liveaboard costs

[LadyG]

I worked out my liveaboardcosts as the same as my current land based costs, more or less, there would be adjustments but all in all it would be the same.

My costings [cc] are 

moorings/marina : winter mooring 3x £160pcm £500

cc licence £800

insurance £200

Servicing £100

Diesel and coal £500

Blacking £250 pa 

TOTAL essential costs £2350

yes  there would be additional costs if I wanted to be a bit less stringent.  but these are the minimum. My brother, considers that I will need £180 pcm [£2000pa ] more than that

licence £850

insurance £160

RCR £180

moorings £2000

Blacking £500 pa to  include a week in BandB at £1000 per week!

Painting [assumes fullpaint job every 15 years] = £650 pa 

He reckons my annual costs at £5000 pa, I just cannot see it. Yes, if I want to live in a marina, but I  don't.

I will do a bit of painting ongoing, I don't envisage a full pro piant job.

 

 

 

Edited August 2, 2017 by LadyG

[rusty69]

Why the b&b? 

 

If you don't want full time marina, then your figures are probably closer, although i think you under estimate diesel and coal, unless you don't plan to move too far. 

Edited August 2, 2017 by rusty69

[LadyG]

5 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

Why the b&b? 

 

Exactly my argument: I would stay on board, he has also allowed for cattery costs!

He just cannot get his head round boating, don't start me about "no fixed abode" and mail!!!!

Edited August 2, 2017 by LadyG

[Murflynn]

any boat related costs will be more than you can possibly imagine.  not quite as bad as ocean racing ('tearing up £50 notes under a shower') but still more than your original estimate.  your brother may be close to the mark, but for different costs than he has mentioned.  replacement inverter when it goes bang, replacement batteries every few years, etc.  ....   and all costings should include an additional contingency element (20%?) for things you never imagined.

.............  no, you don't need to stay in a B'n'B when the boat is being blacked, in fact if you stay on board you can help to defray some of the labour costs (and familiarise yourself with every square inch of your boat at the same time).

 

[rusty69]

4 minutes ago, LadyG said:

 

Exactly my argument: I would stay on board, he has also allowed for cattery costs!

He just cannot get his head round boating, don't start me about "no fixed abode" and mail!!!!

We always stay on ours. Just find a yard that allows it, not all do. Diy blacking will save you a few quid if your up to a bit of work. 

 

ETA. our cats always stay on board too. They will be getting a ride on a crane next week

Edited August 2, 2017 by rusty69

[LadyG]

6 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

Why the b&b? 

 

If you don't want full time marina, then your figures are probably closer, although i think you under estimate diesel and coal, unless you don't plan to move too far. 

yes, I was  working on £300 for minimum cruising diesel, and min of £200 for coal, I would buy a few logs , Forgot to add £100 for gas. These are the absolute minimum costs,  more diesel comes under "travel"

[LadyG]

12 minutes ago, Murflynn said:

any boat related costs will be more than you can possibly imagine.  not quite as bad as ocean racing ('tearing up £50 notes under a shower') but still more than your original estimate.  your brother may be close to the mark, but for different costs than he has mentioned.  replacement inverter when it goes bang, replacement batteries every few years, etc.  ....   and all costings should include an additional contingency element (20%?) for things you never imagined.

.............  no, you don't need to stay in a B'n'B when the boat is being blacked, in fact if you stay on board you can help to defray some of the labour costs (and familiarise yourself with every square inch of your boat at the same time).

 

In my own, detailed costings I have allowed for all  the extras, I  know boats cost a lot in "contingency", but so do houses and cars, so all in all there will be little difference. eg This month for example, I have bought a battery, and have to find £350 for an insurance excess, plus a new bath, and a carpet, all in all, about £1000 this month alone!

Edited August 2, 2017 by LadyG

[rusty69]

Tis your dream, not your brothers. If you think  its the life for you, and you can afford it with some contingency funds, then go for it. 

 

 

Maybe next year now. 

[LadyG]

21 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

Tis your dream, not your brothers. If you think  its the life for you, and you can afford it with some contingency funds, then go for it. 

 

 

Maybe next year now. 

Not next year ..... on target for15th November2017, it was 15th September, then 15th October, but that was before the flood in the bathroom, necessitating a new floor, new bath, new carpet etc etc

Its not so much a dream, it is just a relocation, and a new home, just happens to be a boat. 

Edited August 2, 2017 by LadyG

[rusty69]

1 minute ago, LadyG said:

Not next year ..... on target for15th November2017, it was 15th September, then 15th October, but that was before the flood in the bathroom, necessitating a new floor, new bath, new carpet etc etc

Oh. 

 

Just in time for Autumn! 

[mrsmelly]

1 minute ago, rusty69 said:

Oh. 

 

Just in time for Autumn! 

Yep then winter the best two boating seasons

[rusty69]

Just now, mrsmelly said:

Yep then winter the best two boating seasons

I hate Winter! 

[LadyG]

3 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

 

Just in time for Autumn! 

Season of mists and mellow fruit fullness.

Nowt wrong wi" winter, mulled wine and roaring logs

Edited August 2, 2017 by LadyG

[rusty69]

2 minutes ago, LadyG said:

Season of mists and mellow fruit fullness.

