How do retired people afford boating?

[RIN]

There are actually significant benefits if you can keep boating when you retire.

The main one is a complete change in your boating usage. We used to do what most working people do, rush off to the boat at the weekend and take your chances with the weather and finding a marina to visit that isn't already full (The red sign at Yarmouth springs to mind, or trying to contact the Cowes HM to see if he can suggest somewhere to stay). Everywhere busy, noisy and plenty of inexperienced boaters causing problems.

Now we are retired, we just don't do weekends. We look at the weather looking for a 4 or 5 day window of decent weather and off we go. (OK so this year there weren't many of those) If we are already out and the weekend comes up, we stay put until Monday.

There are often cheaper mid week rates at marinas or deals for staying a few nights.

Its easier to get on to the fuel berth mid week (Try Saturday or Sunday at MDL at the Hamble)

No need to book any marina mid week

Pubs are generally quieter and easy to get a table (although we more often eat on board)

And since you are retired, you have more time available to do those simple service jobs yourself. changing oil, filters, fuel filters, coolant etc. Likewise the antifouling and polishing. You only pay for the parts or materials. I'll never be a VP as it takes me all day just to change the oil, but time isn't that important, if its not finished today, there's always tomorrow - no deadline for the weekend.

We definitely enjoy boating more now we are retired than we did working, less pressure, more peace, come and go according to the weather.

I recommend it to everyone

 

[malc60]

retirement boating

well, I just sold the house and decided to rent a bungalow, all that lovely money i struggled to pay for it, now in a big heap in the bank, princess in the med, best thing i ever did

 

[Resolution]

Retirement?

This is all very disappointing. I was hoping to see that at least some of us are being sponsored by wealthy offspring (footballers, investment bankers or even just D list celebs). Any happy parent going to step forward and give thanks to the next generation?

 

[Searush]

It's easy;

1/ Buy the boat while working & make sure it's paid for by retirement.

2/ STAY OUT OF MARINAS !

3/ Have a saily boat that doesn't need 100 squids worth of fuel to anchor on the other side of the bay.

4/ Do all your own work as necessary & buy minimum equipment (most of the stuff we buy is nice to have rather than need to have)

5/ Make sure your kids are set up & self-sufficient (sadly, mine aren't at the moment!)

I retired early & started a one man consultancy & earned more than when I was employed. By not increasing our outgoings we saved/ invested a small sum. When my consultancy market dried up, the pension from my previous employment kicked in & I got a part-time low paid, but enjoyable job for several years to top up the pension. Then after a year's unemployment (I didn't look very hard & didn't even bother to register for benefits) the OAP pension kicked in.

So no way we are rich, but our needs are modest. As Mr Micawber suggested; Annual income 20/-, Annual expenditure 19/6d, result happiness.

 

[Searush]

This is all very disappointing. I was hoping to see that at least some of us are being sponsored by wealthy offspring (footballers, investment bankers or even just D list celebs). Any happy parent going to step forward and give thanks to the next generation?

I think you will find most of us are still supporting grown up kids, at least partially. It's a tough world out there today, much tougher than when I left school in the 60's & walked straight into an apprenticeship in a "job for life" company.

Marriages & jobs are just temporary arrangements these days as far as I can tell.

 

[SailorBill]

This is all very disappointing. I was hoping to see that at least some of us are being sponsored by wealthy offspring (footballers, investment bankers or even just D list celebs). Any happy parent going to step forward and give thanks to the next generation?

Do you really think that people with any kind of serious wealth or level of public profile are going to be talking about their finances in this thread?

 

[whisper]

With the cost of fuel and all the upkeep of the boat plus the cost of mooring, how do you cope?

This is purely for motor boat users.

I share a boat 50/50 - otherwise would have something much smaller/cheaper.
We don't need to use marinas.

 

[Glyn-2008]

This is all very disappointing. I was hoping to see that at least some of us are being sponsored by wealthy offspring (footballers, investment bankers or even just D list celebs). Any happy parent going to step forward and give thanks to the next generation?

