maintenance costs
Hello,
As others have posted, if you are going to pay a yard to perform all the work required to maintain a boat, you will pay more than $3K a year (on average).
On the other hand, if you do most of the work yourself, you can cut that down significantly.
I was worried about maintenance costs when, in 2004, I bought a 1986 Newport 28. To my relief, maintenance costs have been very low. I live on Long Island, NY, and my boat gets hauled in the fall and launched in the spring. I am fortunately in that the yard I use allows me to work on the boat and they provide power and water. Anyway, I winterize the boat myself (costs less than $50 for antifreeze, oil, filters, etc.) In the spring I sand and paint the bottom (about $200 for paint, sandpaper, etc.). Add some extra money for bedding compound, etc,. and you get the idea.
I bought and installed a GPS / Sounder myself, very easy to do and pretty cheap too.
I did pay a guy to remove an old thru hull speed sensor, I was afraid that if I did something wrong the boat would sink.
Some other things I have done include: install new head ($200 for head and assorted stuff), install solor powered vent ($150), remove alternator , get new voltage regulator installed, re-install alternator, install 2 new batteries, change engine oil, trans fluid, coolant, zincs, etc.
The thing is that if you have some time and are willing to learn, you can do most of the maintenance yourself. If you have a lot of money, you can pay people to do it (which is certainly easier).
I like to save money on the standard things so that when it's time to buy a new set of sails it doesn't hurt so much.
Barry
Barry Lenoble
Noble Prize
1986 Newport 28
Mt. Sinai, NY