jonic
Well-known member
Glad you liked the book.
Yes we planned to go for a year. Left with no kids and came back 8 years later with two kids.
Watch out for Conception Island in the Bahamas (Seriously)
How much does it cost to cruise ?
- Thread starter sailaboutvic
- Start date
Glad you liked the book.
Yes we planned to go for a year. Left with no kids and came back 8 years later with two kids.
Watch out for Conception Island in the Bahamas (Seriously)
Petronella
Member
I would say about 2/3 of what it would cost you to live in the UK.
OldBawley
Active member
I see that in many posts “Eating out “ is a big thing.
Why not learn to cook. Once the knowledge is there “Boat cooked “ food can be so good no restaurant crap can compare. For us cooking is part of the evening.
A lot of my best friends ware cooks ( Guess why ) Most died early. To much of the good life. One of the live ones visits us each year wherever we anchor. Still a chef, he has to take his leave in winter.
So not much choice, most restaurants are closed.
I can only say, outside Belgium and France, ( Yes, Bocuse ) only two or three restaurants ware good. Ware better than what I or my wife cook.
In summer, we see hordes of yachtys putter to town, all dressed up, to go and eat crap. Sorry to say, fish always grilled to death, meat if you can get more than a burned souvlaki is ok.
My friend, the Dutch chef says most restaurants in my wintering town would be closed by health immediately and the food, …. below quality of most fish and chips.
So learn to cook. It is fun.
Why not learn to cook. Once the knowledge is there “Boat cooked “ food can be so good no restaurant crap can compare. For us cooking is part of the evening.
A lot of my best friends ware cooks ( Guess why ) Most died early. To much of the good life. One of the live ones visits us each year wherever we anchor. Still a chef, he has to take his leave in winter.
So not much choice, most restaurants are closed.
I can only say, outside Belgium and France, ( Yes, Bocuse ) only two or three restaurants ware good. Ware better than what I or my wife cook.
In summer, we see hordes of yachtys putter to town, all dressed up, to go and eat crap. Sorry to say, fish always grilled to death, meat if you can get more than a burned souvlaki is ok.
My friend, the Dutch chef says most restaurants in my wintering town would be closed by health immediately and the food, …. below quality of most fish and chips.
So learn to cook. It is fun.
BurnitBlue
Well-known member
I wish, I wish, I wish I had never entered a particular restaurant in Amsterdam. I was sat at a table close to the swinging door to the kitchens. In a brief moment I saw something that turned my stomach. This happened many years ago and I should have called the police. Instead I got up and walked out, I won't say what it was because it was a brief glimpse through a swinging door and I may have got it wrong although the scene is still clear in my mind. Strange though I am OK in McDonalds and similar.
Put it this way. I would never eat in a restaurant again unless the kitchen staff wore full deep sea diving suits.
This "hang-up" of mine caused great strain with the women in my life. For some reason women love sitting in cafe's or restaurants. It can't be the food so it must be the social atmosphere.
Oh woe is me.... I wish I could cook.
OldBawley
Active member
We wintered 10 years in Turkey, always on the hook, sometimes on our own hook in a “Hurricane hole” bay. There I learned to know the Turkish bay restaurant.
Say no more. Hygiene zero. Prices that made my chef laugh.
In that particular bay restaurant real good food could be had. I say “could be” because 99% of what was served was westernised fast food.
The chief of family running the restaurant told me how much they earned. Wow.
( more than some star restaurants, and that 9 months a year. )
Seen things there.... Jeeezzz.
Even the half litre water bottles served at your table ( Under the table millions of sand fleas and mosquito´s ) ware filled over and over from a dirty well and sealed again by the kids.
For a while I was their main supplier of barracuda. ( I don´t like barracuda but they are easy to fish.)
The barracuda was stored in fridges that run maybe one or two hours a day. ( no mains )
I learned to bake their bread. Learned to use the clay cooking pot.
Great cuisine, if invited for home cooking or cook it yourself.
Speaking of costs.
In 2005 we sailed from our winter bay ( Göcek area ) to Alexandroupolis and back. Turkish coast going up, Greek islands going down. Not one marina.
Costs that year : 4000 €. Just food, booze, two flights home for the wife. Lots of fishing and SAILING. No diesel. Best year of my life.
