The Real Cost of boating

[johnb]

Don't worry Iain, there's absolutely no chance. 

[MauriceMynah]

 

"Well this thread certainly never went the way I thought it may-I'm seriously thinking of taking up smoking!"

Well don't! the whole thing's such a fag.

I make it £120,000 saved. Where the hell did I put it?

[johnb]

If I lit a fag

And took a drag

I’d certainly lag

Climbing the crag

[finny]

Great thread .......but i recon it used to cost me more getting to the boat .........and thats even before i sparked up a tab 

 

Fagashfin

 

[SPEEDTRIPLE]

For me, the real cost of boating is a price i can not afford. So, i went down the syndicate route, and another 11 1/2 owners help to pay for the privilage. I certainly could`nt afford Lightning on my own, unless i remortgaged the bungalow, which is something i can 100% promise i`d NEVER do. My aim in life is to be mortgage free before i`m 60, which is a little over 2 years, so with that in mind, outright boat ownership on the Broads is a pipe dream. I nearly bought a cute little Hampton 25, but worked out "the real cost" of ownership, which worked out around £3,000 per annum, and that`s without holiday costs. I could hire a Hampton from Rickos, for an all in price of around £500 per week, so how could i, or anybody for that matter, justify £3,000 for a boat we would use for a maximum 3 weeks per year, which we could pay around £1,500 in hire fees.

I don`t think it realistic to ask how much more "the real cost" should be, but more like how much less can i make the real cost.  One thing you forget to mention in the OP is that all these services etc are ther to make a profit, and consider anybody who owns a boat to be rich. The truth of the matter is you can often buy the same gas kettle, or 12v flourescent light etc etc in a caravan shop for considerably less than half the price in a chandlers. I`ve seen it and done it, so there`s savings to be made in examples like that, and the more people do save like that, the less trade the rip off chandlers do, so will have to drop their prices to gain back the buisness. If the caravan shop can make a good profit at less than half price, so can the chandler. 

As for your comment regarding refuse collection, it`s already being payed for by local council tax and buisness tax payers, so why should it be charged for again, just greed by a council who WON`T even consider cutting beaurocracy and jollies for the civil servants.

No, the REAL COST of boat ownership for me is a lot less than it currently is, but i doubt that will ever change when most boatyards seem to work hand in hand, and keep the real cost too high.

[johnb]

Speedtriple, maybe I am swimming against the tide given the way the thread went off at such a tangent, and most people agree with you. Although not correct or justifiable, I fear that we may end up paying extra just out of sheer desperation to rid ourselves of rubbish or finding mooring places. regarding the yards, there are members here who also own businesses, maybe they will either support my feeling, or put me right. Thanks for your reply.

[Baitrunner]

Well said young Swan. 

For us it's having the boat to use as we please. If we want to go out this weekend we can. If we plan to go next weekend and the weather is rubbish we do something different and will go another weekend. 

I am sure what we spend on our boat I could hire half of Rickos fleet for a few months!!! But it's not the same. No disrespect to Rickos fleet  

She is ready to go when we are. 

We don't smoke (so guess we are tens of thousands of pounds bette r off - although some swine has stolen it). But I like nice wine,food, holidays, cars and have a nice house. All have to be tempered to fit the budget. So we do a bit of everything and don't go overboard  on anything. 

A friend has a caravan and for the money it has cost him in servicing and repairs he could have had a 25-30 footer. But he prefers his caravan. 

It's all about what you like and what you can afford. Or in some cases what you want to afford. And the last comment isn't aimed at anyone it's really about what we all choose to spend our hard and well earned cash on 

and like everyone else I wish it was cheaper and agree I don't get why chandlers have to charge a lot more for the same stuff. Boat owners aren't all millionaires. Glad there is the caravan/camping shop in Blofield. 

