Cost To Operate

[Just For Fun]

I'm curious what y'll are finding over the years is the cost to operate your beautiful toys.

Excluding your slip fees - or storage if you trailer your boat and storage cost - what are your yearly cost for everything? "Everything" such as oil changes, routine/typical engine repairs, A/C service, generator service, bottom painting, etc., etc., etc. Everything!!

Just thought it might be an interesting exercise most of us really don't want to review.

 

[Nick 55]

I’ll go first only because I am married to an auditor and therefore she’s got a darn good idea of what we spend.

Third summer of ownership on this boat, a Supra Santera (I know, not a Sea Ray). $350 including $50 for trailer registration, one small block Chevy oil change, 2 fuel filters, polish, Star-brite, and fuel so far. I guess I also replaced all the cup holders for $35 and new transom straps for $65, so $450ish.

2022 was more expensive, rebuilt the trailer brakes, hubs, tires, and wiring. Also a lot more time out on the water too so 250 gallons of fuel too. That was a few grand last year.

 

[Pirate Lady]

No clue. Don't want to know. I can afford it, that's good enough for me.

 

[copb8tx]

Finding out the cost per hour would be as detrimental to boating as knowing the cost per pound would be to fishing.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

A lot...... No extended trips and I'll still dump between $3,000 and $4,000 of gas in it this year. Maintenance and repairs? Whatever it is. Can't predict what's going to break next. Replaced a thruster last winter. Who knows when a fridge, freezer, a/c, microwave, pumps are going to crap out....I figure if you can't write a check for $5,000 without notice, you shouldn't own a boat.

 

[b_arrington]

That’s not something I care to tally up.

This year is more. I had to replace some parts. My water heater failed (warrantied, but had to ship it), battery charger failed, freezer needed a recharge. Also had I replace some wood panels over the winter damaged from a leak plus installed an additional GPS. My slip costs also increased with a new owner.

On the plus side, I do all of the routine maintenance so I’m just in for the parts.

 

[Nick 55]

I figure if you can't write a check for $5,000 without notice, you shouldn't own a boat.

This right here….. nothing mechanical lasts forever and often there is little to no warning of when something may stop working. It doesn’t matter what you own, a boat, a sports car, gaming PC, whatever. If you own it and don’t want to be stressed about it, then you have to be ready to break out the wallet or checkbook and cover a large repair. You may be the most mechanically savvy person around but if you’re on a trip and something fails/breaks, you may have to pay for repairs to keep going. My figures are stupidly low for many on here, but my boat is also like a dingy for many larger boats. But I’m not worried about if something breaks because this boat is well within my means to own. I could go bigger if I wanted but this one suits our present needs for a nominal expense. If you have to stress wondering how much it will cost if something breaks, whatever hobby item that is you have, it’s likely the wrong one.

 

[play dough]

Over the years, $10K/year has been the cost which included slip and storage. Some years a little more if there was some kind of maintenance/upgrade performed outside of the routine stuff. Now, I'm sure it's likely half again as much with the cost of everything inflated but I don't track the costs as closely as I once did nor have I traveled as much. I'm eyeing an 1800 mile cruise next year but keep waffling on whether I want to invest in that effort.

 

[Just For Fun]

All of the replies so far have echoed the sane thyme "It's not the cost. It's the value received for the investment made." And, at least by us noted by waiting lists at all of our marinas in southern CA, that's what I'd expected to hear.

But... It is still part of the evaluation when deciding whether or not to make the venture into boating, or upgrade our "whole-in-the-water!!!"

 

[b_arrington]

All of the replies so far have echoed the sane thyme "It's not the cost. It's the value received for the investment made." And, at least by us noted by waiting lists at all of our marinas in southern CA, that's what I'd expected to hear.

But... It is still part of the evaluation when deciding whether or not to make the venture into boating, or upgrade our "whole-in-the-water!!!"

I knew enough about the cost to maintain my Amberjack with a single that is didn’t want twins. If a part fails on one, likely need to do the other side. The guy that owns my marina has his 37’ Meridian across from me. He strongly advised to find a single engine boat if at all possible in part because of the costs.

 

[Jaybeaux]

Man, I know a bunch of fishermen and duck hunters that don't bend the truth as much as this crowd!

Data for ALL IN excluding slip fees (which also includes transient slip fees) per year:

Average: $17,762*
Low: $10,454
High: $29,679**

*Includes $15,000 in upgrades over the years*
**Includes $11,000 for top end rebuild due to dropped valve seat.**

Jaybeaux

 

[boatrboy]

Man, I know a bunch of fishermen and duck hunters that don't bend the truth as much as this crowd!