Say no more. Hygiene zero. Prices that made my chef laugh.
In that particular bay restaurant real good food could be had. I say “could be” because 99% of what was served was westernised fast food.
The chief of family running the restaurant told me how much they earned. Wow.
( more than some star restaurants, and that 9 months a year. )
Seen things there.... Jeeezzz.
Even the half litre water bottles served at your table ( Under the table millions of sand fleas and mosquito´s ) ware filled over and over from a dirty well and sealed again by the kids.
For a while I was their main supplier of barracuda. ( I don´t like barracuda but they are easy to fish.)
The barracuda was stored in fridges that run maybe one or two hours a day. ( no mains )
I learned to bake their bread. Learned to use the clay cooking pot.
Great cuisine, if invited for home cooking or cook it yourself.
Speaking of costs.
In 2005 we sailed from our winter bay ( Göcek area ) to Alexandroupolis and back. Turkish coast going up, Greek islands going down. Not one marina.
Costs that year : 4000 €. Just food, booze, two flights home for the wife. Lots of fishing and SAILING. No diesel. Best year of my life.
AndrewB
Well-known member
Jimmy Cornell, summarising a survey of 57 long-distance cruising yachts in the April 2013 edition of Cruising World, on yachts in the 38-44 foot range, quotes figures for a couple mostly between £20,000 and £35,000 per year (this is taking £1 = $1.50 = €1.35). But even there one couple claimed £8,000.
This range was borne out by my own questioning of blue-water yachts in the Pacific (a couple of which are in Cornell's survey). My average was £22,500 per annum: this included one trip back to the UK annually, which was our largest expense.
This range was borne out by my own questioning of blue-water yachts in the Pacific (a couple of which are in Cornell's survey). My average was £22,500 per annum: this included one trip back to the UK annually, which was our largest expense.
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BobnLesley
Well-known member
"...How on earth do people afford to live in a house, on dry land, in the UK?"
We often ask that same question; despite owning our own place, until (if?) the pensions eventually kick-in, we couldn't possibly afford to live full time in the UK without going back to work.
"...only pressing the pause button on the 'rat race' for a couple of years or that's the plan at the moment but who knows..."
Be careful, our own plan in 2003 was 'just for a couple of years, or perhaps three if the money lasts.'
We often ask that same question; despite owning our own place, until (if?) the pensions eventually kick-in, we couldn't possibly afford to live full time in the UK without going back to work.
"...only pressing the pause button on the 'rat race' for a couple of years or that's the plan at the moment but who knows..."
Be careful, our own plan in 2003 was 'just for a couple of years, or perhaps three if the money lasts.'
steve yates
Well-known member
Interesting that most of these figures seem to be for a couple.
So most of the big costs that would rack up, food, booze, eating out, flights home, hotels etc would be halved if doing it per person.
So most of the big costs that would rack up, food, booze, eating out, flights home, hotels etc would be halved if doing it per person.
Thedreamoneday
New member
Glad you liked the book.
Yes we planned to go for a year. Left with no kids and came back 8 years later with two kids.
Watch out for Conception Island in the Bahamas (Seriously)
Thanks for the 'Top tip' don't want anymore mouths eating into my crusing budget!:encouragement:
That seems a nice problem to have, I'm already thinking a couple of years isn't long enough and working out how to make the £'s/ €'s go further!
AndrewB
Well-known member
There are a couple of major items which are not different.
For similar boat sizes, marina charges are the same. Of course, everyone tries to avoid marinas as far as possible but to some extent they are inevitable, particularly when leaving to fly home, or if needing power and/or service people for maintenance jobs. However singles tend to cruise in smaller yachts, which keeps marina costs lower. Again, for similar boat size, maintenance costs stay the same, though singles are often less demanding and tend to live rather simpler, so do not spend so much on this.
But it is not a simple comparison. Singles are not half of a couple. SIngles tend to be younger, with a different type of life-style. For example, while the older couple is racking up costs by touring the places they visit, the single is likely to become more involved locally, maybe picking up some paid work for a while. Many singles are looking for, or at any rate finding, romance.
