Monthly funds

[jimbaerselman]

Food, water and booze, Greece, catering for two aboard, eating ashore 6 evenings a week, all the rest aboard, €1,500 a month (€50 a day)

Add fuel and annual maintenance - depends whether you're sail or motor

Add berthing and local harbour charges, depends how/if you winter

Add depreciation and opportunity costs for the cash invested in the boat

That's a total cost list.

Those who believe the last element is a rather sad approach have usually already decided to pay for/invest in the dream. They've committed the down payment, so it's no longer part of their cost calculation. Fair enough.

No cause to label those who work out total costs with words like "unhealthy", "sad" etc. Perhaps they were considering buying the boat with a loan - much as many buy houses with mortgages. Then opportunity costs really do raise their ugly percentages . . .