how come more people dont live on sailboats?

[OBLAMA2009]

look at something like this:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/boa/4462076344.html

thats a couple months rent for more people here in sf. once you buy the boat is it nearly costless living? what other expenses are there? ive heard people say before to NEVER buy a boat

 

[JEDIYoda]

look at something like this:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/boa/4462076344.html

thats a couple months rent for more people here in sf. once you buy the boat is it nearly costless living? what other expenses are there? ive heard people say before to NEVER buy a boat

The question should be -- Does anybody care??

 

[Dice144]

That sounds like a nice frugal living plan.

 

[iGas]

1. Boat are very damp, cold, and uncomfortable.
2. Sails boat are space limited.
3. Moorings aren't free.
4. High maintenance.
5. Boat = Break Out Another Thousand.

 

[Meghan54]

look at something like this:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/boa/4462076344.html

thats a couple months rent for more people here in sf. once you buy the boat is it nearly costless living? what other expenses are there? ive heard people say before to NEVER buy a boat

Costless living on a boat? HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!

Now. let me preface this by saying I'd really consider living on a boat, even married with 3 dogs and 2 cats. But it'd have to be the right boat, which this isn't.

First, while the slip for the boat is "included", all that means is the new owner can continue the rental of the slip the vessel currently inhabits, not that the slip is included in the price. Treasure Island Marina has a waiting list for slips, esp. liveaboard situations.

The BASIC cost of the slip for a 35' vessel is currently $357/mo. This does not include shore power (you're going to need elec. power and relying on your own generator is incredibly expensive). The current charge per their website is $3.50/mo connection and 14.2 cents/kwh. Not too bad, I guess.

But that's only the start.

You're going to have to have the vessel pulled from the water at least every other year for bottom cleaning/scraping and anti-foul painting. Not cheap. And given you're in salt water, probably a yearly expense.

Then you have to pay critical attention to the very real probability of galvanic corrosion on any exposed metals in the water, like the outdrive of the diesel engine. Again, not horribly expensive unless you don't keep up with it.

And then you're going to be spending a LOT of time cleaning, and cleaning, and cleaning everything on that boat. Sitting in salt water, surrounded by salt laden air, tends to corrode anything and everything. Remember, this isn't a well sealed house but a drafty, poorly sealed boat. Every inch of that boat, both interior and exterior, will be subjected to salt air and that will attack every inch of the boat. Priced a new main sail lately?

You can keep up with it, but it's a lot of work.

And also remember, you'll be living like a hamster. You'll have a fridge that'll hold 2 days of fresh food. You'll have a head (bathroom) that will have to be pumped out every few days. Your shower.....while it'll have one as a matter of fact, it'll be more of a suggestion of a shower in use---very small at best.


And those are the highlights. Remember, there's going to be insurance costs and they're going to be much higher than a "regular" house's insurance costs. And maintenance on the engine and generator. And on and on and on..........


You can do it, but cost free? Not a chance in hell.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

wow you make it sound miserable. sailing on the bay looks fun though

 

[Meghan54]

wow you make it sound miserable. sailing on the bay looks fun though

Boating is not miserable at all. Lots of fun and a great way to relieve stress.

But unless you've been around boats for any length of time, you won't have any appreciation of the "hidden" costs of owning a boat, any kind of boat.

I grew up with boats. Have had one under me almost my whole life, so I do have some inkling of what they can and do cost to maintain and operate.

Fortunately, I'm exclusively fresh water oriented and currently own a small 17' outboard fish and ski boat, so the costs aren't horrid. But anything that lives in the water, like a boat, is subject to wear and tear you won't see or appreciate unless and until you actually own something like that. Water attacks everything. You'll get everything wet at least once. And even fresh water corrodes because there are electric currents created by the dissimilar metals used in boats....aluminum, zinc, steel, etc., not to mention active DC power generated on the vessel itself.

Then the upholstery ages quicker than anything else other than exposed patio furniture. Carpet craps out quickly and isn't cheap to replace. Vinyl dries out and cracks. Mechanical systems wear faster because of the damp environment. Lubricants get contaminated faster because of the wet environment. And on and on.

But would I quit boating? Not on your life. Love every second I can spend on the water. I'm just a realist when it comes to the overall costs and tribulations of owning a boat.

Oh, and gas isn't cheap either. A day spent cruising the lake can burn 20 gal. of gas easily, and that's if I really watch myself. 20 gal. at $3.50/gal....you figure out the gas cost. And that's just one day on the lake.

 

[Broheim]

-snip-

so much this, boats are fucking expensive to own and operate. OP why do you think sailing is primarily the pastime of people with money?

 

[Tsavo]

so much this, boats are fucking expensive to own and operate. OP why do you think sailing is primarily the pastime of people with money?

Lots and lots of poor people liveaboard because it can be a lot cheaper than renting or owning.

 

[Tsavo]

look at something like this:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/boa/4462076344.html

thats a couple months rent for more people here in sf. once you buy the boat is it nearly costless living? what other expenses are there? ive heard people say before to NEVER buy a boat

It's not nearly costless. Also, there's the slip fee per/mo, and not every marina allows liveaboards. Worth mentioning is that not all slips are transferable.

This one is pretty ratty, and likely has a **lot** of deferred maintenance. $20k tells me the owner is dreaming. If you are handy with tools and know what you are doing, you can live in this thing for a few years without it getting in any worse shape if you don't mind some elbow grease and actually use the thing as a sailboat once a month.

35 is too small for a single person unless you are used to it. I know someone that lives in a 24 and makes it work.

 

[brainhulk]

 

[Soundmanred]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2258304

 

[Rakehellion]

Because they suck.

 

[Legios]

I dont like to live around so many ropes. The rope fees are tremendous.

