How do retired people afford boating?

[Searush]

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!!

I remember using my Daimler 4ltr to tow caravan at up to 90mph.

Overtaking a queue of a dozen cars in one go was a larf. God knows what they all thought as we shot past on the wrong side of the road towing the van at about 40mph faster than they were travelling!

 

[oldgit]

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!

If you think all those pushy mums with tearful daughters at the Ponyclub are hell on a stick just watch their husbands in the paddock when another future Hamilton goes off at the first corner.

 

[OAF]

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.

Some retired folk by a canal boat, don't pay for a mooring, don't pay for the upkeep of their boat, collect sticks to burn in their stove,only buy diesel at the lower taxed rate, thus living cheaply!

 

[supersparks]

retired sailors

Well if you take out private pensions as I did when in the MN and after you would know.

 

[Glyn-2008]

Well if you take out private pensions as I did when in the MN and after you would know.

I took out a private pension but unfortunately bungling investment managers lost a good proportion of my fund and charged me a premium rate for doing so. Now I regularly get letters advising me that my pension forecast is not very good.

No shoot Sherlock

One hopes that the "bungling managers" are not the ones flying around in those nice new boats that I cant afford.

 

[Imperial One]

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

I can tell you it was NOT Volvo Pauls - his daughter is clearly going to be/is already looking after that end of things for him!

Keep up the good work AP and look after the kids - you know it might make sense one day - one of mine tells me to be nice to them as they get to choose our rest home. Bu**er that, I will make sure there is no cash to pay for it then we will have to stay with them,. Hopefully one of them will own a big enough boat one day.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

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.

Go a lot slower. Many retirees have the capital to own a boat but they don't have the income necessary to put fuel in it. I like fast planing boats but i realise that when I'm retired and actually have more time to do more boating, I won't be able to zoom about at 25kts everywhere. So, it'll be a displacement or semi displacement boat for us and boating life in the slow lane. Also we'll be wanting to avoid expensive overnight mooring charges so a good anchor set up is a must. A well equipped galley is also a must as we won't be able to afford to eat out every night as we mostly do now

 

[rafiki_]

I don't plan on retiring. Once I am too old for the day job I will do bits of consultancy and NED work, which I hope will fund my boating interests.

 

[ukmctc]

Semi retire, relax and enjoy life. The cost of boating is what you make it.

 

[BartW]

I won't be able to zoom about at 25kts everywhere. So, it'll be a displacement or semi displacement boat for us and boating life in the slow lane. Also we'll be wanting to avoid expensive overnight mooring charges so a good anchor set up is a must. A well equipped galley is also a must as we won't be able to afford to eat out every night as we mostly do now

A Canados 70 or similar fits nice in this description,
comfortably and economically displacing at 10 knots,
much faster than most (smaller) displacement boats
loads of space onboard and in the galley,
moreover you still have the ability to do a quick blast every now and then,
tried it out last summer, and workes perfect IMHO.

just a sugestion,Mike,
and confuse your brain,
and pulling your leg

 

[Searush]

A Canados 70 or similar fits nice in this description,
comfortably and economically displacing at 10 knots,
much faster than most (smaller) displacement boats
loads of space onboard and in the galley,
moreover you still have the ability to do a quick blast every now and then,
tried it out last summer, and workes perfect IMHO.

just a sugestion,Mike,
and confuse your brain,
and pulling your leg

Could he manage with a smaller paid crew on that then?

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

A Canados 70 or similar fits nice in this description,
comfortably and economically displacing at 10 knots,
much faster than most (smaller) displacement boats
loads of space onboard and in the galley,
moreover you still have the ability to do a quick blast every now and then,
tried it out last summer, and workes perfect IMHO.

Ha don't think the thought hasn't crossed my mind! And my SWMBO's

 

[BartW]

Ha don't think the thought hasn't crossed my mind! And my SWMBO's

if any doubts or questions,
you're welcome to find out yourselves on Blue Angel,
a weekend or so,
even more your swmbo
don't hesitate to give a call

 

[petem]

No kids
No mortgage
Final salary pension

Just a start

Plus some property investments and a decent inheritance.

That's my plan anyway (apart from the No Kids bit)!