That's more than twice what you can get it done for in the Casco Bay
area of Maine. There are some excellent and very honest boat yards
and marinas but quite a spread in prices.

Even shopping around, a 30 - 35 foot boat is going to cost you $2,000
to $3,000 dollars a year with out fixing anything, replacing anything
that breaks, or making any improvements. Unless you spend about
$50,000 in that size range, you should plan on spending $3,000 to
$6000 additional the first year, assuming you can do a lot of work
yourself. If you have to have all the work done for you, triple that
figure, at least. After that, you'll easily find a couple of grand of
things to fix and improve each year.

Better go into it with your eyes open.

--

Roger Long



"Thomas Wentworth" wrote in message
news:6VdCf.5682$Jn1.898@trndny01...
I am re-entering the world of cruising. It has been a number of
years. My base is New England.

In the last few days I have been brought to the point of absolute
insanity by two of the local marina's near me.

Today, I called a marina to inquire how much it charged to step a
mast. I explained to the woman on the phone that a boat hauling
truck would be bringing my boat [ I don't own the boat yet, I was
seeking the info so that if I make an offer I would know what the
charges would be ] to the marina where it would be launched.

At first she seemed evasive. She didn't seem to want to answer my
question. She kept saying she was looking for her "paper". Finally,
she said it would be $6 per foot of the boat when the boat was
dropped off and another $6 per foot of the boat when the boat was
put in the water. I asked, why are you charging twice. The truck
is bringing the boat, it will go right in the water. She then said
"you are upset by how much it cost". I tried to explain "I can't be
upset since I never knew what the cost was to begin with".

After she started telling me how I feel about issues I never asked
her about, I asked what was the charge to step the mast. She said
around $400 dollars. I almost fell over backwards.

Then, I hung up the phone.

Is this the way of the world in cruising? Have all the marina's
become thieves?

On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 05:39:17 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:

Even shopping around, a 30 - 35 foot boat is going to cost you $2,000
to $3,000 dollars a year with out fixing anything, replacing anything
that breaks, or making any improvements.

Amazingly, that's about right. But I am in a major club in Toronto.
Some Maine wharf shouldn't be twice the price.

Unless you spend about
$50,000 in that size range, you should plan on spending $3,000 to
$6000 additional the first year, assuming you can do a lot of work
yourself. If you have to have all the work done for you, triple that
figure, at least. After that, you'll easily find a couple of grand of
things to fix and improve each year.

Better go into it with your eyes open.

I run a tight ship, so to speak, and your estimates are only slightly
over (I do two "projects" a year with the goal of making the boat
roughly contemporary instead of being stuck in the '70s in the next
three years or so).

I had some help reassembling my rebuilt Atomic 4, but other than that,
it's all me. But even a stupid replacement Nicro vent was close to 200
bucks. Replacing the fuel and exhaust system was about $550. A PCV kit
is $80. It mounts up, even on a basic boat. A quart of VC17 is $40.

And so on. It's a good thing people give me lightly used sails,
because if I bought a new set every three years like the racing
fellers, I'd be broke.

R.

"rhys" wrote

Amazingly, that's about right.

What you mean, "Amazingly"? I'm a marine professional, author, noted
authority, and I know how to type

Some Maine wharf shouldn't be twice the price.

No such thing as "some Maine wharf". That Maine disappeared when most
boat were built out of wood. The law was just changed to fix the
problem but it hasn't yet been implemented. Every Maine wharf and
shoreline is currently taxed as if it had condos or a waterfront
mansion on it. That cost gets passed on to the fishermen and every
other waterfront user. Recreational facilities have to support those
costs with the income from a two and a half month boating season.

Because of our high tides, you can save a bundle on boat storage by
hauling the boat up on your beach in a cradle and storing it yourself.
You'll be paying enough in property taxes to buy a 30 foot boat every
year though.