 

[Markbnj]

Costless living on a boat? HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!

Now. let me preface this by saying I'd really consider living on a boat, even married with 3 dogs and 2 cats. But it'd have to be the right boat, which this isn't.

First, while the slip for the boat is "included", all that means is the new owner can continue the rental of the slip the vessel currently inhabits, not that the slip is included in the price. Treasure Island Marina has a waiting list for slips, esp. liveaboard situations.

The BASIC cost of the slip for a 35' vessel is currently $357/mo. This does not include shore power (you're going to need elec. power and relying on your own generator is incredibly expensive). The current charge per their website is $3.50/mo connection and 14.2 cents/kwh. Not too bad, I guess.

But that's only the start.

You're going to have to have the vessel pulled from the water at least every other year for bottom cleaning/scraping and anti-foul painting. Not cheap. And given you're in salt water, probably a yearly expense.

Then you have to pay critical attention to the very real probability of galvanic corrosion on any exposed metals in the water, like the outdrive of the diesel engine. Again, not horribly expensive unless you don't keep up with it.

And then you're going to be spending a LOT of time cleaning, and cleaning, and cleaning everything on that boat. Sitting in salt water, surrounded by salt laden air, tends to corrode anything and everything. Remember, this isn't a well sealed house but a drafty, poorly sealed boat. Every inch of that boat, both interior and exterior, will be subjected to salt air and that will attack every inch of the boat. Priced a new main sail lately?

You can keep up with it, but it's a lot of work.

And also remember, you'll be living like a hamster. You'll have a fridge that'll hold 2 days of fresh food. You'll have a head (bathroom) that will have to be pumped out every few days. Your shower.....while it'll have one as a matter of fact, it'll be more of a suggestion of a shower in use---very small at best.


And those are the highlights. Remember, there's going to be insurance costs and they're going to be much higher than a "regular" house's insurance costs. And maintenance on the engine and generator. And on and on and on..........


You can do it, but cost free? Not a chance in hell.

Nailed it. Nothing more to say, really. People don't live on boats to save money, although if you are willing to do the ocean vagabond thing you can still live more cheaply than tying up in a major marina.

 

[JulesMaximus]

look at something like this:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/boa/4462076344.html

thats a couple months rent for more people here in sf. once you buy the boat is it nearly costless living? what other expenses are there? ive heard people say before to NEVER buy a boat

What slip fees like in San Francisco?

My Mom lived on a 43' sailboat for almost 15 years but that was in Florida. My sister is currently living on a sailboat they bought a few years ago. Had to replace the chain plates which required them moving off the boat for 6 weeks and $15,000 in repairs. Plus, you have to haul the boat out of the water every few years for bottom inspection and repainting.

Then there is the lifestyle, you can't have much stuff because you have nowhere to put it. You have to heat the boat in the winter you need a slip for the access to shore power unless you want to live on a mooring which is cheaper but you have no access to shore power so you have to run your engine for a couple hours every day to recharge the batteries and you can't just step off your boat to go to work, you have to have a dingy to get to shore.

 

[T9D]

I talked to a lady I knew decades back when I was young. I was thinking of living on one. She lived on a big boat for years and never wanted to go back. Yeah she said it was pretty miserable and gave a list of a hundred reasons why. That was the last time I thought of living on a boat.

 

[manimal]

Had a 24 foot that I used as weekend excursion. Living in it for extended periods of time loses the charm. I am the son and grandson of sailors and even I get tired of it.


Old rule its not a yacht if you get your mail there. Its a mobile home.

 

[Raizinman]

To properly own most any boat over 30 feet with an engine, requires a large wallet. Leisure boats do not return a profit and they depreciate very fast. Marine gas is more expensive than auto gas. Repairs are also very expensive. Have you priced a new 30 foot or larger sail boat that comes with everything needed for a family of 4 to live on? Try $200,000 or more.

Better would be a used houseboat on the river, which would be much safer, less repairs, and much more space. Many people live on houseboats, hence as their name implies.

 

[mmntech]

My aunt and uncle had a small sailing yacht but ended up selling it. They're a huge expense and really have to be seen as a primary hobby. They weren't going out on it enough to justify the cost. My uncle also developed vertigo, so that made being out in the water disorienting.

Probably better taking that money to buy a land based cottage and outfit it with a small motor boat. Or find a sailing club that does rentals.

 

[Kaido]

thats a couple months rent for more people here in sf. once you buy the boat is it nearly costless living? what other expenses are there? ive heard people say before to NEVER buy a boat

My aunt & uncle did for like ten years - rented out their house. If you can make it work, then it's pretty awesome. I've seen people do it with kids, too (homeschooling) - one of my best friends growing up lived on a houseboat, which was pretty awesome. Just make sure you know the costs & maintenance work involved with running a boat. And realize you're subject to weather, you have to get used to the constant sway of the water, etc.

I think it's a lot easier thanks to technology. You can get a cell phone & do tethering, or get a 4G hotspot or USB modem for your laptop. Food is easy to stock up on. Propane cans for cooking. Smartphones let you call people, tether your laptop, watch movies, etc.

 

[lozina]

I'll have plenty of time to live on a sailboat during the zombie apocalypse. Why rush into it?

 

[Scotteq]

Boats are holes in the water you throw money in...

 

[notposting]

Boats are holes in the water you throw money in...

Right? Houses are money pits already, multiply this by boats and I dunno, it's probably like governmental levels of pissing money away. :biggrin:

 

[desura]

I've been interested in boats lately. Like a boat big enough to spend a weekend in with a few guests but small enough that you can really feel the wind in the sails.

Suggestions? I couldn't afford one right now (or for a few years...) but it's always nice to dream.