what is the cost of sailboat ownership?

Answer 1

That's kind of one of those questions like, "How long is a book?' The answer is, it depends.

You can pick up a used Snark for a couple of hundred dollars. It's a styrofoam hull and a single sail, big enough for one or two people. It can be kept at home and hauled to a lake to sail.

On the other end, you can pay hundreds of thousands for a new offshore cruiser and thousands more for insurance, dockage, even a full time crew.

My 20-year-old MacGregor 25 cost me $3,500. Dockage on a lake in Oklahoma costs me $875 per year and my insurance cost is $160 per year. Add to that a little gas and some maintenance. The big ticket items like bottom jobs or new sails are sporadic.

A solid day cruiser big enough to take your friends out on over the weekend (20-26 feet) can be had for as little as $2,000-$2,500. A brand new one will be $20,000-$50,000.

So ... it depends where it's docked. It depends how big it is. It depends how old it is. It depends what make and model it is. And it depends, for maintenance costs, on how good its condition is. You can do it for $200 or you can spend $200,000.

If you're new to sailing, you might check out the U.S. Sailing or American Sailing Association Web site. Each organization offers introductory sailing classes nationwide. Once you start to learn a little about it, you'll get a good feel for what type and size boat would be the best fit for your interests, lifestyle and budget.

Answer 2

you can purchase a small sailer - like a Hobie Holder 12 or a Hunter 14 or similiar and the cost of the boat is generally it for several years. You'll need to replace a few lines (rope) and maybe a sail many, many years down the road.

A great way to sail, simple and fun.

Fair winds.......

Answer 3

They say that owning a boat is like owning a hole in the water that you pour money into. There are always more expenses piling up - something needs repair nearly always - and there are slip rental fees, or storage fees, or insurance and registration - so many costs. Think about it long and hard before you step into this responsiblility.