[SPEEDTRIPLE]

To be brutally honest,the "Real cost of boating", is the rip off prices we have to pay, as there is NO alternative. As i said above, a lot of accessories etc which you can buy away from chandleries, but are exactly the sam (yes, i know sometimes SOME boat related items have to be specialised) are vastly cheaper, and this extra cost is`nt justifiable in the moral world.  If there was a cheaper alternative, which is widely available, people will, and often do, choose that option.  The problem is, when you`re afloat, you need "that part", or "that service" straight away, with no alternative available. So the unscrupulous will prifiteer out of you, because they know you don`t have that alternative readily available. Boating need not be as overly expensive as it is, it`s just people tryin to make big bucks as quick as possible. We all know a few people, some use this forum, who give excellent service at a very competative price, but they are few and far between, and all too often, others in the boating world, may still not know of them.

[Hockham Admiral]

1 hour ago, SPEEDTRIPLE said:

 If there was a cheaper alternative, which is widely available, people will, and often do, choose that option.  The problem is, when you`re afloat, you need "that part", or "that service" straight away, with no alternative available. So the unscrupulous will prifiteer out of you, because they know you don`t have that alternative readily available.

I think that's harsh, Neil.

We keep all the spares that we might immediately need onboard; so that's our alternative.

When we've needed a battery then Brian Wards or Boulters  have come out to us at no extra charge,  depending if we were North or South. 

We needed a new heat exchanger stack last year (over £200). Andrew Peachment himself welded a high-speed drill onto a length of wire and then drilled over half of the tubes out with this. (They were blocked).

He only charged us for his engineer's time and not his.

[BroadAmbition]

What's the 'Real' cost? - hard question to answer correctly that one.  I have accounts for 'B.A' including, purchasing, the restoration, keeping her afloat and ready to go as a turnkey classic is now well and easily over the £100k mark.

Annually  she runs at £3'200. BUT that does not include diesel, pump outs and any repairs that go on the 'Must do ASAP list'
  Nor does it include engine servicing, replacement gas bottles, electric cards and goodness knows what else she needs.

Then every two years it is open wallet time as we take her out of the oggin for ten days or so and really get stuck in

However whatever the true cost maybe, it is money well spent for the pleasure of being afloat on the rivers all year round - that my friends is imho priceless.  I have an 8 x day cruise due in March - just me and Macie dog out on the rivers onboard 'B.A; - How can you put a price on that?

Something else one just cannot put a price on is all the friends we have made whilst afloat on the Broads, that is a truly staggering bonus of being out on the rivers

Griff

[ChrisB]

The "TrueCost" is never known until you stop boating. Only then can depreciation be factored in.

I know of a couple who bought a new boat, kept it in good order for twenty five years and virtually got their capital cost back. I also know of people who bought new, found the activity or boat did not fit the bill and lost tens of thousands in a short space of time.

Undina the Abbeking and Rasmussen, Rhodes design classic that Griff Rhys-Jones completely restored cost £75k, nearly £500k in restoration and yard expenses and when sold brought £75k!

I think most people over value their boats and like houses and Estate Agents Brokers overvalue to get boats on their books leading to some head shaking when it is finally time to swallow the anchor.

[MauriceMynah]

I think two things have becxome clear here, firstly that the cost of boating is very hard to estimate, and secondly the credit side. How can you put a price on the plusses. I don't know how much Broad Ambition originally cost, but if sold today, she'd probably fetch a bob or two more.

Unless you are going to spend all your leasure time sitting in a cold dark room, you are going to spend money. I spend mine sitting in a cold dark boat and love every mninute of it.

Can I have some more info about that caravan centre in Blofeld please, I feel a burning desire to spend some money and buy a heated torch.

[JanetAnne]

13 minutes ago, MauriceMynah said:

 

Can I have some more info about that caravan centre in Blofeld please, I feel a burning desire to spend some money and buy a heated torch.

'Elf and safety been at the candles again?

