What's your annual maintenance budget?

[smackdaddy]

I own a C27. And it always needs work. Now there's the "don't-have-to-do"s and the "have-to-do"s - so it's hard to nail down a real figure on what it takes to "maintain" my boat.

Then there's the "threshold" of what one considers "seaworthy". I typically day and weekend sail in this boat...on a lake...so that bar is pretty low for me. Were I taking her off-shore, I'd dump a lot more money into her.

As it is, I'd say I spend around $800/year on simply maintaining her.

But here's the deal... I'm planning on buying a larger boat in the next year or two (as I've been saying for the last year or so). And I'm trying to look at the various cost factors.

So, those of you who own a 37'-40' pimp-mobile...how much do you throw down annually in mtx costs?

I'm sure it will differ from cold to warm climates...salt to fresh...but this just might be an interesting thread.

Come on...get 'em out.

[rikhall]

1980, 34 Irwin Citation - if I don't put a grand in her a year, I get off really lucky. Two batteries today were $300.00

A few electronics were $350

Two little SS thingys today were $60 (If that's too technical a term for you Smack - just say so)

Like I said, about a grand a year. (plus storage, plus launch and un-launch, plus club dues . . .)

Rik (broke and loving it )

[Sabreman]

We've tracked every penny that we've spent on our boats starting in 1987. We used Quicken and have migrated to Moneydance.

When you talk maintenance, I assume that you are not including slip fees ($1800/yr), winter storage ($957), and insurance ($632). To that end, this year we've spent $2300 (including 50% deposit on a new mainsail - $1300). Last year we spent $5030 including a new genoa ($1400 - 50% paid in 2010) and lifelines ($778). Since the sails & lifelines are capital expenditures and not recurring, you may wish to deduct the cost as a spike.

My maintenance costs may or may not be higher than others, I have high standards. It will be interesting to see what others report (if they're honest).

[sailak]

This is our third year with our Omega 36 sloop.

The first year was pretty cheap. (Maybe because I didn't know)

Last year was all new running rigging, bottom paint and a cylinder head. ($5K ish)

This year new radio and GPS (not a have to have thing but the old GPS quit working and I wanted a DSC radio with remote mic option)

It's looking like I need batteries now as well.


I used to own an airplane. It took 3-4 years to get it where I was happy with it so it was many thousand a year for a few years.

I was bragging on the boat last year about how it had been pretty cheap to maintain --- right after that I had to do the cylinder head.

If nothing breaks this year shouldn't be so bad....have a few upgrades I want to do if things work out.

[brak]

many many thousands. Defender alone should be sending me free first class tickets somewhere nice. But instead they are being mean to me on the phone - which likely means other customers must spend even more, right?

[Sabreman]

I used to own an airplane. It took 3-4 years to get it where I was happy with it so it was many thousand a year for a few years.

Man, I hope that's our story. I keep telling myself that we're at the end of the list and then something pops up (standing rigging is 27 yrs old....). But the good news is that we're behind the spend curve so far this year.

BTW - These numbers are for maintenance that I perform. I do all my own work, so the cost would be much higher if I had someone

1. sand & paint the bottom
2. varnish the interior
3. perform routine engine maintenance
4. splice lines
5. wax the hull
6. replace the centerboard pendant & fix the cable housing
7. make cushions, sailcovers, etc
8. zero the compass

etc etc etc ... the list is endless

[chef2sail]

Sabre...who did you wind up getting your sail from. I just got our first sail in with our new Quantum full batten main. They did a great job on it.

Dave

[Waltthesalt]

cost is proportional to length squared. Use is inversly proportional to length.

[RainDog]

Originally Posted by smackdaddy

I'm planning on buying a larger boat in the next year or two (as I've been saying for the last year or so). And I'm trying to look at the various cost factors.

Larger boat on Lake Travis or on the coast?

For my Catalina 27 on Travis I spent about $700 a year plus a few hundred for insurance. Pacific Seacraft 34 on the coast I am spending about $5000 a year plus $2000 for insurance.

Then again I am upgrading this for cruising, so it is not a fair comparison. Most of what I have spent money on is really more upgrades than maintenance.

[JiffyLube]

For our Islander Freeport 36 we've spent about $3,200.00 so far this year, but this includes a new bottom paint job and PSS. I'm guessing our end of year basic maintenance will be under $1,000.00 (including bottom cleaning), not including slip fees, insurance, and property taxes.