Advice from Australian Sailors required!

[seanfoster]

Hi All,

I noticed there are a few members from oz that post on here.
I may have the opportunity to move to Australia for a few years in the very near future, most probably in the Melborne area, there's a lot up in the air at the moment!

Could anyone down that way give me an idea what the cost of marinas, and average sort of 36ft yacht costs are there?

From the research I've done, the cost of living is pretty much the same as the UK (with the exception of more expensive house prices) but wondered if there was much difference in the costs we pay here?

Any help would be appreciated, just after ballpark figures!

 

[maxi77]

Not much help really but when visiting I sailed a little in Port Philip bay and found that when racing there were very many 'dry legs' in every race which could only be cured with things called tinnys which were kept in a big box of ice where most boats had a saloon table

 

[snowleopard]

The big factor these days is the incredible rise of AUD against GBP. It was 2.40 $/£ wehn I started going there 7 years ago. Today it's 1.53 which makes it pretty painful for us out there - except for fuel.

There aren't many marinas in the Melbourne area (by our standards) but try asking the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron and St Kilda

 

[Mariner69]

We had a holiday in Queensland and Sydney for 3 weeks in February.

We were astonished at how expensive things were.

I am not talking about the pounds to dollars rate but the equivalent costs for a pound of butter or loaf of bread and a dozen eggs to the average salaries as compared in UK and Aus. I never thought I would think the UK was cheap until then.

We did hear that the salaries there were 1.5 to 2 times the rate they were for the same job in the UK so that gave more dollars to spend.

Had a great time and intend to return before too long; once I have paid off the huge credit card bill for the bars and restaurants.

 

[seanfoster]

We had a holiday in Queensland and Sydney for 3 weeks in February.

We did hear that the salaries there were 1.5 to 2 times the rate they were for the same job in the UK so that gave more dollars to spend.
.

That's one of the main reasons I'm going, and it's actually 2 - 2.5 times the uk rate!

 

[pyrojames]

Marinas in Sydney used to be staggering expensive and the preserve of mobos rather than yachts. I paid about AUD12k p.a. for a 10m boat in 1990. The change in the dollar over the last 3 years has been almost a factor of 2 against the pound. HOuses are more expensive, rents are cheaper, mortgages and banking more expensive. There is no such thing as a charge free bank account or credit card. You also pay tax on every deposit, and every withdrawal. INcome tax structure has changed since GST was introduced, but I think the rates are generally higher than here.

On the plus side public transport is cheaper, as is fuel. Food used to be but not any more, European cars likewise.

 

[fishermantwo]

I live in a coastal country town in NSW. Recently when I sold my old yacht I had several enquiries from Victorians wanting to purchase. Their big beef was the cost of moorings, no mention was made of marinas. The mooring costs in a country area was $1700 per year and for Port Philip Bay it varied from $2000 to $4000 depending on location. In NSW country areas my 30 footer costs about $240 per year though I pay pensioner rates at $120 per year.

If you live outside of Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane costs are low. I live comfortably on a service pension. Large house, 30 foot yacht, Porsche, Falcon station wagon and all the usual toys. Everything attained while I worked but easy to maintain for little money.

 

[BelleSerene]

The cost of living is NOT pretty much the same as in the UK. I'm there right now (didn't sail here unfortunately!) Everything is expensive by UK standards (OK, fuel may be cheap; I haven't checked.)

 

[jhr]

dunno about cost, but this is St Kilda (taken from the pier, iirc.)

Go on, you know you want to; Melbourne is great

 

[seanfoster]

dunno about cost, but this is St Kilda (taken from the pier, iirc.)

Go on, you know you want to; Melbourne is great

Isn't that what it's all about!

 

[fishermantwo]

The cost of living is NOT pretty much the same as in the UK. I'm there right now (didn't sail here unfortunately!) Everything is expensive by UK standards (OK, fuel may be cheap; I haven't checked.)

We watch plenty of British TV and I always check out prices displayed, read PBO etc and always wonder how the average British person can survive. Its not just petrol but beer and any alcohol seems horrendously expensive. Prices for yachts and electronics etc advertised in PBO are exorbitant and I always understand why Brits have stuff shipped from the USA.

I would like to spend a few weeks in the UK specifically to visit the Goodwood festival of speed but the costs of accommodation, food etc are just over the top. Holidays in the USA are a fraction of the cost.

My wife's mother is British. She has been back several times over the years and some of her family have spent a few months in Australia. Its migrants you need to get this sort of advice from.

In Australia ordinary wage earners can afford to own and race yachts, even in the Sydney to Hobart. We don't get charged to anchor in harbours, no TV licenses or even radio licenses.