[ChrisB]

Blofield

 

https://www.norwichcamping.co.uk/

[JawsOrca]

We put away £2500 a year for Orca. That's just the bits for her to sit on her berth and a chunk spare for maintenance/ improvements.

I don't know how much I spend just being in norfolk on the boat.. but I think it's easy to forget that you spend money at home and certainly as I have a long commute to work (so my weekly fuel bill is eye watering) so I suspect I actually probably only spend a little bit more than if I was at home. But it's spent as it should on local shops and pubs. I honestly wouldn't mind paying for private mooring charges if it's a nice mooring and really think more land owners should do it.  I think it's cheaper to use the boat than going overseas and it's instant holiday feeling in a couple of hours from home and I don't think anything can beat the relaxation you get from being on the river in Norfolk. The boat to me is priceless and at present there's no real budget for it so it costs what it costs. 

[imtamping2]

This one?

[HakunaMatata]

Owning a Boat and its related costs is liking beeing married..

If you are married you 2 solve Problems you wouldn't have, beeing 1.

But its worth it.

As Orca mentioned " Instant Holiday"  priceless

 

[ranworthbreeze]

Our operating costs on Ranworth Breeze vary each year dependent on what work is required each year, breakdowns, or upgrades.

2014 was over £12000 and last year was under £10000. As already said syndicates spread the costs over several owners. 

The costs involved depend on where you are moored, who does the servicing, any servicing done by the owners effects the costs in boating to a high degree.

If I was to break down cost on an average boat if all work was done by a third party then the costs would be, as below highest to lowest.

Servicing, Mooring, Insurance,  River Toll.

Regards

Alan

[Mowjo]

I think the real cost of owning a boat is how much you want to spend or can afford, my son in law paid £144.for 6 fairleads from a local chandler, I bough 6 exactly the same for £51.00 from the internet, when I replaced my cooker some places were quoting £599.00 I found a place in Ely doing it for £449.00 went into Wroxham who were doing it for £499.00 and they price matched it to £449.00, so it pays to shop around and ask local company's if they will price match,  I can honestly say that over the years I've saved thousands doing this, do you want just a basic mooring or one that has it all? you get what you pay for, how much do you use your boat? if your only using it the odd weekend and your two weeks holiday, itcan work out expensive when you take into account travelling to and from fuel, as I only live 35minutes away from mine and use the boat over 150 days a year it's quite cheap for me, on servicing and stuff with boats I don't think they rip us off or pay for cheap labour, they depend on our loyalty, some jobs I now take to a little place in Ludham, I know they do a good job, won't rip me off on cost and know that if they say they have done it, it's done and done right and they also advise me if they find something else that needs doing, and they know I'll be back, so they creat a loyal customer base, like many others on the Broads I get to know the people I'm dealing with, some I would trust with my boat others I won't let near my boat, but they are all classed as friends, unlike my Car, it has to be serviced by a main dealer for the 7 year warrantee, fairly cheap on the service, but just had to have the front and rear brake disc changed when it went in for a service, they quoted me £450.00. I phoned around and found a garage using genuine parts they would do it for £250.00, phoned the dealer told them to leave it as I got a cheaper price, 5 minutes later they phoned me back and told me they would match the price, when I got my bill the actual cost of the new pads was just under £100,00, so the other £350.00 was just for labour, thats a big rip off to me, so boats are like anything else, find someone you trust, shop around for prices and haggle, it's only the last couple of years I've done this and saved a fortune, before like most I'd just pay up  and moan after, we can't do much about tolls, marina cost and insurance but when you think it can cost more than £100.00 for an average day out for four people boating is quite cheap,,,, 

[SPEEDTRIPLE]

20 hours ago, Hockham Admiral said:

I think that's harsh, Neil.

We keep all the spares that we might immediately need onboard; so that's our alternative.

When we've needed a battery then Brian Wards or Boulters  have come out to us at no extra charge,  depending if we were North or South. 

