"Boating is expensive!"
- Thread starter localboy
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Chuckpacific
New member
Ditto what El and Bill say.
Ditto what Texasair says, too.
I just got back from 2 beautiful days in the Prairie Channel/Lewis and Clark Wildlife Refuge.
I figure I've got more money than time.....
Ditto what Texasair says, too.
I just got back from 2 beautiful days in the Prairie Channel/Lewis and Clark Wildlife Refuge.
I figure I've got more money than time.....
Some of you didn't get my tounge-in-cheek posting. Yes, $20 for a small oil filter is ridiculous IMO and >$8/quart for oil is also, um, "pricey". Come on; an internal combustion gas engine is an internal combustion engine. I suspect because "marine" is attached, Suzuki/dealer add more profit. I found the same filter on-line for $12.
But Meredith and I would cringe at the thought of having to sell due to the cost. Right now, thankfully, we can afford it and the benefits to us FAR outweigh the costs. When Meredith says "...boating is expensive..." it's usually because we (well, me) has done something stupid which requires a re-investment/repair etc. e.g. don't drop a pot in 120' of water with only 100' of line attached. :x :roll: (long story) She usually says it w/ a smile on her face, w/ a bit of "that was stupid" inferred & snuck in. :lol:
We just spent yesterday out on Puget Sound, w/ her parents, celebrating Meredith's 41st birthday as well as her mom's birthday (last week); 90 degree weather, flat water, blue skies, fantastic food/adult beverages...priceless. 8)
But Meredith and I would cringe at the thought of having to sell due to the cost. Right now, thankfully, we can afford it and the benefits to us FAR outweigh the costs. When Meredith says "...boating is expensive..." it's usually because we (well, me) has done something stupid which requires a re-investment/repair etc. e.g. don't drop a pot in 120' of water with only 100' of line attached. :x :roll: (long story) She usually says it w/ a smile on her face, w/ a bit of "that was stupid" inferred & snuck in. :lol:
We just spent yesterday out on Puget Sound, w/ her parents, celebrating Meredith's 41st birthday as well as her mom's birthday (last week); 90 degree weather, flat water, blue skies, fantastic food/adult beverages...priceless. 8)
...............not worth the price.Matt Gurnsey
New member
Life is expensive.
Boating simply makes it worthwhile.
Boating simply makes it worthwhile.
patrick and linda
New member
HELLO LOCALBOY,
your post was well received and has given us the opportunity to respond to general issues regarding cost associated with boating.
we are all in the same boat, so to speak and there are times when it's hard to understand why something cost what it does. good example, i recently ordered a new plastic trim plate that holds my trim tab rocker switches. someone from the factory tightened a screw to tight and broke a corner off the plastic 3" x 3" plate. so, i ordered the plate and what i received was not only the plastic plated but two new rocker switches and the wire harness as well. $57.00 plus $9.00 shipping, and was told by the dealer what a great price that was. only wanted the small plastic plate!
i should have refused deal but the thought of seeing a missing corner would have driven me nuts, assuming i'm not already!
best regards and thanks again.
pat
your post was well received and has given us the opportunity to respond to general issues regarding cost associated with boating.
we are all in the same boat, so to speak and there are times when it's hard to understand why something cost what it does. good example, i recently ordered a new plastic trim plate that holds my trim tab rocker switches. someone from the factory tightened a screw to tight and broke a corner off the plastic 3" x 3" plate. so, i ordered the plate and what i received was not only the plastic plated but two new rocker switches and the wire harness as well. $57.00 plus $9.00 shipping, and was told by the dealer what a great price that was. only wanted the small plastic plate!
i should have refused deal but the thought of seeing a missing corner would have driven me nuts, assuming i'm not already!
best regards and thanks again.
pat
My main is a Honda; I make a point not to buy anything with Honda stamped on it. The Fram oil filter on my Honda civic is the same one I put on the outboard, any marine gear case oil will do, but I’ll opt for High quality Wally World 10:40 at 3 bucks a quart. All these products either meet or exceed the manufacture recommendations, and it all gets changed every 100 hours, twice a season; about 25 bucks a pop.
Everything else seems to cost $$$$$$$ :cocktail :cocktail
Everything else seems to cost $$$$$$$ :cocktail :cocktail
Matt Gurnsey
New member
One caveat-
Marine grade motor oils contain extra additives to prevent corrosion on internal parts when the engine sits unused.
Also, the new Suzuki oil is a synthetic blend, just for the record.
And yes, guys will sell this stuff online for less. But that extra cost from the local guy is for the convenience factor, and it helps keep him in business, so when you have a problem, he's there to help.
Marine grade motor oils contain extra additives to prevent corrosion on internal parts when the engine sits unused.
Also, the new Suzuki oil is a synthetic blend, just for the record.
And yes, guys will sell this stuff online for less. But that extra cost from the local guy is for the convenience factor, and it helps keep him in business, so when you have a problem, he's there to help.
Captains Cat
New member
Matt Gurnsey":1aab6opv said:
Concur Matt. We like having you guys around. I always buy local if I can.
Charlie
Matt, I'm not saying "don't buy local...". All I'm saying is the prices were a bit high IMO. MOST of my original post was meant as toungue-in-cheek sarcasm (Meredith is a champ at it :lol: ).
Now I don't know exactly what the profit margin is on the supplies I bought and I have no issue w/ a fair profit margin (it's what business is all about after all, and drives the economy), but the retail price of that oil filter is what really chaffed my wallet. The thing is smaller than my coffee cup. I know it's small potatos in a world of $70K boats and $10K outboards, but if it had been $10 or even $12 I wouldn't have even noticed it. That same dealer did the original 20 hour service and it was nearly $500. I'd have gone back to you (Kitsap Marine where I bought the boat), but with the drive, distance, location and bridge toll, this local Suzuki dealer was just [obviously] more convenient for us.
