What is the typical annual cost to maintain a 30-35' sailboat?

Question

I have recently moved to the Lake Michigan shoreline and I have been lusting after sailboats. If I were to buy a 30-35' boat, what could I expect for typical annual maintenance costs? I have found that I can rent a slip seasonally for $2000-3000. What is typical for storage and launching? I have a lot of experience shrink wrapping boats, so I would not be opposed to storing it outside for the winter. Thanks for the help!

Answer 1

Well...  I can certainly understand your lust... lol

     You certainly are at Heaven's gate of Boating Wonderland of the North... You should have a boat that size.

     Sounds like you have experience being around boats and Marinas, and the water... and that's good.  Since you already know what your Summer-Winter slip & storage is going to be, your really almost there.

     Also sounds like you are capable of doing much of the work on the boat yourself... so that (or course) is good as it is a never ending job - especially if you keep your vessel in tip top - ship shape...

     Boat insurance is really not that much... I always have had mine covered with a rider on my homeowner - and it has always beat the prices from offers I get from Boat US, and miscellaneous companies.  I pay almost $500 a year and I minimal (comfort) level coverage on the boat itself, but very high coverage for personal property & injury with hospital &  casualty etc..

     You didn't mention how old a boat, or really what kind (other than sail) so... I can only mention to you that if you get one in really good condition, it is a whole lot less expense to keep it that way - then to get one in "not of good" condition and bring it up to spar (pun intended)...

     Really, you have the bulk of it covered... just get an actual fee schedule from the marina where you plan to keep your vessel, and that is pretty much going to cover it - course, they charge you to take your mast down, and to put it up, haul your vessel out of the water, put it back in the water... What about a cradle?  Does the marina let you work on your boat (some don't, they make you use their mechanics).  Do they let you bring a mechanic in?  Many don't allow you to do that either.

     The only real suggestion I have is that you get a heavy displacement (offshore) vessel...  (I by the way spent 14 years sailing those waters - and it is quite nice to sail with coffee in hand feeling fine, when your boating friends are sailing along in front of you in their "same size, but light" inland lake vessel - and you watch them tossing their cookies of their stern as you can also count the number of times their rudder comes clear out of the water with every crest of a wave...

     You'll do fine.  Welcome aboard!

Happy & Safe boating!

http://boatwrights.org/

Answer 2

Wood boat, glass boat??  In water storage?  Trailered?  Wood boats cost more to keepmup than glass boats.   Find a few you like and talk with other that own one.

Answer 3

Getting a boat threw the maintenance part your safetied with can be very costly> Then to keep it that way depends on the condition of the boat & it equipment>