The only thing cheaper in Britain is old clunkers.

 

[Csail]

That's one of the main reasons I'm going, and it's actually 2 - 2.5 times the uk rate!

But if the cost of living is twice as much why?

 

[seanfoster]

But if the cost of living is twice as much why?

Well, it's not, it's roughly the same!

 

[barnaclephill]

You also pay tax on every deposit, and every withdrawal. INcome tax structure has changed since GST was introduced, but I think the rates are generally higher than here.
.

No taxes on deposits or withdrawals. Banks usually have a fee structure, such as a $5/month fee with unlimited transactions.

Income structure hasn't changed much over the past 12 years or so. 10% GST on most things except cookable food (prepared food is taxed), financial transactions, etc
Income brackets differ for residents and non-residents, but mostly in the tax-free threshold. Residency being, for tax purposes, what you claim or the portion of the year you live here, not based on citizenship.
Income rates for residents, 0-$6000 tax free, another braket 6-15k at 15% IIRC, 30% for the part $15 to about 45 or 50K, details from ato.gov.au

 

[barnaclephill]

We don't get charged to anchor in harbours, no TV licenses or even radio licenses.
.

Seems very silly reading in PBO how people get charged time and time again to anchor, whereas it's completely free here. Even tying up to a jetty in south Gippsland (victoria) for a week, the harbourmaster didn't mind us and would not bother about berth fees. I later anchored there for 4 months without even a letter. Then I went to the Gippland Lakes (under Gippland Ports jurisdiction also) and anchored among their swing moorings for 23 more months, whilst being on the waiting list - still no letter of objection.

From my few enquiries (8 metre yacht ) it's about $3k plus for a berth on the various Port Phillip Bay marinas - St Kilda, Brighton, Sandringham.

On Westernport Bay there's really only Yaringa http://www.yaringa.com.au/FILES/PriceList.pdf
and Hastings http://www.westernportmarina.com.au/ in the marina department. Another option is to buy (an existing mooring) or install your own mooring. http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources/mresources/moorings/moorings.html
Mine was $1500 installed and the inspection and licence is about $200/year.

Gippland Ports jurisdiction goes from Mallacoota in the far east to Anderson Inlet in South west Gippland. http://www.gippslandports.vic.gov.au/gippsland_berth.php?berth_id=8
The Gipps Lakes are excellent with no real tide, plenty of free public jetties in the villages and national parks, with free barbeques, free hot showers & rubbish facilities and car parking. Heaven really.

The more you get out Melbourne the cheaper it is. If you have a swing mooring (even on PPB), it's cheaper than a jetty - allthough you have parking & dinghy issues. Apart from the marinas & ParksVic some local councils have jurisdiction over moorings and have their own waiting lists. E.g. on the Gippsland Lakes, GippsPorts have the main jurisdiction and berthing facilities, but the East Gippsland Shire local government has it's own marina, and maybe the same at Sale with the Wellington Shire.

Hopefully there's enough links there to get you started. Some of it will depend on your boat and how long you intend to keep it, it's length, and how far you'd go travelling to go sailling, and which bay. PPB has tidal range of up to 1m, Westerport up to 3m and the GippsLakes up to 20cm.

 

[barnaclephill]

, and average sort of 36ft yacht costs are there?

just after ballpark figures!

Yacht sale sites:

www.boatpoint.com.au

www.vicsail.com

www.australiawide.com

http://www.tradingpost.com.au/Boats/Sail-Boats/Browse?intref=nav131&OmnSearchType=Browse

http://www.webstermarine.com.au/lis...order_by=length_asc&order_by=length_asc&pge=2

http://www.docksideboatsales.com.au/

Trade-a-boat magazine has links to the brokers' ads, but I think they also are linked to Boatpoint. Every major coastal population area has brokers. Vicsail has a branch at Westernport and Geelong.

That list'll get you started.

 

[seanfoster]

Thanks BarnaclePhill,

That's just the sort of info I was after, certainly given me something to think about!

Sean

 

[Questor]

From the research I've done, the cost of living is pretty much the same as the UK (with the exception of more expensive house prices) but wondered if there was much difference in the costs we pay here?

Any help would be appreciated, just after ballpark figures!

Small box Quality Street - £1.99 in UK. AUS$19.50 in Oz - so about 14 quid!!!!!

5 years ago, when I last went back, everything did seem cheaper than UK.

Daughter has just come back to UK and was really horrified at how expensive everything was while living in Sydney.

All my folks say living in Oz has got very expensive.