I run a tight ship, so to speak, and your estimates are only
slightly over

They should be slightly over. These numbers are what you should be
prepared to spend without being forced to either put up with unsafe
situations are end up sitting on your boat wishing you could actually
use it. Hopefully, you can get by with less but you don't want to
spend that kind of money and then not be able to use your boat. You
need a little cushion.

--
Roger Long

Some Maine wharf shouldn't be twice the price.


Roger Long wrote:
No such thing as "some Maine wharf". That Maine disappeared when most
boat were built out of wood. The law was just changed to fix the
problem but it hasn't yet been implemented. Every Maine wharf and
shoreline is currently taxed as if it had condos or a waterfront
mansion on it.

Do you mean that the tax laws have changed so as to reflect
property usage? That is wise and we are trying to get such
laws passed here, otherwise there are no brakes on the
condo-ification of pretty much all desirable real estate in
the country.



Because of our high tides, you can save a bundle on boat storage by
hauling the boat up on your beach in a cradle and storing it yourself.
You'll be paying enough in property taxes to buy a 30 foot boat every
year though.


Ouch! Our taxes are high enough that mom-n-pop businesses,
farms, small friendly marinas, etc etc, have no option but
to sell out to Wal-Mart and the condo developers. And
communities are wondering why things are changing to such an
unfriendly world, but they can't seem to forego the tax dollars.


I run a tight ship, so to speak, and your estimates are only
slightly over

Roger Long wrote:
They should be slightly over. These numbers are what you should be
prepared to spend without being forced to either put up with unsafe
situations are end up sitting on your boat wishing you could actually
use it. Hopefully, you can get by with less but you don't want to
spend that kind of money and then not be able to use your boat. You
need a little cushion.


Very well said. It's very important to have both a set of
priorities, and the bucks in pocket to implement those
priorities. Boats need "stuff" and while you need not pay
the exorbitant cost of some items which triple in price for
the word "marine" printed on the label, it still ain't free.
Even spit'n polish costs something.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

"DSK" wrote
Do you mean that the tax laws have changed so as to reflect property
usage?

Yes, the referendum passed this fall and the legislature is working on
implementation. In a state that usually shows unusual common sense,
the change failed the first time around. It took a massive education
effort to get enough people to realize that the coastline was
effectively going to become part of Massachusetts and New Jersey if it
didn't pass.

It used to be that, every time a waterfront business watched a new
house going up on a piece of vacant shoreline, they knew that their
property taxes would shortly follow. This still won't prevent
waterfront users from being priced out of obtaining property but it
will help keep them from being forced off of what they have now.

--

Roger Long

Very well said. It's very important to have both a set of
priorities, and the bucks in pocket to implement those
priorities. Boats need "stuff" and while you need not pay
the exorbitant cost of some items which triple in price for
the word "marine" printed on the label, it still ain't free.
Even spit'n polish costs something.

The only thing more expensive is something that has a STC number on it.

Leanne

"Thomas Wentworth" wrote in message
news:6VdCf.5682$Jn1.898@trndny01...
I am re-entering the world of cruising.

Based on this post, I think you should reconsider it.

Capt. Bill

Capt Bill,,

If I ever come across your bow when I am sailing ,, watch out. I swear I
will throw a turd right in your lap!

Now, go **** off.



"A H FOSTER" wrote in message
news:6tjCf.48966$Ez3.36747@trnddc03...

"Thomas Wentworth" wrote in message
news:6VdCf.5682$Jn1.898@trndny01...
I am re-entering the world of cruising.

Based on this post, I think you should reconsider it.

Capt. Bill

On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:13:07 GMT, "Thomas Wentworth"
wrote:


If I ever come across your bow when I am sailing ,, watch out. I swear I
will throw a t*rd right in your lap!

Now, go f*ck off.

=========================

Bad language and manners for someone seeking free advice.

Advice,,, not criticism


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:13:07 GMT, "Thomas Wentworth"
wrote:


If I ever come across your bow when I am sailing ,, watch out. I swear I
will throw a t*rd right in your lap!

Now, go f*ck off.

=========================

Bad language and manners for someone seeking free advice.