Would'nt that be nice?
Unfortunately, many are supporting 30+ something children together with 80+ something parents. We spent many years paying a mortgage at anything up to 15% interest over the 25 year term only to sell the house in order to invest the money for retirement and find we receive about 3% return. When does it get easier as they once promised?

 

[AdeOlly]

2/ STAY OUT OF MARINAS !

Or do as a chap I was talking to on Saturday does, and keep it in a French Council owned marina, Calais in his case. 960 Euros per year berthing incl electrickery, 80 euros for a lift out, same to launch, for a 10m boat. Travel midweek for cheepie ferries/tunnel and stay a week (or more) at a time.

 

[Imperial One]

Dave proudly told us all that the recession was over two weeks ago and everything will be OK again......................
We're all sorted for retirement anyway! Our youngest Son tells us he will look after us when we are old - we have asked what he considered old but he had not answered us so far! As for how I will boat when I retire, easy, I'll be able to use his (when he buys one).

Please feel free to pinch me and wake me if you really want to spoil my illusion

 

[volvopaul]

Dave proudly told us all that the recession was over two weeks ago and everything will be OK again......................
We're all sorted for retirement anyway! Our youngest Son tells us he will look after us when we are old - we have asked what he considered old but he had not answered us so far! As for how I will boat when I retire, easy, I'll be able to use his (when he buys one).

Please feel free to pinch me and wake me if you really want to spoil my illusion

Mike, a great reply!!!! I'm just starting to work on my daughters right away, I think all the years and uni/ buying cars/ computers etc £££££ they have had was worth every penny, as oldest is a nurse there will be no care home for me!! iHOPE.

 

[ricky_s]

Some great ideas there, thanks peeps.

 

[Whopper]

If you have young, thin and relatively short children (boys) then buy them a go-cart and finance the early stages of a motor spot career for them. It could pay nice dividends in future!

 

[davidej]

Oh they like to fink they is proper boaters and evryone else is lower clarrrss than them so don't count for nuffink, innit!

Could you please explain what this means -in the Queen's English.

Inverted snobbery?

 

[SailorBill]

Could you please explain what this means -in the Queen's English.

Inverted snobbery?

It's a piss take. See posts 1 and 2.

The OP didn't get it either!

 

[davidej]

It's a piss take. See posts 1 and 2.

The OP didn't get it either!

I realised that.

I just couldn't work out whose pi** was being taken!

 

[Glyn-2008]

I realised that.

I just couldn't work out whose pi** was being taken!

Well you can have some of mine if you've got enough time. Damn Prostate, who was talking about pensioners then? I forget.

 

[gordmac]

If you have young, thin and relatively short children (boys) then buy them a go-cart and finance the early stages of a motor spot career for them. It could pay nice dividends in future!

Interesting idea but I think funding a motorsport career would make running a super yacht seem cheap!

 

[nicho]

We sold last year (S48)

We always said we would continue for five years after retirement - in the end it was three. One reason was SWMBO's rather nasty accident in Yarmouth Harbour, but we also made the fatal mistake of reckoning up the ACTUAL cost of one year's boating - including marina berth (Swanwick), servicing engines, fuel, insurance, lift/block/antifoul/relaunch etc, it came to £14,950

Add to that approx £5000 depreciation, and the £5000 approx, that the money money tied up in the boat (£160K) would have been making in a reasonable bank account, and we were at £25K. That was a lot to come from our pensions and (diminishing) investments.

Hardly dare say this on here (don't tell Clarkson) but we now have a twin axle caravan, top of range, aircon the lot, bought for the cost of one years boating. We spent most of the Summer months touring the UK, France, Germany and Switzerland. Costs next to nothing to keep - we store the van in a secure compound - costs £400 per annum! OK it's not a boat, but we do get to see a lot of the World inexpensively. Oh, and I tow it at pretty illegal speeds, so don't accuse me of holding you up. Mind, if you want some pegs or lucky heather, we can help! Selling from to a layby near you!!

 

[nicho]

Interesting idea but I think funding a motorsport career would make running a super yacht seem cheap!

Appros £35K for a good season in a good kart. You can indeed make a small fortune from motorsport - you start with a large one.