Not too long ago a friend mentioned that they could do a $500-a-month budget but chose not to because they can afford to spend more and they desire a certain level of comfort...
Different courses for horses and all that but I'll quibble with a portion of that statement because, no matter how creatively I crunch the numbers, I can't really see how they could live on a $500-a-month budget simply because they have the wrong boat at 42-feet. The size of the boat is a huge factor in being able to sustain a frugal budget.
In my experience, most people have to haul out every two or three years and it's a good example to compare costs...
Last time I looked, Independent Boat Yard in St Thomas charges $14.25 per foot to haul/launch and $1.85 a foot for lay days.
So, with a 42-foot boat that works out to $598.50 H/L and $77.70 per lay day and, for sake of argument let's say you'll be on the hard for two weeks. That comes to a minimum of $1686.30 ($1087.80 + $598.50) plus all the hidden costs (like chocking/electricity/water/showers) they never quite tell you about till it's time to splash.
How about a 34-foot boat? That's $484.50 for haul/launch and $62.90 per lay day so a two-week haul would be around $1365.10 ($484.50 + $880.60).
A 30-foot boat? With haul/launch at $427.50 and $55.50 per lay day that comes to $1204.50 ($427.50 + $777).
At this point I don't think I have to point out that hauling your boat is an expensive affair no matter what size boat you have...
But, the reason you're hauling out is to put paint on your bottom and good antifouling paint is not cheap. Depending on how lavish you are with the paint you're more than likely spending at least $175 a gallon. My 34-foot boat uses 2 gallons of paint for three good coats. Which adds another $350 to my bill plus expendables (rollers/sandpaper/etc). I'd expect a 42-foot boat would be at least four or more gallons while the 30-footer might be able to get by with just one gallon.
It all adds up...
So, what does that do to the budget? Based on a three year interval between haulouts let's just say the 42-foot boat spends $2500 on their haul out and paint so that works out to about $69.45 a month in their budget just for the antifouling portion of their haulout and we haven't even begun to factor in engine work, rigging jobs, topsides paint touch ups and all of the other things we tend to do in the mayhem that coincides with hauling the boat out of the water and "doing some work"...
Sadly, it's not much better for a 34-foot boat either as that works out to $47.65 a month in bottom paint related maintenance costs which is why I can't survive on the $500-a-month budget either without jumping through some serious hoopage and resorting to some very (dare I say it) cunning plans.
Meanwhile the guy on the 30-foot (or smaller) boat is pretty much in the $500-a-month comfort zone but more about that soonish...
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Monday, November 23, 2015
An interesting boat...
Offhand I'm not really a fan of Catalinas...
That said, there's a Catalina 30 for sale here for not very much so I took a look at the sail plan and accommodation layout and it's really not a bad boat.
A rather nice boat actually...
Being somewhat beamy (just a kiss under 11-foot) it has much better accommodation than you'd expect from a 30-footer and a very livable interior. This is a good example of a very big little boat if you know what I mean.
From what I gather the boat sails well and it's an active class so you'd hear any issues in terms of performance or construction and no one seem to find fault... A good sign.
As far as construction goes there are some built in issues but no biggie and it's important to keep in mind that ALL BOATS HAVE ISSUES and it is fairly simple these days to find out what they are by checking out the boat's user group. In the case of the C30 the only things that jumps out is thru-hulls.
Doing a quick price check in the usual places the going asking price for an older C30 in good shape is around $10K (+/- 20%). Definitely VolkCruiser material.
It would be to your benefit to keep in mind that with good examples of the C30 being not very expensive that means fixer-uppers should only be considered if they are seriously rock bottom cheap.
You can find a lot more info on the design at the Catalina 30 page which you might want to check out..
That said, there's a Catalina 30 for sale here for not very much so I took a look at the sail plan and accommodation layout and it's really not a bad boat.
A rather nice boat actually...
From what I gather the boat sails well and it's an active class so you'd hear any issues in terms of performance or construction and no one seem to find fault... A good sign.
As far as construction goes there are some built in issues but no biggie and it's important to keep in mind that ALL BOATS HAVE ISSUES and it is fairly simple these days to find out what they are by checking out the boat's user group. In the case of the C30 the only things that jumps out is thru-hulls.
Doing a quick price check in the usual places the going asking price for an older C30 in good shape is around $10K (+/- 20%). Definitely VolkCruiser material.
It would be to your benefit to keep in mind that with good examples of the C30 being not very expensive that means fixer-uppers should only be considered if they are seriously rock bottom cheap.