Sounds like some Shakespeare, but im not heducated enough to know which! 

 

Ok, so I had to Google it....... Keats

Edited August 2, 2017 by rusty69

[mrsmelly]

2 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

I hate Winter! 

Winter is by far the best season for narrowboating or indeed any inland boating inland in the uk.

[Neil2]

43 minutes ago, Murflynn said:

any boat related costs will be more than you can possibly imagine.  not quite as bad as ocean racing ('tearing up £50 notes under a shower') but still more than your original estimate.  your brother may be close to the mark, but for different costs than he has mentioned.  replacement inverter when it goes bang, replacement batteries every few years, etc.  ....   and all costings should include an additional contingency element (20%?) for things you never imagined.

.............  no, you don't need to stay in a B'n'B when the boat is being blacked, in fact if you stay on board you can help to defray some of the labour costs (and familiarise yourself with every square inch of your boat at the same time).

 

I agree.  It's impossible to anticipate all the things on a boat that might cost you money, but you can at least overestimate by a healthy margin.  

I keep a detailed record of everything, and I do mean everything, we spend on our boat and £5,000 a year is about right.  It's quite scary actually when you are totally ruthless about it.

Your allowance for servicing is way too low, unless you are doing everything yourself. 

 

 

[LadyG]

i can't wait, have bought a proper kettle, and little camping lanterns, solar lightbulbs, battery bank with torch for laptop, dug out my winter walking clothes, ice axe too!

Yes | will change oil myself, but I will have a major service by an engine specialist when I get going.

I  will have £5K set aside for contingency capital fund, and add £500  pa.

I hope to buy a boat which is in very good modern liveaboard condition, so that there will be few unexpected costs.

General expenses of £300 to £600 is expected pa.

I think that if I was to add up every single item spent on the flat it would easi;y come to £500pa.

It was my bro who costed servicing at £100, I would lose the cost of servicing my van, which is quite expensive, as it is ten years old. its is about £1000 pa to keep it on the road. Insurance. MOT, and all the rest.

Edited August 2, 2017 by LadyG

[RichM]

There will also be odd jobs that need doing, including repairs. Might sound trivial but I can almost guarantee this will be a monthly consideration and will add up in terms of cost. Whether it's a new water pump, eberspacher/webasto/boiler break down or just a door hinge/latch, there will be something and if you can't fix it yourself, add on labour costs as well along with the hassle of finding someone to do it. (this I have found is often easier said than done compared to being on dry land.) Also, if you're going to be using an inverter then you will ruin your batteries in no time. My battery bank of 5 lasted a year and at £80 each it was not something to overlook, though I'm sure I could have done more to preserve their life. Point I am making is that there's an endless list of things that will need fixing or replacing when living aboard a boat. There's a lot more to it than simply blacking, servicing and painting your boat and this is what we refer to when talking or griping about "maintenance". Equally though and as you alluded to, the same applies if you owned a house or had a mortgage on one, although to a lesser extent if you rent one. 

In my case, I relocated and quit a fairly well paid job in order to live aboard a boat. (There's no navigable canals in the far south west) I took a much lower paid job with less responsibility thinking that I'd still be laughing given my new choice of lifestyle. I was wrong but that said and regret ruining my career but equally, I'm still happy I live aboard a boat given the freedom that comes with it.

You mentioned B&B for when your boat is out of water. You wouldn't need to go to that extreme but you should perhaps still consider the prospect of having to spend the odd week on land. If you're a Cc'er, it won't be a problem but if you are going to be based on a stretch of canal with commitments (e.g. work) then you may find yourself with a limited choice of yards within practical reach. Some will let you stay aboard, others will not. If you end up not being able to stay aboard, then you can usually rent a room in a hostel for around £25.00 a night or less if you're happy to share a dorm. I have also heard of some people camping in a tent for a week (on a campsite) during warmer months. So while there may be extra costs to consider, you're not limited to costly hotels and B&Bs.

RichM
 

[Boat&Bikes]

We don't lives board but are out cruising April till October. We then take a winter mooring at £1300. Not added up total yearly costs but it is somewhere between £4000-4500. Do servicing myself, not paid for any work to the boat apart from blacking. 58 foot NB. We see it as a cheap means of holidaying. 

Ian.

[Matt&Jo]

Thats a pricy holiday.......4k....thats a top cruise!!!

[rusty69]

7 month cruise for 4k?

[LadyG]

I ve had a boat, and best thing is to keep it simple, the more gadgets, the more to maintain.

[Boat&Bikes]

34 minutes ago, Matt&Jo said:

Thats a pricy holiday.......4k....thats a top cruise!!!

£4,000 is a couple of weeks abroad. We are spending months exploring our lovely country, oh and we visited London.Also we are too young to go on a cruise.

Ian.

[nb Innisfree]

FWIW full time 12 months retired liveaboard ccing on Innisfree we averaged 100 litres of diesel per month. 

[Sea Dog]

£2350 pa, eh? I'm impressed that anyone, let alone someone who doesn't actually have a boat, could work out future annual costings down to a figure that ends in £50. I wouldn't like to claim I could accurately forecast my future annual costs to within a grand, and that would only be barring a major issue.