; 1-The cost to store the boat when not in use. 2- The lost opportunity or what I could do with the money instead.

But I have till next Fall at the earliest to figure out out IF The General decides she want to go back to being an Admiral part time.

So be warned I may be asking stupid trawler type boat questions again.

We spend 6-7 months in Florida (Space Coast) and 5-6 months in Southern New England. It's a great compromise for us. We Day boat in Florida between sand bars and 'dock and dine's'. We cruise on the 'big boat' in New England. The big boat lives in New England full time. We love it.

 

[Eastsounder]

It has been 13.5 months since the collision that ended 7.5 years of full time sailboat cruising for my wife and I. We have a dirt dwelling now, but the other day I saw cracks developing in my wife's crash PTSD. She is starting to get the cruising bug again, but is not going back to full time live aboard or to a sailboat. It may be because it was so freaking cold in Jacksonville Fl this winter and Facebook took pleasure of showing me posts from The Bahamas etc. So we are looking at 3-4 months a year cruising mostly in Florida Keys and Bahamas. That means we cruise areas that in general we have been before many times, which is OK as there are lots of places we couldn't go on our 6'4" draft sailboat. So ..............

I feel the pull of the dark side to a mid 30s foot old trawler type of POWER boat (the shame). Two things are my major concern; 1-The cost to store the boat when not in use. 2- The lost opportunity or what I could do with the money instead.

But I have till next Fall at the earliest to figure out out IF The General decides she want to go back to being an Admiral part time.

So be warned I may be asking stupid trawler type boat questions again.

This may not be an appealing or even feasible option for you and the place where you want to cruise/store the boat, but up here in the PNW/San Juan Islands area there are a few charter operations that have yacht ownership programs. You own the boat but keep it in their charter fleet, where it makes money when you're not using it. (Up here, Anacortes Yacht Charters and NW Explorations are the two major players in this realm.)

Other than this, I don't know of any ways to (A) own a boat AND (B) not have to pay the costs of ownership (and financial opportunity costs) when you're not using it. What you're asking, with your two major concerns, sounds a bit like a Zen koan to me.

 

[amapola]

Welcome to the dark side. We gave up deep draft sailing for an older trawler and have enjoyed it for the last 20 years. We live in Punta Gorda, FL and it's been a colder winter here too but not as cold as yours.