@06rinker270 This will be the first time I don't have the boat on my lift for the winter. It'll be a bit different for sure & I won't have it plugged into shore power, which is the worst part. But, I'll have access to put it back in the water when I'm ready in March. Also the boat will be indoors for a bit while they are working on it.
Well, here is a picture of mine at 8am this morning. It's now sitting on jacks and I've already winterized everything. Going to wax it over the weekend and hopefully have it covered all up on Sunday.
This was my girl last Winter in the new cover all, safe and dry and yes it was a sad day- now she's under Bryan's care! :-)
Ready for some good old fashion labor of love "wax on wax off". the new numbers are going on, just received the documents last week, process took all summer documenting with coast Guard and DNR.
Still working with Darren on a storage cover, No update yet.
For me, it helps to always view boating expenses in the context of my annual boating budget. The list of expenses is long and distinguished: storage, maintenance, slip, fuel, transient fees, depreciation ... not to mention cheese dip and single-malt Scotch whisky. But I know what the costs will be, and it's worth every penny.
While my 212 is smaller, has a trailer and is easily moved around, my 4-cylinder car is of absolutely no use so I pay my marina to do everything. So in all reality, if I moved up to a smaller cruiser my costs wouldn't be crazy different.
Cruiser ownership IS worth the costs (imo) but it isn't inexpensive. For me winter storage + summer slip + winterization + summer oil changes + off-year replacements (impellers, fuel filters, bottom coat maintenance) + insurance was about10K. It cost about 1K to fill it up. So, fill it up ten times and I'm at 20K. We visited marinas for over night tie-ups at least 30 times a season at $80 per night plus tax, another 2.5K Now I'm at about 23K AND I have to add-in that having $250K +/- tied up in a boat (usually depreciating) and not earning interest (10%) accounts for about about another 25K ....so for me about 48K a year (at least) and that would not include incidentals like wax, canvas waterproofing, propane.....I figured all-in I had 50K a year in the game: 25K in outright out-of pocket expenses and 25K in lost revenue. Non a poor guy's game!
The rental argument can be compelling, but only for trailer boats because nobody rents big boats.
For my ten-year-old 370, the typical budget looks like this:
$2k slip and electricity
$5k fuel and transient fees
$3k maintenance and expendables
$2k winterization and storage
$1k insurance
$5k depreciation
$10k cost of money (I figure $130k value and 8%)
-------
$28k not including cheese dip
In exchange, I get to use the boat whenever I want, for as long as I want. That includes extended trips, impromptu overnighters, stay-in-the-slip cruises and all the other things you can't do with rentals. And I always know the boat is stocked with clothes that fit me, booze that I like, and back issues of Power and Motoryacht.
I did not say I was a millionaire. What I said was, if I had not spent all my money on boating and cheese dip, I would have BEEN a millionaire.
Having an older boat paid for has its merits, no payments but you have more maintenance. And breakdowns. Got into my files to see what this years expense was. Rinker is paid for so no pmts. And no labor on repairs. Except one. OH Please do not let my wife see this! LOL
Insurance $600 Slip fees 1000 Repairs at boat shop 5500 Fuel - Gas - a guess I pay all cash 750 Parts- actuator, trim tab button, anodes, poop pump, ect. 1500 New rear Bimini top 1000 New batteries 253 Eva foam for platform 150 Winter storage 250 Weatherization, Oils, filters, pink stuff, and misc. 250 New props 750 Two tires for trailer 250 Sb total 12,253 Bought an Ol Ford F350 just to pull it 10,000 Total fun in 2016 22,253
I used to add all the expenses up every year, but it wasn't near as fun as spending it here is a picture of mine in it's new hibernation place. First time storing on land for the winter. Sure made buffing a bit easier!
All said and done I'm at about 8k to 10k per year for the past five years on my 270.That's fuel+parts+slip+etc..,on trailer stored in my back yard.now the 342?? I still put it in my back yard.this make you think boat or cottage? $1000 a month with possible rental income for some weeks? Hey what was I thinking it doesn't ancor,motor,or make waves,I'll stay with the boat .If you don't like your nieboughs move the boat!
@handymans342, still working the estimate, but it should be decent. I will certainly let you know when I get it. I'm honestly thinking I'll just get both engines done.
@bry1429 & @thebistro , Thanks! I had a guy up in NJ custom make the cover. Another Rinker forum member that meets every year at our Rinkervous has the same boat. So, we talked someone into making two for a good price. It has more than paid for itself. I had a half dozen people come up to me, since I'm keeping it in a different marina, and ask me where they could get this cover. I had picked Navy blue so the snow would melt off and the material is stamoid light. It'll last 15-20 years easily.
I want to do something like that, working off the mooring cover just to block the sun. I am buffing on mine, but to get going in the water- will change filters and oils in the spring. That is a great cover. But I guess if you use it, you buff it.
Just pulled mine today. I put her on my new Trailmaster trailer. She went on that trailer like a dream. Since I am working mid shift this week, I have had some extra time to work on her in the mornings.
2008 280 Express Cruiser, 6.2MPI, B3, Pittsburgh, PA "Blue Ayes" Go Steelers!!!
@reneechris14, Just checking to see if you had a vacant 342 for rent, Does that include electric and water? what about snow removal and do you cut the grass? LOL
Comments
Yea it looks pretty windy this weekend. Might be a rocky night sleep.
06 Rinker 270
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
Well, here is a picture of mine at 8am this morning. It's now sitting on jacks and I've already winterized everything. Going to wax it over the weekend and hopefully have it covered all up on Sunday.
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
This was my girl last Winter in the new cover all, safe and dry and yes it was a sad day- now she's under Bryan's care! :-)
Ready for some good old fashion labor of love "wax on wax off". the new numbers are going on, just received the documents last week, process took all summer documenting with coast Guard and DNR.
Still working with Darren on a storage cover, No update yet.
So I store at Fort Belvoir Marina. Pavement? Nope. Water hose? Nope. Electricity? Sometimes, if I'm lucky. But it's cheap, secure and close to home.
OH Please do not let my wife see this! LOL
Insurance $600
Slip fees 1000
Repairs at boat shop 5500
Fuel - Gas - a guess I pay all cash 750
Parts- actuator, trim tab button, anodes, poop pump, ect. 1500
New rear Bimini top 1000
New batteries 253
Eva foam for platform 150
Winter storage 250
Weatherization, Oils, filters, pink stuff, and misc. 250
New props 750
Two tires for trailer 250
Sb total 12,253
Bought an Ol Ford F350 just to pull it 10,000
Total fun in 2016 22,253
I used to add all the expenses up every year, but it wasn't near as fun as spending it here is a picture of mine in it's new hibernation place. First time storing on land for the winter. Sure made buffing a bit easier!
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
@handymans342, still working the estimate, but it should be decent. I will certainly let you know when I get it. I'm honestly thinking I'll just get both engines done.
@bry1429 & @thebistro , Thanks! I had a guy up in NJ custom make the cover. Another Rinker forum member that meets every year at our Rinkervous has the same boat. So, we talked someone into making two for a good price. It has more than paid for itself. I had a half dozen people come up to me, since I'm keeping it in a different marina, and ask me where they could get this cover. I had picked Navy blue so the snow would melt off and the material is stamoid light. It'll last 15-20 years easily.
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express
Go Steelers!!!