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Purchasing a new first boat in October. Can someone give me a run down of possible costs the incur on their boat annually. I am looking into purchasing a 19 ft first boat new in October. Also what is bottom paint? The engine will be a 60 Gal 115 HP Mercury 4 stroke engine 190 Montauk. I posted before as the Rookie. Thanks for an info.
In no order:
insurance
slip fees / launch fees if you trailer
oil changes on the engine
gas is dependant on how much you use the boat, but be warned it's always cheaper to purchase on land than at marinas.
rainy day fund <- something is always breaking or needs fixing or upgrading
In the first year you will also need to purchase safety gear, PFD's, lines, fenders... This can actually add up to a lot of cash up front. You will need to replace things like lines as they become old or left in the sun too long, hence the need for a rainy day fund.
Not a real cost, but please take a safe boating course, before you hit the water, and take an experienced boater with you, until you get the hang of it. Are you buying a Whaler? which model?
If you plan to store the boat in the water at a slip for the season or more than 2 weeks at a time, you should paint the bottom of the boat with a special paint that retards marine growth. On a new hull, the fiberglass needs to be prepped, primed and painted Not exactly easy if a newbie. Not cheap if done by a yard (in my opinion). Then again, some brands are $100 + a gallon.
If you trailer, you do not need to do this.
For your first year:
One time things:
VHF + Antenna $200
GPS $600
USCG safety equipment (Good Life Vests. Flares, throwable cushion, whistle, etc) ~$500
Anchor, chain, line ~$250
Extra dock and anchor line $75
Recurring items:
Annual Registration for trailer and boat ($50?)
Gear/doohicky's for boat $300
DIY fluid changes and filters $150
Boat tool box and boat tools $75
Cleaning supplies $50
$ ?? gas to practice using the boat and the trailer.
Owning a whaler....priceless (could not resist)
I budget $600 for boat and trailer maintenance/gear and Registration fees. Take a class AND take a buddy with you on your first 5 outings at least.
Take yourself, and the family to a good marine store, pick out some "COOL" "USCG APPROVED" PFD's (life vest's). You want one's that fit well and everyone will wear ALL THE TIME.
Take the USCG "ABC" class, $50 (notice a lot of smart experianced sailor's are suggesting that for a reason), I've been boating a long time, I took the course, and was amazed at what I learned, I was sorry I didn't take it sooner. A 20% discount on insurance is given to those who have taken the course, so it pay's for itself.
Take advantage of the "FREE" USCG "VSC" (VESSEL SAFETY CHECK), they'll even come to you and inspect the boat on the trailer, they are just going to do a safety check on all equipt. to make sure that you are safe, it's voluntary on your part so NO ticket's or violation's are EVER given, no info. on your boat is given to ANY law enforcement agency, they just want you to be safe out there.
Dockage fee- (unless you trailer the boat, this can be difficult on a 19 footer, and can take up much of the day).
Winter Storage- In a yard this can be easily upward's of $1000
Engine maint.-, Fogging engine, water pump, and yearly tune up, figure a few hundred on AVG. depending on how much you can do yourself.
Insurance- optional, even if you have a row boat, you should have a $9 a month "Liability" contract.
Marine Salvage-optional, $149 a year, free towing for member's, if you don't have this, and need marine salvage (towing), they are going to hit you over the head w/ the bill HARD, like few hundred to $600 ( or more) $ depending on how far the tow is for, don't depend on the "Kindness" of other's, Dumb look's as people pass you by "stranded" are NOT uncommon. It ain't like it used to be out there.
Trailer maint./registration, The more you use it, the more maint. it will need (Bearing's, tires, rollers, light's always break etc.)
Bottom paint- If you dock the boat it is a "must have" item, NOT optional. Bottom Paint ($100-$125 a gallon), is an "anti-fouling" paint that is applied to the bottom of the hull. Barnicles (ACK) are "planktonic" at first (free swimming), then they like to attach themselve's to the bottom of your hull and grow, they grow until the boat will not plane off and steering is affected, a MAJOR job to remove them $$$$$$$. Bottom paint contain's "Copper", the "Planktonic" Barnicle attaches itself to the hull, the "Copper" poison's the barnicle, it dies and fall's off the hull without you ever seeing it. Bottom paint is applied every year. It's the "NORM." for salt water boat use around here (Long Island), very few boat's are without it. Hope this helped.
mw
awesome info all, I am really glad I joined this community forum and everyone has been real helpful. My plan is the first year to launch it all the time so no bottom paint I guess the first year. As far as classes, yes both my wife and I are getting free courses if we buy the boat through this marina near us basic boating and safety courses etc. Also my plan is to try and hire a captain to help me with the boat the first few times out so I can learn on my boat how to handle it. Believe me I understand we want to keep everyone safe in the water . Thanks again for all the info.
I try not to think about how much it costs per year. Joe hit it right on the head; the word boat is an acronym for Break Out Another Thousand.
Not only will you will have the insurance fees, but also excise tax, yearly maintenance & winterizing costs, storage fees (if you don't have room at the house) etc. etc. etc..
You will "save" a bunch of money by trailering it & storing it on the trailer at home. However it is real nice to have the boat sitting in the water. I keep mine on a mooring; wouldn't have it any other way.
Cost of the consumable stuff like fuel & oil will totally depend on how much you use it.
You will also find that you will have a new urge to go to the marine supply store & buy all sorts of accessories weather you actually need it or not; gottas have the boat bling (oh, but honey, I just have to have that new.....).
Glad to see that you are taking a safety course. There are way too many knuckleheads out there running around with absolutely no clue what they are doing (you will see this for yourself soon enough).
Keep in mind if you do decide to paint the bottom of your boat it will lower the resale value of the boat down the line. Once you paint it, it is a pain in the rear to remove.
"USCG APPROVED" PFD's (life vest's). You want one's that fit well and everyone will wear ALL THE TIME.
. Thanks again for all the info.
