Retirement Sailing

[dave6330]

Can anyone point me in the direction of a fairly concise estimate on a budget for extended coastal cruising based on up-to-date costs? I've read a number of articles that break the budget estimates down based on lifestyle expectations but they all seem a little dated. The boat would be paid for, we will have no extra-ordinary monthly bills (survivor benifits and health insurance are factored into our retirement income), the crew would consist of myself and my wife and although we don't want to live in poverty, we don't require a lot of luxuries either. Cruising grounds would initially be on the North America West Coast.

V/R

Dave

[chuck53]

How about a little more info. Such as size, age and type of boat. Are we talking about an older 30' Catalina or a newer 46' Island Packet. When you cruise, do you prefer to swing on the hook overnight and grill up a couple pieces of chicken for dinner or do you prefer to tie up to some of the nicer marinas and take advantage of their on-site restaurants?
point is, you can cruise on the cheap or you can live high on the hog.

[wingNwing]

Here's what we spent last year on the East coast of the US, on a 1980 CSY 33. Life Afloat Archives: Cost of Living ... Afloat

[chucklesR]

Your spending will expand to meet the available income, period.

You can take Jaye's (wingnwing) round figure of 2500 as a pretty decent baseline; however keep in mind that 1k of that is gooey (marina's, fuel, entertainment).

If you don't have the 1k, you anchor, sail, and play cards with others.

[deniseO30]

There's a "cruising on $500 a month" discussion on one of the other internet forums. I never could I like dining out too much LOL

[OffWeGo]

Great post, thanks wingNwing, your breakdown of expenses looked reasonable.

[Captainmeme]

And if you read the blog here,
Cost of cruising the ICW and Bahamas

you will find people spend anywhere from $4K to $160k to travel the ICW over a period of nine months. As chuckles said spending expands to consume the available income.

[dave6330]

Thanks for the responses. I found the "Life Afloat Archives: Cost of Living ... Afloat" both encouraging and enlightening.

...and yes, I knew when I asked the question I was prepared for the "it all depends" kind of replies.

[deltaten]

Costs will be whatever you decide....
Spending usually expands to income limits; but if one is frugal and been a "saver" all one's life??
I plant to retire to the boat. While S.S. isn't the 'be all-end all', it will be enuff to support me in a lifestyle I choose and am accustomed to. Living on the hook, cruising instead of dock-ing and living day-to-day as cheaply as possible leaves more disposable income to blow on fuel and maintenance! LOL

Best of luck!

[wind_magic]

Originally Posted by chucklesR

Your spending will expand to meet the available income, period.

Unless the sailor protests to the contrary.

To the OP's question, it all depends, there are so many variables.

Some questions that might help you figure it out ...

• Do you cook, or eat at restaurants ?
• Do you anchor out, or tie to the dock ?
• Do you sail, or run the diesel ?
• Do you entertain yourself, or go ashore for your entertainment ?
• Do you get along without air conditioning, or require it ?
• Do you get along with refrigeration, or require it ?
• Do you get your fresh water from shore, or make it on the boat ?
• Do you cook with free fuel such as wood, or purchase cooking fuel ?
• Do you catch fish and other seafood, or buy all of your food ?
• Do you get along without high speed Internet, or can't live without it ?
• Do you have a small boat, or a big one ?
• Do you live on a boat that requires little maintenance, or a lot ?
• Do you maintain your own boat, or pay someone to do it for you ?
• Do you sail in inexpensive areas, or pricey areas ?
• Do you store supplies, or buy what is convenient ?
• Do you use blankets as it starts to get cold, or require heating fuel ?
• Do you live with limited solar power, or often run a generator ?
• Etc ...

You said you don't want to live in poverty, what does that mean to you ?