annual cost to live on a sailboat
Francesca SpidalieriThe Trains' 40' Catalina has two bedrooms and a full kitchen on board. A year later, they still think that it was the right choice. In an average month, it costs them around $2,200 to live on the boat.By comparison, they would spend $2,500 to $3,000 to rent an apartment in a similar area of San Diego, and still be paying the boat's mortgage on top of that. Francesca SpidalieriKeeping the boat at a marina is the largest expense besides the mortgage.Their largest expense is paying to keep the boat at a marina, which costs $1,050 a month, including the $250 live aboard fee.rancesca SpidalieriThe Trains' 40' Catalina has two bedrooms and a full kitchen on board. A year later, they still think that it was the right choice. In an average month, it costs them around $2,200 to live on the boat. If you are keeping up with the math, a new boat with plus startup costs can easily run upwards of $75,000 up front. The annual recurring costs can run you an additional $4,000 – $6,000 per year depending on your location, and which services you use. Training: Safety first! – expect to spend $250 – $300 for on-the-water training. 2  Boat Lift: If you buy a new fiberglass boat, you don’t want to skimp on the boat lift. 3  Expect to pay $6,000 to $10,000 for the lift from your marina, installed. Insurance. In regards to houseboat insurance, policy prices vary according to company and policy conditions stipulated. Fortunately you can get a free no obligation quote to get an idea of the cost. Naturally the cost to insure a $10,000 boat is less than insuring a $200,000 boat.rices vary depending on location and services. Marina fees are generally calculated according to the length of the houseboat. Now depending on the size of your houseboat, you could spend from $1000/yr for a no-frills slip, to $8-10,000/yr for a full-service high end marina slip. Your insurance will add a waver for the Caribbean that costs about $1000.00. Don’t forget that once you have closed on your new boat, all dockage and marina fees are billed to you. Marinas run about $100.00 per day, so if you leave her in the Caribbean for a month it will run you $3000.00.ou should budget approximately $65.00 per linear foot, so if you are going to buy a 30 foot vessel, it will cost you for dockage $1950.00. Insurance will run about $800.00 per year, if you are operating your boat on an inland lake, coastal waters or major rivers. Size matters with boats because every extra foot of boat costs more. When you live aboard, you get rid of all your land bills, but you take on a bunch of new and different costs, which are usually cheaper. So, the smaller your boat, the less expensive it is for both the initial purchase and ongoing costs.Most people think it isn’t possible to live on a boat under 30 feet.Not only is it possible, it’s preferable for the lone liveaboard or couple.And if you can’t afford to make a big mistake, don’t buy a big boat.o, the smaller your boat, the less expensive it is for both the initial purchase and ongoing costs. Most people think it isn’t possible to live on a boat under 30 feet. Not only is it possible, it’s preferable for the lone liveaboard or couple. And if you can’t afford to make a big mistake, don’t buy a big boat. We spend about $1,700 per year on a catastrophic policy for the family. The annual cost of our boat liability insurance is about $550 per year—though it doubled for our time in Victoria because the marina requested we double our coverage (I wrote about our thoughts on insuring our own boat).he annual cost of our boat liability insurance is about $550 per year—though it doubled for our time in Victoria because the marina requested we double our coverage (I wrote about our thoughts on insuring our own boat). Costs of living on a narrow boat (Updated for December 2014). Updated December 2014 We were afloat for 45 out of 52 weeks in 2014 so variable costs*** such as coal, diesel and gas have been divided by 45 and multiplied by 52 to give an annual figure.osts of living on a narrow boat (Updated for December 2014). Updated December 2014 We were afloat for 45 out of 52 weeks in 2014 so variable costs*** such as coal, diesel and gas have been divided by 45 and multiplied by 52 to give an annual figure. I own a 42' sailboat and have done some cruising in North and Central American, Portugal, Spain and the Canaries, and in the Caribbean. My personal take is that one can cruise and tour comfortably in a 40 to 45 foot boat for about $2,500 to $3,000 per month. One can live aboard for much less. own a 42' sailboat and have done some cruising in North and Central American, Portugal, Spain and the Canaries, and in the Caribbean. My personal take is that one can cruise and tour comfortably in a 40 to 45 foot boat for about $2,500 to $3,000 per month. One can live aboard for much less. 1 Training: Safety first! – expect to spend $250 – $300 for on-the-water training. 2  Boat Lift: If you buy a new fiberglass boat, you don’t want to skimp on the boat lift. 3  Expect to pay $6,000 to $10,000 for the lift from your marina, installed. Training: Safety first! – expect to spend $250 – $300 for on-the-water training. 2  Boat Lift: If you buy a new fiberglass boat, you don’t want to skimp on the boat lift. 3  Expect to pay $6,000 to $10,000 for the lift from your marina, installed. You should budget approximately $65.00 per linear foot, so if you are going to buy a 30 foot vessel, it will cost you for dockage $1950.00. Insurance will run about $800.00 per year, if you are operating your boat on an inland lake, coastal waters or major rivers.ou should budget approximately $65.00 per linear foot, so if you are going to buy a 30 foot vessel, it will cost you for dockage $1950.00. Insurance will run about $800.00 per year, if you are operating your boat on an inland lake, coastal waters or major rivers.
Their largest expense is paying to keep the boat at a marina, which costs $1,050 a month, including the $250 live aboard fee.