You can find a lot more info on the design at the Catalina 30 page which you might want to check out..
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Boatfolk of modest means...
Since we're ramping up to T-Day and the world continues to continue to do a very good imitation of a rocket propelled turbo-charged wicker basket hurtling towards hell I'd just like to say this...
Sure, things tend to be expensive if you, excuse the pun, buy in to the current consumerist kool-aid on offer but, if step back apace and look at the bigger picture, it's way better than most folks can imagine...
A few weeks back I picked up and dusted off Lin and Larry's "Cruising in Seraffyn" (you can get a used copy on Amazon for a penny) and re-reading was both enjoyable and eye-opening. So much so I immediately dived into "Seraffyn's European Adventure" (a used copy will set you back less than a dollar), and, I expect, I'll be re-reading "Seraffyn's Mediterranean Adventure" later this week as well and will, more than likely, have rolled through the entire series by New Years... What can I say they're enjoyable and still have a lot to teach me.
You'd pretty much have to live under a rock not to realize that while L&L have a lot of fans they also have a lot of quite vocal detractors (most of which I doubt have actually read their books) who seem to be quite threatened by their blasphemous ideas and, even worse, their impressive level of seamanship.
But, I sorta/kinda digress...
The thing is, small (under 38-feet) seaworthy boats have never been more affordable to folks of modest means, the tools/skills are easily accessible, and the needful things to outfit are currently selling for pennies on the dollar. Even better is that the condions will continue because the marine industry, while greedy and tunnel-visioned, can't really see us and as a result we're not even on their radar and that alone is a lot to be thankful for...
So, 2016 sure looks like a good year to just go off and sail away.
Just saying.
It's a great time to be a a member of the boatfolk tribe of modest means!
Sure, things tend to be expensive if you, excuse the pun, buy in to the current consumerist kool-aid on offer but, if step back apace and look at the bigger picture, it's way better than most folks can imagine...
A few weeks back I picked up and dusted off Lin and Larry's "Cruising in Seraffyn" (you can get a used copy on Amazon for a penny) and re-reading was both enjoyable and eye-opening. So much so I immediately dived into "Seraffyn's European Adventure" (a used copy will set you back less than a dollar), and, I expect, I'll be re-reading "Seraffyn's Mediterranean Adventure" later this week as well and will, more than likely, have rolled through the entire series by New Years... What can I say they're enjoyable and still have a lot to teach me.
You'd pretty much have to live under a rock not to realize that while L&L have a lot of fans they also have a lot of quite vocal detractors (most of which I doubt have actually read their books) who seem to be quite threatened by their blasphemous ideas and, even worse, their impressive level of seamanship.
But, I sorta/kinda digress...
The thing is, small (under 38-feet) seaworthy boats have never been more affordable to folks of modest means, the tools/skills are easily accessible, and the needful things to outfit are currently selling for pennies on the dollar. Even better is that the condions will continue because the marine industry, while greedy and tunnel-visioned, can't really see us and as a result we're not even on their radar and that alone is a lot to be thankful for...
So, 2016 sure looks like a good year to just go off and sail away.
Just saying.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Simple...
Not too very long ago, someone wrote in to tell me that my thoughts on boats concerning the whole idea of a VolkCruiser mindset were simple and I'm pretty sure he did not mean it in a positive sense.
It got me thinking...
... About how when I was in school taking design classes that the highest praise one teacher could bestow to a design idea was that it was simple. On the other hand, the word you never wanted to hear from him in describing your project was that it was complicated.
Where boats are concerned simple makes all kinds of sense...
Simple almost always works, it does not take a rocket scientist to fix it if something goes wrong, and since it's s-i-m-p-l-e it does not cost silly expensive money.
Now take the word complicated and try and find a positive outcome when you throw it into a nautical situation of any sort... I mean do you really want to hear the word "complicated" used in a sentence from the rigger or mechanic you just hired to look at your rigging or engine?
That said, with simple systems you don't have to hire riggers or mechanics because you can fix them yourselves!
Simple is a good word and simple boats with simple systems make sense.
So yeah, a lot of my thoughts are simple and my current goal is to simplify them even more while dispensing with as much complication as possible. Or to put it in simple nautical terms everyone should understand...
It got me thinking...
... About how when I was in school taking design classes that the highest praise one teacher could bestow to a design idea was that it was simple. On the other hand, the word you never wanted to hear from him in describing your project was that it was complicated.
Where boats are concerned simple makes all kinds of sense...
