Limited budget, tips to hold down the costs

[lennartl]

Just now in an other post there is a discussion of costs i MED. I think there is a lot of us planning our now living on a limited budget. So please, how can we hold down the costs.

Anchoring places is one, so here is good link of information:
http://www.tony-dyer.com/Permanentgrin/Mediterranean Anchorages.htm
Thank´s to Tony !

 

[BobnLesley]

budget tip:

We were discussing this subject just last night and concluded that the single biggest saving we make compared to the majority of other cruisers/livaboards is in the washing of clothes. When we sailed in UK waters we used laundrettes, in part because they were reasonably priced but mainly because the weather was so bad that year that we couldn't get it dry otherwise. Having crossed the Channel, the first laundrette we found (and that in itself wasn't easy) wanted something like €6 for a load of washing and €8 to tumble-dry it; we went back to the boat, stuck it in a big bucket and dhobied it ourselves and have been doing so ever since.
Once you reach the Med, getting it dry won't be a problem, even in winter - Lesley's washed today in Greece and apart from a heavy jacket, it was all dry in about four hours; in mid summer, cotton sheets will dry in about forty minutes! Even if you do the whole lot by hand it doesn't take too long, to do a week's worth, but the best trick we've discovered: Get a big bucket/storage box that has a lid, put dirty clothes, water and washing soap inside, then fasten the lid, secure it to the pushpit and go for a sail; if the seas are a bit lively then by the time you arrive, you'll have washing that's cleaner than even Mrs. Zanussi can achieve.

 

[chinita]

We were discussing this subject just last night and concluded that the single biggest saving we make compared to the majority of other cruisers/livaboards is in the washing of clothes. When we sailed in UK waters we used laundrettes, in part because they were reasonably priced but mainly because the weather was so bad that year that we couldn't get it dry otherwise. Having crossed the Channel, the first laundrette we found (and that in itself wasn't easy) wanted something like €6 for a load of washing and €8 to tumble-dry it; we went back to the boat, stuck it in a big bucket and dhobied it ourselves and have been doing so ever since.
Once you reach the Med, getting it dry won't be a problem, even in winter - Lesley's washed today in Greece and apart from a heavy jacket, it was all dry in about four hours; in mid summer, cotton sheets will dry in about forty minutes! Even if you do the whole lot by hand it doesn't take too long, to do a week's worth, but the best trick we've discovered: Get a big bucket/storage box that has a lid, put dirty clothes, water and washing soap inside, then fasten the lid, secure it to the pushpit and go for a sail; if the seas are a bit lively then by the time you arrive, you'll have washing that's cleaner than even Mrs. Zanussi can achieve.

There is a fab launderette in our marina.

One day I may tell swmbo about it

 

[TonyMS]

Avoiding marinas is by far the most important.

Also, we find it worth seeking out out-of-town supermarkets. Many things, in particular wine, can be half the price of shops near the front. Produce markets are sometimes good value, but only if they are not a draw for tourists.

If you want to eat out, do so at midday, which is typically half the price of dinner.

Tony MS

 

[JustinC]

Plan your trips home carefully, and make sure you see everyone at one go.

Our single biggest unexpected cost was flights home, which over the course of 9 months ended up being almost 10% of our budget.

Agree on the marinas, would also say negotiate rates and aim to spend as much of the time you need to have in marinas out of season, it makes an enormous difference.

We did a whole month in Ibiza in April for the same price as 4-5 nights would have cost us in peak season

 

[Nostrodamus]

Marina's in France are double the price in season as they are out of season so get a good anchor.

I agree about the washing. We spent 20 euros washing some duvets and drying them.

Get a Seagull water filter so you don't have to buy bottled water and lug it around.

Ask locals where to shop. It will save you a fair ammount and at what the locals do and not what you would eat in the UK.

Get and electric kettle, toaster, slow cooker, heater, Cobb which can be used when hooked up to electric to save on gas and don't buy gas from the marinas. Use supermarkets or garages which are far cheaper.

 

[chinita]

Load up with a few years worth of your favourite antifoul, oils and lubricants.

Very expensive in Portugal and the Med.

 

[westernman]

Load up with a few years worth of your favourite antifoul, oils and lubricants.

Very expensive in Portugal and the Med.

And outboard motor....

Mine was 300 pounds for a brand new one in the UK.
The cheapest one over here is over 800 euros.

 

[TQA]

Stay out of marinas at all costs.

Be prepared to fix things yourself. A cheap sewing machine and sme UV resistant thread plus a visit to a fabric offcuts shop is a good start. Good drills patching material and pop rivets. JB weld. UV resistant Duct tape, etc

A wifi booster and external aerial may get you free wifi.

Rain water collection system.

Learn to love lentils! And other cheap pulses.

Stock up [ with in reason ] whenever you see something cheap.

8 inch scraper mounted on a broomstick allows you to scrape your bottom using snorkle gear without too much effort. Haulouts and AF are expensive.