Data for ALL IN excluding slip fees (which also includes transient slip fees) per year:

Average: $17,762*
Low: $10,454
High: $29,679**

*Includes $15,000 in upgrades over the years*
**Includes $11,000 for top end rebuild due to dropped valve seat.**

Jaybeaux

Unfortunately I have a detailed excel spreadsheet but it doesn’t matter what I spent last year.
My knee-jerk reaction is Jay is realistic.

Why is this so tough to answer?
Some examples
-If you boat needs manifolds it’s several thousands - but more if you pay someone. This is considered maintenance but not every year - usually 5, but longer in fresh water
- water pumps every two years or so - but if the housing is worn a marina will change you for a new pump ~ 1k each plus labor.
-while changing pumps, the belts are worn, etc, etc. $$$
-generator service varies on how it’s running and how often.

I could go on for pages but it’s hard to tell exactly your costs because that age of boat, some things will be work but you don’t know it yet.

You can figure on around cruising at 33 gallons per hour so do the math for your expected time on the water and fuel prices.

You can probably look at your local marina’s website and see what they charge for winterizing, oil changes etc, these are every year items.
To me, I do almost all my work but know I will need to start paying for some items I just can’t do.

I absolutely love this boat - hope you find a gem.

 

[Skybolt]

No doubt 20-30K a year. Thats trips, fuel and parts for normal maintenance. All normal 1-2 hour to get there trips. Longer week plus long trips are separate and can cost 5-10K each. Fuel is a big deal at times as is transient slip cost's which varies.

Here on the Chesapeake the rates vary between $2-4/foot. Else where you can pay upwards of 7-9/ft. in the north east and south east.

Normal maintenance like oil changes and filters etc doesn't really register for me. I do all of my own maintenance. Of course the size of your boat matters with maintenance as well, gas or diesel big differences.

One thing I will say, Safe Harbor has really come through with giving fuel at or close to cost and unlimited free nights at other SH marina's. I haven't paid more then $3/gal yet this year and have had 7-8 nights free stay as well.

 

[doozie]

I have told anybody thinking about buying a boat, that’s the easy part. It’s all the other things that cost you money

 

[Flyer5]

 

[330DA]

I average about $2,500/yr for routine maintenance and repairs, if they come up.
This year was more due to a new camper canvas. That was $4,500.

 

[Creekwood]

I have not run this in a while, but this is my total boating spending since I bought the boat in 2009, excluding 2009 which included cost of carrying two boats for most of the year. Repairs and Main category includes the cost of any 'upgrades' I have done since I don't consider they add to value much if any. The biggest annual cost in the repairs and maintenance section is engine winterization/shrinkwrap every fall. Its about $3,000 total when all is said and done with oil changes and other fall winterization costs. This is hard to read but if you open it you should be able to see the costs. All of these are in Canadian dollars (it has varied but use x US$0.75 to CAD$1.00 as the conversion)

 

[OllieC]

For my, “smaller than most of yours”, Sea Ray, I probably spend about $2000, which includes fuel, and small maintenance items including the trailer. In 2021 I spent roughly $8k in parts for major upgrades. As most on here, I try to stay up on the maintenance so I’m not floating around on Lake Superior without power. Sometimes it’s unavoidable, but I’d rather it not be from neglect.

 

[Timeflys]

The phrase with boat ownership is you can buy it, sure, but can you afford it.
I estimate my annual cost…dockage, storage, winterization….maintenance (scheduled and unscheduled) general upkeep.. to be about $11-12k.

 

[my3sons]

We’re in an off year. We didn’t plan any trips this year so costs are minimal. I paid for the slip in March, $2800. Bought wax and compound in May, $250. My insurance premium was paid last week, $1180. I put the boat away full of fuel last fall and the gauges just came off full last weekend so I’ll probably put fuel in sometime in August and then top off before storage. So far I’ve only put on about 20 hours puttering around the Buffalo waterfront, windy all the time. I’ll pay winter storage in September, $2200.
End of September I’ll change the oils and filters, I already have everything but it’s probably worth $500. I’m trying to get a new 90% shade made for the windshield but can’t get the canvas guy to commit. Mine’s getting ratty. Getting canvas work done around here has become a real issue. Not enough guys doing it. Hopefully I can get that done this year. That’ll add a few bucks. I haven’t even bought incidentals like boat soap or glass polish this year, running on leftovers.
So a little over $4k so far, probably will be under 8 this year, but we’ve had our share of high dollar years when we were cruising a lot and buying fuel and transient dockage.