Simple almost always works, it does not take a rocket scientist to fix it if something goes wrong, and since it's s-i-m-p-l-e it does not cost silly expensive money.
Now take the word complicated and try and find a positive outcome when you throw it into a nautical situation of any sort... I mean do you really want to hear the word "complicated" used in a sentence from the rigger or mechanic you just hired to look at your rigging or engine?
That said, with simple systems you don't have to hire riggers or mechanics because you can fix them yourselves!
Simple is a good word and simple boats with simple systems make sense.
So yeah, a lot of my thoughts are simple and my current goal is to simplify them even more while dispensing with as much complication as possible. Or to put it in simple nautical terms everyone should understand...
Get into serious cruising mode.
Thursday, November 12, 2015
a possible project...
Way back when I first started talking to Phil Bolger about possibly building a Loose Moose 2 he sent me a couple of cartoons (his description of a quick sketch to illustrate a point)...
One was his breakdown schooner...
The other was a design he was playing with for the guy who'd built the first Bolger Micro...
At the time I was somewhat attracted to the Breakdown schooner but not-so-much enthralled with Phil's balance lug/leg-of-mutton ketch but I do remember clearly thinking that I quite liked the deck area and would have plenty of room to build the odd dinghy or surfboard if I felt the need. Of course, the lack of headroom was an issue but I've since learned that headroom is seldom a real positive factor in its own right and that a well designed interior with headroom only where needed makes a lot of sense.
Both designs featured water ballast and a beam of eight-feet as they were intended as maximum trailer sailers which makes all kinds of sense if you wanted a boat to pull behind a car or truck. That said, a beam of eight feet in a sharpie makes a lot of sense and since standard plywood is 4' X 8' it tends to make some sense as well where construction costs are concerned minimizing waste.
Hindsight being, as they say, 20/20, I'm pretty sure I missed just how much potential the ketch had and the last couple of weeks I seem to keep coming back to this cartoon and asking myself just what I'd change to make it a workable cruising boat.
More about that soonish...
One was his breakdown schooner...
The other was a design he was playing with for the guy who'd built the first Bolger Micro...
At the time I was somewhat attracted to the Breakdown schooner but not-so-much enthralled with Phil's balance lug/leg-of-mutton ketch but I do remember clearly thinking that I quite liked the deck area and would have plenty of room to build the odd dinghy or surfboard if I felt the need. Of course, the lack of headroom was an issue but I've since learned that headroom is seldom a real positive factor in its own right and that a well designed interior with headroom only where needed makes a lot of sense.
Both designs featured water ballast and a beam of eight-feet as they were intended as maximum trailer sailers which makes all kinds of sense if you wanted a boat to pull behind a car or truck. That said, a beam of eight feet in a sharpie makes a lot of sense and since standard plywood is 4' X 8' it tends to make some sense as well where construction costs are concerned minimizing waste.
Hindsight being, as they say, 20/20, I'm pretty sure I missed just how much potential the ketch had and the last couple of weeks I seem to keep coming back to this cartoon and asking myself just what I'd change to make it a workable cruising boat.
More about that soonish...
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
A boat project you may want to follow...
Annie Hill (yes that Annie Hill) is currently building a junk rig boat and documenting it, more or less, over on the Junk Rig Association forum.The most recent Junk Rig Association magazine also has a good article on the subject.
Interesting stuff...
Offhand, seems like a good time to join the Junk Rig Association.
Interesting stuff...
Offhand, seems like a good time to join the Junk Rig Association.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
For those readers who complain about the cost of boats...
Here's a 1969 Columbia 28...
As it happens it's for sale over on Sailboat Listings and the asking price is all of $800 that's EIGHT-HUNDRED-DOLLARS.
Really.
Looking at the ad it would seem it needs an outboard and maybe some sails. While it appears to be clean and in good shape one expects some sweat equity as well as some money will be needed to put it into cruising trim. That said more than likely a lot less than you'd expect providing you keep the need/want mantra in play...
Eight hundred dollars and lets say another thousand or two and you have a cruising boat/home...
Need I say more except that good deals go fast?
As it happens it's for sale over on Sailboat Listings and the asking price is all of $800 that's EIGHT-HUNDRED-DOLLARS.
Really.
Looking at the ad it would seem it needs an outboard and maybe some sails. While it appears to be clean and in good shape one expects some sweat equity as well as some money will be needed to put it into cruising trim. That said more than likely a lot less than you'd expect providing you keep the need/want mantra in play...
Eight hundred dollars and lets say another thousand or two and you have a cruising boat/home...
Need I say more except that good deals go fast?
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