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steve yates
Well-known member
Sure Andrew, but I did say that most of the big costs I listed would be halved, not that the actual annual fig would be halved. I suspect that singles would probably spend more on booze as be more likely to go out more often, and stay out later, than a couple. Food would be less, though a single may be tempted to eat out more, can be almost as cheap as cooking for one, and gets them out amongst people.
The other way to look at it might be that I wouldn't have to find those amounts, but me and my partner between us would have to find them. So with two folk not already married living together, that makes the annual cost of cruising more readily attainable.
The other way to look at it might be that I wouldn't have to find those amounts, but me and my partner between us would have to find them. So with two folk not already married living together, that makes the annual cost of cruising more readily attainable.
boatmike
Well-known member
I have read these posts with interest. My last true "liveaboard" experience was when I was in my 40s and had a 4 year "sabbatical" in the Caribbean on a 37ft catamaran. Now at 73 with a 33ft mobo (identical to Blampied) I am organising to set off in the late spring down the canals to the Med and will liveaboard for probably 6 months of the year until I am either too old, knackered or facing divorce....... For me the question is, "how much more will it cost to be afloat than ashore? I will of course have to buy diesel (excellent news it's coming down in price again) mooring fees, and maintenance. The latter should be minimal having just done an extensive refit so fuel and mooring fees mainly. Food? Well it depends how much and where you eat. We eat out about half the time and cook at home the rest and I don't see this changing much. I will save on other costs at home too as I won't tax the cars (2) or have to put fuel in them while on the boat. Also it costs me £4200 to park the boat in a marina in the UK which I will save so I tend to agree with those who say "How can you afford to live in a house?" If its an either/or choice then I guess it would be cheaper afloat but if like us its a bit of both I am budgeting for an additional £10K per annum over and above what I spend now and expecting change...... Anyone disagree?
dabsolute470
Member
hiya, we will be watching your posts with much interest... this is what we are hoping to do in our pearl motor boat and researching stuffs now
purplerobbie
Active member
If this is the case then I'll never be going cruising.
At 22k to 35k is more than I earn in full time employment!
It must be able to be done for a lot less than that.
Tranona
Well-known member
all he is illustrating is that people cruise with different budgets. If you read all the many threads on the subject you will find a wide range of cruising or liveaboard budgets starting from roughly half that reported by AndrewB.
Depends on so many variables - type of boat, area of cruising but most importantly lifestyle - that is the things you spend your money on over and above subsistence.
sailaboutvic
Well-known member
Well off cause you can cruise for a lot less then that ,
example , we know a couple who have there yacht anchor near Nidri Greece , it never moves , it's anchored all year round , they never Travel , they don't eat out , and God know last time they boat got any maintenance let alone an haul out and the only time they go out is to the Bar which is 4 or five nights a week to socialise . Ie have a beer or two .
They told us they can cruising on less then £6000 a year , and I believe they can , boat insurance , weekly shopping , and beer some fuel for dinghy .
AlthoughI it not what I would call cruising .
For us is seeing new places , meeting new people and being able to fly home to visit family and friends without worrying if we can afford it . And most Important is keeping the boat in tip top condition to reduce any problem while cruising in the summer .
If you cruising thought out the summer , sail as much as possible, not use Marina except over the winter , not eat out much and socialise on board , don't hire cars or tour .
without any major expense to the boat , you can prob get away with 13k .
But you will have major expense at some point , remember using the boat not only to cruise but also are our home in any one year the wear and tear is more then average boat owner will see in five years .
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blampied
Member
Sounds very reasonable.
Enjoy your trip, maybe we will get to meet up.
GrahamM376
New member
It can be done for less than half the cost of the lower figure provided you're not marina based and avoid expensive tourist trap restaurants.
AndrewB
Well-known member
There's an odd tendancy, every time this question of how MUCH cruising costs, for contributors to argue about how LITTLE you can get away with. I think that's missing the point.
If we were discussing how much it costs to live in the UK, people would not dispute that the average 2-adult household annual expenditure is £25,000 by arguing that it is possible to live on £10,000. I'm sure you can, if you have no choice.
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NornaBiron
New member
I agree, however, the question of cruising expenditure arises when people are considering cutting loose from the 9-5 and therefore a regular wage, for an extended period of time. The tendency to report the lower end of how much it costs can be reassuring when faced with the daunting prospect of living on a fraction of previous income in order to live the dream.
