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Sunday, July 3, 2011

Latitude 38

Full sun coverage in Cabo
Interesting article in Latitude 38 about cruising budgets was written this month. Hotspur is mentioned. To see it, go here and we're on page 36.
http://issuu.com/latitude38/docs/l38201107

And, we're mentioned again on pages 113 -115. My photo on page 115 (in the red floppy hat and red shirt) is a perfect example of cruisers coming together - in cruiser co-op fashion - to help each other out. Thanks Alan and Barb on Native Son! Also, my serious commitment to extreme sun coverage while spending a summer in the Sea of Cortez. Too bad I left my signature red, floppy hat on a bus in Mazatlan.
Hauled out in La Paz
It looks like we're the wealthy cruisers in the article - we average less than $2,000 per month for two adults, one teen and one tween, a dog and a cat. Many folks are cruising on less than we are. I will make this statement: cruising costs can be cut substantially... and I do mean substantially... by staying out of marinas.

2009: we averaged $1,450 per month and hardly ever stayed in marinas
2010: averaged less than $2,000 per month to live in Mexico (but this doesn't include a buy/sell boat swap, serious boat repairs for 5 months, and major boat equipment purchases... because that is not a 'cruising' expense - that is a 'what it costs to buy a boat and get it ready for cruising' expense.)
2011: we have averaged so far $2,400 a month. This year we have stayed primarily in marinas, Jim has had surgery, we have made upgrades to the boat, and we've taken a couple of inland trips this year (it's about time!). We are also working on our websites to help generate more income... thus, the marina with internet and things for the kids to do while we're working.

We have our three year cruising expenses itemized here:
http://hotspur41.blogspot.com/p/three-year-cruising-expense-contrast.html

1 comment:

  1. I couldn't find a contact email so I'll leave this here:

    I was wondering if you would be interested in being interviewed for a free online resource that I am creating called "The Interview With A Cruiser Project" (http://interviewwithacruiser.blogspot.com). A good description of the project can be found on the feature by Three Sheets NW (http://threesheetsnw.com/blog/archives/8872).

    The idea is that I ask cruisers 10 questions via email and post the questions and their answers interview-style. The primary audience is people dreaming of cruising (a.k.a. armchair cruisers) and those actively preparing to cruise.

    The only criteria I have for participants is that they have been cruising outside of their home country for more than 2 years (whether their cruise is ongoing or finished).

    Would you perhaps be interested and/or know someone who fits the criteria who might be interested? It is an ongoing project so once I've sent the questions you can return your responses at your leisure.

    Readers are excited about the project and it is a good traffic generator for those who include their own blog/websites, for those that want that.

    Thanks for your time and if you are not interested, no worries. By way of introduction, we began cruising over a year ago on SV Estrellita 5.10b, our Wauquiez Pretorien 35 (http://thegiddyupplan.blogspot.com).

    Cheers, Livia (iwac.project@gmail.com)

    ReplyDelete