Do we use our boat enough?

S

Sarge

New member
Instead of working, I figured out how many miles we've used our boat since we got her.

Took possession: April 27, 2007.
Home port: Edmonds

Been to: (number of times)

Lopez Island (1)
Port Townsend (1)
Port Ludlow (1)
Poulsbo (2)
Kingston (4)
Bell Harbor, Seattle (1)
Everett (1)

Figure we have well over 400 miles on the boat!

Above doesn't include just putting around the Sound and never stopping anywhere.

Not bad considering there were 2 weeks when she was out of commission having her bottom painted and a suspected mechanical issue investigated.

Averaging about 65 miles a week.
 
This is a good topic.

Of course, use varies by geography - more in the southern climes, and by available time - as in are you retired or still working to pay for the fuel?

FWIW: last season, May - December, I put about 85 hours on the engine but far more on the boat both at the slip and on the hook.

Phil
 
Phil,

I'm working to pay for the gas, amongst other things :-)

I put my share of 'jewelry' on the boat, but I keep telling myself I'm done...now I just need to save for gas!

By my estimate, I've spent ~ $700 in gas so far, but I'm down 50+ gallons in my tank right now. Frightening when I think about budgeting $350+/month just for gas. :crook
 
Just think how you would feel if it was at least 3x that amount per month plus slip rental plus diver to clean bottom plus repairs on a bigger, older boat with twin inboards.
That's why we sold the Tolly. Figured we could have rented for 3 months a year for much less and that was 3 years ago when gas was not quite the cost of caviar.
Smile, you are a C-Brat !!!

Merv
 
And the other interesting number: 400 miles divided by 56 hours = 7.14 mph on average. Has it seemed that you are moving faster than that most of the time?

We figured just under 10 knots for most of our cruising... where does the time go? :wink:

Hope you're enjoying every minute!

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Merv,

I'm not complaining. I'm really enjoying my boat, but...I am paying for a slip in Edmonds. I look at my boat as my transportable second home and my slip costs are homeowners dues! At least I got the Mrs. to buy into that! :wink:
 
Jim B.,

In another thread someone mentioned that when he arrives at his destination after traveling by C-Dory he's refreshed and not worn out like he felt on other boats. I'm exactly the same way. When I'm doing 18-20 mph, I feel like I'm flying! 8-14 knots is my favorite speed. What's the rush?
 
I know you are not complaining, you are much to busy having fun which is what it is all about! I'm just feeling grumpy because we have been confined for 4 weeks with a virus and I am getting cabin fever looking out at the water and reading about all the great places people are going.

Against the slip cost figure the cost of running a big tow truck !! Last time I went to the pump to fill the truck and 3 5G cans to top up the boat, the darned pump maxed out on me at $99.99

Hey, it beats buying a sailboat and going everywhere on the engine. (much as I have loved sailboats)

We put 130 Hours on the first year and in spite of the enforced "grounding" I am just doing most of the 200 Hr service myself because Les is overloaded and I don't want to tie the boat up now we are feeling better.
Now if it wasn't for this demon work thingy....

Merv
 
Well, that kinda depends, Sarge... Wild Blue seems to be happiest around 15 knots, but not every trip is relaxing. Granted, we are rarely on a schedule, but there are times when you are at Point A and want to be at Point B... and you may have 89 miles of 3-5' waves to go through to get there. Relaxed and refreshed are not the words you will use to describe how you feel at the end of that ride. :disgust

We enjoy the cruising days that might cover all of 10 miles - it usually means there has been a lot to see and do along the way. Other times, you just want to get somewhere. Every day is different and that is part of the fun. I like tossing out the anchor (a figure of speech, btw), kicking back in the cockpit, and watching the sun go down... you don't log many miles doing that, but the fuel burn doesn't hurt, either! :D

You'll hear folks say that it's cheaper than therapy... an hour per week on the couch at $100 per hour = $400 per month. You're using your boat WAY more hours than that, having more fun, and you can bring the family along for free! The "theraputic cost per hour" is way more affordable. :wink

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim B: Good point and Sarge Great Stuff:

Notes from FreeByrd Log Book: "Another wonderful 5 days without touching land.. Lake Martin is empty other than a bass boat or two practicing going fast during the week cause I know they can not catch bass going that fast. Last one was a little close, and upset the balance of my sunrise omelet. Why does he want his 8.5" within 25 foot of mine where the lake is 1/2 mile wide.?? Now I know whey they do not like it when we have our deer riffles on board. A couple of days and no other human, some deer, geese, birds, swiming naked like God meant for it to be. Owning a pilot house boat...priceless. Great time, great sunrises and sunsets, great star lit nights, not much fog, just a bit of rain, but that was nice too. Made for a good nap. Total miles, well, I don't know...somewhere during the trip hung between Margatiaville, Blue Skys, Frank Sanatra and Lynard Skinard, and who all knows where on the sat radio jumps, I hit the reset all button and did. Average speed after reset: 6.2 knots. Cruising at its best. When can I do this again?"