We needed a new heat exchanger stack last year (over £200). Andrew Peachment himself welded a high-speed drill onto a length of wire and then drilled over half of the tubes out with this. (They were blocked).

He only charged us for his engineer's time and not his.

Yes, that`s fantastic service from a reputable buisness John. Sadly, when you visit Chandleries, the prices are often well over the top. Ican remember back in the 80s, a friend of my dads had a Finnsailer 35 (anybody remember those?), and had an oil change in one of the Marinas on the Mudway. He was charged a massive £350.00 for an oil and filters change, and that was more than 30 years ago.  My dad told him he was being ripped off, so he went back and complained, and the marina immediately reduced the price to around £150,00. Amazing how the price can change over night?. Dads friend thought the original figure was the going rate, and just payed it, not knowing what was involved.

I will say however, that the majority of the yards on the Broads are not in this league, but when you look at some of the commercial marinas, i think they can be a bit quick to charge a premium. It would be interesting to find out what yards would charge for a "short" engine service, by that i mean oil and filters, then you can compare the cost to a deisel car engine service. I bet the cost of oil filters for a boat engine from a chandler will cost considerably more than for say, a Volvo car deisel.engine?.

[senator]

I find it better to only count the cost until you get within touching distance of what you can afford and then just assume that you have only spent the balance of your budget over the rest of the term.

We start counting in January and finish in March, fairly sure we can get through the rest of the year on £20.

Did Start keeping a spread sheet one year, stopped when I reached the national debt of a small country.

[JanetAnne]

Should I mention that I have noticed that since we got to the end of my restoration 'budget' not all the receipts are going home these days. There is a little collection tucked away along with notes that say 'cash deal' on them.

Is this common practice amongst you humans?  

In case you are wondering, and I know some of you are, our budget for materials was £15K. We reckon it will probably be £21K at finish. About half of the extra is from doing more than we originally planned (ain't that always the way though) and the other half is changes in the specification -or, to be more honest, higher specification than originally intended. 

EBay has been our best friend though, we have easily saved £5/6K along the way. Sadly we are yet to find this years toll disc on there!!

[imtamping2]

7 hours ago, JanetAnne said:

Should I mention that I have noticed that since we got to the end of my restoration 'budget' not all the receipts are going home these days. There is a little collection tucked away along with notes that say 'cash deal' on them.

Is this common practice amongst you humans?  

In case you are wondering, and I know some of you are, our budget for materials was £15K. We reckon it will probably be £21K at finish. About half of the extra is from doing more than we originally planned (ain't that always the way though) and the other half is changes in the specification -or, to be more honest, higher specification than originally intended. 

EBay has been our best friend though, we have easily saved £5/6K along the way. Sadly we are yet to find this years toll disc on there!!

Have you tried ticking the box "included in description" and type the words  " no waste collection" 

[SteveO]

I have just depressed myself by writing down all the costs I can think of for keeping our 35 footer in Horning. I have got to £3,800 p.a. so far, which includes moorings, license, insurance, tolls, fuel, gas and incidental maintenance. It does not include fuel for the car for the many 350 mile round trips we make to the boat each year, nor does it include major unexpected work, like when we lost the prop the other year or the various "presents" we buy for the boat. 

For this, we get around 50-60 days of pure pleasure per year.

I retire at the end of March, so my income will reduce and something is going to have to give. Hope it is not the boat, but I have to say that recent losses in moorings and the removal of waste disposal facilities is making me think hard about things.

Steve

[vanessan]

SteveO - maybe you will use the boat more once you retire? When we bought ours we intended to have a few days on it here and there, now retired we come up for 3/4 weeks at a time. Like you we travel a few hundred miles up from Kent to get to the boat so a longer spell makes it worthwhile. Apart from which, we love the Broads life!

Being able to cruise at any time, we can make the most of quieter times so, at the moment anyway, are not too worried about some of the mooring losses. Waste disposal, well that's a problem that will get worse. I think this season, and maybe next, it will become clear what effect the cuts will have.