Sail rather than motor.

A good lightweight rowing dingy with a sail is cheaper and longer lasting than any rubber ducky + OB

 

[LadyInBed]

Get a Seagull water filter

Do you mean a Seagull Dockside-Prefilter for filling the boat water tank or a filter to put on one of the boat taps?

 

[GrahamM376]

Avoid buying anything in tourist areas. As an example, I pay 80 cents for beer or coffee in Faro, 2.50 & 4 euros respectively at a Vilamoura beach bar! Eat and shop where the locals go, restaurants with sea or marina view are expensive. Even everyday items such as hair shampoo, SWMBOs cosmetics, aspirin/paracetamol etc. cost many times UK prices.

As others have said, bring spares, paint, antifoul etc with you, have good tool kit and workshop manuals. Kit the boat out to keep cool. Gantry, solar panels, bimini, sun awnings, mossy nets, are easier to source at home and no language problems.

 

[Nostrodamus]

Do you mean a Seagull Dockside-Prefilter for filling the boat water tank or a filter to put on one of the boat taps?

We use the inline filter that comes with it's own tap so there is dedicated drinking water. Took one day to arrive,one hour to fit and although initially expensive it has saved us a fortune. No one can tell the difference between bottled and this water, I don't have arms like a gorilla after lugging 12 bottles around and we don't have to store them or get rid of empty bottles. Best bit of kit we bought and it works on very, very poor quality water.

http://www.purewateronline.co.uk/vmchk/Seagull-IV/View-all-products.html

 

[ccscott49]

We use the inline filter that comes with it's own tap so there is dedicated drinking water. Took one day to arrive,one hour to fit and although initially expensive it has saved us a fortune. No one can tell the difference between bottled and this water, I don't have arms like a gorilla after lugging 12 bottles around and we don't have to store them or get rid of empty bottles. Best bit of kit we bought and it works on very, very poor quality water.

http://www.purewateronline.co.uk/vmchk/Seagull-IV/View-all-products.html

+1, I have one, but not seagull, too expensive filters, mine is one I got on ebay, filters last 4000 liters! and 25 quid each. No bottled water on this boat!

 

[LadyInBed]

We use the inline filter that comes with it's own tap so there is dedicated drinking water.

I have a Jabsco Aqua Filta fitted to the galley cold tap

v

but given the difference in cost (£35 v £300+) it can't do the same job! or does it

 

[GrahamM376]

Get a Seagull water filter so you don't have to buy bottled water and lug it around.

We use one of these - http://marathonleisure.co.uk/aquasource-clear-water-fter-15mm.html - plumbed into the main feed so every tap is filtered. Inexpensive to buy, easy to install, we change it every spring and it does what the package says, no nasty tastes wherever we have filled up.

 

[Tradewinds]

It's not so much the taste but all the other nasties.

The Seagull filter (& I think CCScotts cheaper alternative) deals with them.

From Seagull's website

1. Ultrafine Microstraining
Physically removes disease bacteria, pathogenic cysts like Giardia, Cryptosporidia, and other specific parasites and debris down to 0.1 microns (0.4 absolute). Removing the pathogens also removes the disease toxins they contain and is far more superior to "poisoning" organisms with pesticides and allowing the pathogen residue, toxins and pesticides to remain in the water to be consumed.
2. Broad Spectrum Molecular Capture
Traps and captures specific organic and other chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides and solvents, as well as chlorine and other trace contaminates that can be toxic and/or carcinogenic, along with foul taste, odour and colour.

 

[Nostrodamus]

Having the dedicated tap means that the filter is usedless and lasts longer.
A filter to clean the washing up water or cleaning water is a bit excessive but then again your filters are cheaper than mine.
I can onlt comment on the system I have and I know that it works.
I believe one forumite fixed theirs in the fridge so he has chilled cold water.
There was a post on here where a forumitebought water and whenhe went round the back of the shop he saw them filling them out the tap and resealing them!
You can also fit a cheap filter to the hose when you fill up.
Anyway.. back to the original point.. it can save a lot of money and possibly a trip to the doctor or worse.

 

[ccscott49]

It's not so much the taste but all the other nasties.

The Seagull filter (& I think CCScotts cheaper alternative) deals with them.

From Seagull's website

Correct, mine uses a 3m filter and removes all those nasty thingies and bonus...................my tea tastes great!!

 

[V1701]

+1, I have one, but not seagull, too expensive filters, mine is one I got on ebay, filters last 4000 liters! and 25 quid each. No bottled water on this boat!

Could you point us to the one you have please?

 

[ccscott49]

Could you point us to the one you have please?

Finerfilters UK, on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SINK-WATE...=UK_HGKitchen_SmallApp_RL&hash=item4cf91c2e88

I hope that works! uses 3m filters, at 29.99 each, the tap and pipe and the screw on to pipe thingy 57 quid. Filters last 4000 litres. Excellent system I've had mine 4 years now.