Now that is why we love these boats. I figured a relaxing week like that on a cruise ship with air fare and 1,000+ other folks on board and their schedules whould have been about $3500-$5,000. ...and I did not need a Tshirt.

Byrdman
 
Byrdman,

Well put. I could visualize you enjoying yourself on your boat.
However, I mentally blocked out the swimming part.

I look forward to running into you again.
 
Bob and/or Nancy,

I agree...still trying to remove that mental picture of the Byrdman swimming :disgust

I did look at your photo album and boy is that water pretty! Made me want to just jump in myself (appropriately clothed, of course).

Up here in the PNW, 48 degree water that is 600-1000' deep doesn't bring out the same desire, which is why I've been moving, moving, moving...

Besides, there's lots of 'shrinkage' up here when you swim au naturel. :smileo
 
Continuing with my list:

New:

Blakely Island, Jones Island, San Juan Island (1) - one big trip.

Previously...

Been to: (number of times)

Everett (1)
Lopez Island (1)
Port Townsend (1)
Port Ludlow (1)
Poulsbo (2)
Kingston (4)
Bell Harbor, Seattle (1)

This last trip to the San Juan Islands, I figure I traveled approximately 180 miles and used 90 gallons of gas, so I got ~ 2 mpg.

I have a Mercury Verado 150, with a Mercury Vengeance 3 blade propeller (not sure what size or pitch).

With the boat fully loaded (full gas tank, full water tank, 2 adults, 2 children, clothes for a week, food for a week, a case of bottled water, 2 folding bikes, a bike trailer, full camperback canvas and a Mercury RU240 inflatable on top) we hit a top speed of 25 knots. We averaged around 14 knots.

Considering the weight I was hauling, I think she did quite well!

The motor now has 77+ hours and has traveled over 600 miles.
 
so Tom like to brag that we have over 660 hours on our boat. since feb 2005. we are actually way behind our average this summer due to gas prices. we usually cruise at 17-20. when the wind is minimal, but have to slow down wind there is chop. I definitely agree that is our boating is way better than therapy.

But i could never justify paying the moorage on a trailerable boat. 300 a month is going to someone elses equity and that is a small car payment. i would rather buy a slip that i could sell later. there is a slip in friday harbor for sale 22 ft for 40K for example.

susan
 
i have a covered slip at lees ford marina, located at lake cumberland. the annual slip fee is approximately 3000. in addition, i have a hydrohoist which keeps my boat high, dry and ready. the boat can be launched in a matter of one minute and many times i'll only have an hour or so to get out on the water and relax. for me, money buys convenience, and it's convenience that i desire at this stage of life. i suppose i could invest this amount in a high quality aggressive mutual fund, but that's not going to improve my standard of living and/or quality of life.
slip fee's are worth the expense if convenience and time saving are important to you as they are to me.
just my thoughts!
best regards
pat
 
I have to agree with Pat.

We have two covered slips at Bridge Bay Marina on Shasa Lake that run $420 per month together, or $5040 per year.

They're expensive, but they at least double our use of the boats because they remove the hassle of launching and retrieving them, result in longer times on the water, and enable us to use and service the boats in a covered area protected from the weather.

In addition , the ammenities at the marina, such as shore power, septic service, fuel, bathrooms, showers, etc. make using the boats much easier, not to mention the friends you make and enjoy at the marina.

Another way of looking at it is that once you've written that monthly check, you're obligated to go make use of the boats.

Joe.
 
The Sundog Crew keeps score by "Days On The Water" we try to get 45 days on the water a year and have to really fight to make that happen.

Here are some pics from our last time out:
http://www.alaskaphotography.com/2007tr ... index.html

We are also finding that it is best for us cost wise to do less small trips - so instead of fighting to go every weekend, we try to go every other week for 5 days - we work for ourselves so can really work hard on the off time to pull this off.

Boating is expensive but worth it.

Joe
 
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