Now I don't know exactly what the profit margin is on the supplies I bought and I have no issue w/ a fair profit margin (it's what business is all about after all, and drives the economy), but the retail price of that oil filter is what really chaffed my wallet. The thing is smaller than my coffee cup. I know it's small potatos in a world of $70K boats and $10K outboards, but if it had been $10 or even $12 I wouldn't have even noticed it. That same dealer did the original 20 hour service and it was nearly $500. I'd have gone back to you (Kitsap Marine where I bought the boat), but with the drive, distance, location and bridge toll, this local Suzuki dealer was just [obviously] more convenient for us.
Matt Gurnsey
New member
I knew you weren't saying that. And I haven't even checked to see what we charge for that filter. I want to encourage you to buy from the local guy, even if you bought the boat from us, just as we want people who live near us but bought their boat elsewhere to come to us for parts and service.
Just wondering whether any Brats have calculated what it costs per hour to own your C-Dory?
I use Quicken and log my seasonal hours so I'll take a shot at putting a number together over the next several days. I recall being told I'd never want to do this but, if I did, I should cost it out by day and not by hour. :cry
I use Quicken and log my seasonal hours so I'll take a shot at putting a number together over the next several days. I recall being told I'd never want to do this but, if I did, I should cost it out by day and not by hour. :cry
localboy":2uu1e2xi said:
Hell, that's cheap....A couple of weeks ago I went to the local Kubota Tractor dealer to purchase an oil filter for my Kubota Tractor 245 DT. The cost....$23.24 :roll: ...and believe me, that tractor doesn't even float, nor is it considered a pleasure vessel, it just means that I've got work to do around the home front.
So......three days later, I walked into the local NAPA Auto Parts store and purchased a Fram Oil Filter for my Kubota Tractor 245 DT for a cost of $6.99.
Certainly, the dealer provided oil filter is not permeated with any special voodoo make it better, keep the salt air out of my tractor magic potion. Go figure, why it is so expensive. The dealer explanation was that three years ago they sold 18 of them and this year they've only sold 3.....Da....at that price I hope they sell none next year. Maybe it is not because the tractor is an older model, but because folks have done a bit of price shopping.
I have never complained about the cost of maintaining and operating our beloved C-Dory because for me it is a good deal. The C-Dory is a fuel efficient vessel, that not only provides us with transportation but a warm dry place to cook, eat, sleep and enjoy the ever changing waterfront scenery of the Pacific Northwest. One heck of a lot less expensive than any water front fancy hotel has to offer!
(P.S. I guess I was a bit momentarily stunned last summer at the fuel cost when filling up with fuel in Canada, however in light of the wonderful week we had on the water in the Gulf Islands, it really was a "cheap" week on the water.)
A bit of warning on those cheap cardboard Fram filters . They are inferior and cheap . We had a fellow that had two of them come apart and clog his oil system costing him not 1 , but 2 powerheads on a pair of Suzuki 140s . I still cant or wont try to justify the regular price increases by all motor manufacturers on everything, but sometimes you can "cheap " your way into some big expensive problems . Honda oil at this time is 2 or three bucks cheaper than Suzuki . Has the "Marine" rating . FC-W. Just make sure its the right grade for your motor I.E. 10/30 or 20/40 .
From Yamaha's info
Yamalube 4-M surpasses Yamaha factory requirements
Superior formulation for a higher level of bearing protection
Superior rust and corrosion resistance
Polymers that resist breaking down even under the severe high load, high speed conditions common to outboards, water vehicles and sport boats
More anti-wear additives than regular passenger car motor oils
And the highest amount of detergents and dispersants, needed to keep your marine engine clean inside.
Maybe its so expensive since BP has cornered the market on dispersants ?
Marc
From Yamaha's info
Yamalube 4-M surpasses Yamaha factory requirements
Superior formulation for a higher level of bearing protection
Superior rust and corrosion resistance
Polymers that resist breaking down even under the severe high load, high speed conditions common to outboards, water vehicles and sport boats
More anti-wear additives than regular passenger car motor oils
And the highest amount of detergents and dispersants, needed to keep your marine engine clean inside.
Maybe its so expensive since BP has cornered the market on dispersants ?
Marc
Cost to run my C-Dory -
Staying out of the Shrink's office -$100/hour
Not accompanying wife to store -$150/per trip
Not buying fish at the store - $15/meal
Not having to pay for hotel when traveling - $75/per night
Lifelong learning while boating approx -$150/credit hour
Heck I could go on, but so far I think my boat is saving me money! I think I may need a bigger one to save more
Staying out of the Shrink's office -$100/hour
Not accompanying wife to store -$150/per trip
Not buying fish at the store - $15/meal
Not having to pay for hotel when traveling - $75/per night
Lifelong learning while boating approx -$150/credit hour
Heck I could go on, but so far I think my boat is saving me money! I think I may need a bigger one to save more
1TUBERIDER
New member
I was thinking how expensive to change oil. Cost me $100 for my twins.
At the time of purchase the counter gal told me I could save money by purchasing the honda oil for mowers. I though great recommendation for them to get more expensive motor repairs later. I bought the good stuff.
The alternative to maintaining a boat that you can use whenever you desire is to rent or go on charter boats. Then you loose the whenever you desire benefit. I would rather own my boat.
At the time of purchase the counter gal told me I could save money by purchasing the honda oil for mowers. I though great recommendation for them to get more expensive motor repairs later. I bought the good stuff.
The alternative to maintaining a boat that you can use whenever you desire is to rent or go on charter boats. Then you loose the whenever you desire benefit. I would rather own my boat.