Cal Vanize wrote:
Though one can never rely on manufacturer's claims, the range of boats
we're looking at are single engine or small twin trawlers that seem to
burn well under 10gph with most quoted in the 4 - 7gph range.

We burn about 1 3/4 gph cruising about 7 to 7.5 knots. The
boat will (in theory) go 8.5 but fuel consumption starts
getting up into the 5gph range and we make a loke of wake
and foam and noise, for not a lot of speed gained.

http://sports.webshots.com/album/550708407IeSjaU

... We don't
expect to break any speed records - in fact, maybe the idea behind a
cruise, at least for us, is the journey as much as the destination. That
may change in the long-run, but for now, that's the vision.


Sure. There are too many great places, too close together,
to be worth rushing frantically from one to the next. We've
had cruises in NC and on the Chesapeake where we never went
more than 30 miles in a day and enjoyed beautiful anchorages
every night.


However, some factors that have been brought to our attention include
insurance and home slip. We have not taken these fully into
consideration. So we do need to pay more attention to these fixed costs
in our annual operating budget. We have a great deal on our current
slip and our insurance broker has done a very effective job to minimize
our costs.


And don't forget, cruising is best defined as "fixing your
boat in exotic & inconvenient locations." There will always
be unexpected expenses, but with good skills & foresight
they are not crippling.

IMHO 30K a year is do-able. People are out there cruising
for less.


We have some time, plenty of time, before we commit. I just hope the
current prices stay depressed until AFTER we make the purchase.


I think the price depression of the boat market is mostly a
matter of more realistic expectations on the part of sellers
who are trying to unload neglected boats. The top 10% of
boats in best condition seem to be selling readily. However,
I do think there are two long term factors (and they affect
more than just the boat market)

1- the golden age of retirement is over. Fewer & fewer
people are going to be able to afford to buy a boat and
cruise when they stop work (or just slow down).
1a- waterfront property is getting more & more expensive
driving up costs for marinas & facilities; boating expenses
are climb & it's going to be harder & harder to find
out-of-the-way Mom-N-Pop friendly marinas.

2- younger people are less & less interested in the outdoors
in general. The demand for boats (relative to the
population) is shrinking.

But hey, if it was all gonna be easy, it wouldn't be fun!

Fair Skies
Doug King