cost of a 250 hp diesel vs 8m sailing rig

[simonfraser]

just curious, outdrives etc are 'expensive' and sails cost 'nothing'

which ofcourse is far from the truth, i have this nagging feeling that the maintenance cost of an inboard diesel in an 8m ish power boat is going to be similar to sails and rigs of an 8m ish sailing boat ?
anyone done some sums on this ?

most of the 8m diesel power boats i have looked at have rediculously low hours on them, so the fuel does not seem to be an issue .....

 

[julians]

Including purely engine and drive service costs,so excluding antifouling and other non engine related bits and pieces I think my 8m 260hp diesel engined boat probably costs approx £1500 per year in regular maintenance

 

[Pete7]

At 31 feet we are slightly longer than the OP request but close enough to gauge the costs. Main sail silver quality £1000 and Genoa £1500 with useful life of 10 years. Standing rigging including all the ropes £2000 good for 10 - 15 years, sails may need one minor repair say £200. Little 3 cyl 28hp diesel engine engine drinking 1/2 litre per mile or a couple of litres per hour, say £100 per year and £50 for DIY servicing.

However, we plan on a passage speed of 5.5 knots so Portland to Brixham is 10 hours with the tide, is that acceptable? in flat water we can can get her up to 6.9 knots and really fly along, woohoo.

Pete

 

[Whitelighter]

Sadly not acceptable now, but the Moody 31 is a great boat.

Did nearly 4000 miles in a 1990 Mk2 in a previous life

 

[Sandmartin]

I have 2 x 120 hp diesels. Running on one at 4 knots I get 7 nm to the gallon. Running on two engine at 8 knots I get 2.5 nm to the gallon. Being old fords, annual maintence is easy and cheap: For 2 engines it is 4 x fuel filters at £1.75, 2 x oli filters at £3.75. 5.5 gallons of oil beteen the two cost £75. Two impellors cost £20 on the internet.

 

[superheat6k]

If you base yourself on the Hamble mooring a sailing boat below the A27 bridge costs about 1.8 x cost for a similar length Mobo above the bridges.

In my case I pay ~ £4,000 at Foulkes, but would pay ~ £7,000 to berth at Mercury. I do not use anything close to £3,000 worth of fuel. so for me a Mobo is far cheaper than a sailing boat, indeed the difference pays for my fuel, maintenance and insurance costs too. OK so I have to lower the radar pole when going out or back in unless the tide is below 1/2 height, but assuming I make 25 two way transits per annum that is like being paid £60 per lowering.