how to cut costs

paintpollz · #1 12-02-2011

In my first month of learning about sailing...

I've been emailing/calling boatyards in CT and RI for seasonal mooring pricing/storage. average is about $3200 per season for a mooring and about $1800 for hauling, bottom wash, unstepping, and spring launch. If you tac on insurance, 1700, and another 2000 for maintenance, we're looking at expenses totaling around $8,700 per year.

I've pretty much got my heart set on a Catalina 30. I feel as though that's a great weekender boat for my needs. I compare the kind of money spent on the boat to the money you spend on a cell phone. Its not the item your really buy, its the service every year that you pay that big bux for, and that's fine with me.

I'd like to cut that yearly service cost down a little. It would be nice to be by the beaches, but it just may be out of my price range. I could afford 8700 a year, but I dont want to live off ramen noodles until my next pay raise.

I know that I can contact coastal towns and inquire about mooring permits, which I have not done yet (besides stonington, ct.) Maybe some of you can recommend muncipalities that I could reach out to. Another concern is where do I park the dinghy within reasonable distance?

I invision sunrise sailing, and beach in the afternoon. And having a place to rest my head in between. Also a nice place to take off from for a few 3-4 day cruises when I can get the time off. Is this realistic?

Thanks for all your help and support in advance.

DRFerron · #2 12-02-2011

You can cut some of the maintenance and winterizing expenses by learning how to do as much as possible yourself.

Why are you factoring in unstepping the mast each year?

paintpollz · #3 12-02-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRFerron

Why are you factoring in unstepping the mast each year?

Just for that particular boat yard because they were using a crane and needed to have it that way.

DRFerron · #4 12-02-2011

So that boatyard forces you to take the mast down in the winter? I think I did hear about that from another forum member. I guess it's a Northern or New England thing.

paintpollz · #5 12-02-2011

I think its because most yards have an open ended travel lift and this particular used a framed crane and cant get around it.

Rozz · #6 12-02-2011

wow... another reason i wont live east coast. i dont even pay half that for mine and my insurance in only just over $100 a year lol (granted i am insured at boat worth of 25k haha suckers lol)

DRFerron · #7 12-02-2011

If limited to the US in choices of places to live, I wouldn't leave the east coast despite the cost. The many sailing opportunities (Bays, rivers, lakes, offshore) and the amount of non-sailing activities are well worth it.

I'd like it to be a bit warmer, but climate change will take care of that soon enough.

Minnewaska · #8 12-02-2011

I would think you could do better for a seasonal mooring. Winter storage seems reasonable, but there are plenty of places that don't require you to unstep the mast and would be cheaper. You can summer and winter in different places. Most marinas give a small discount to year round tenants and first preference to winter tenants on summer spots, but you can often find it pays to split up anyway.

On the other hand, that total sounds like a good budget for a 30 footer as is.

paintpollz · #9 12-02-2011

ya I think its a good budget too. I'll stick with it.

MikeOReilly · #10 12-02-2011

Best way to cut costs is to Do It Yourself.

We belong to a DIY yacht club up here on Lake Superior. Members do it all. This includes mast removal and stepping, winterizing, boat cover (we get real winter up here), etc. Our club owns a big travel lift, but even that is operated by volunteers. All in (including our storage costs, annual dues, and seasonal dockage), we pay about $1,150.00 per year.

I know it's hard to find DIY yards, but if you can, the costs become very reasonable.