Everyone is different. Every place is different. Every boat project is different. I believe our costs are probably moderate for a family of four. We know other families that cruise for less and some families that spend much more. What is important for you is what to consider when you are planning your budget.
When you take a look at our 2009 numbers, keep in mind that we began calculating our expenses after provisioning and outfitting the boat fully for our first year. Our boat was a 35' Cal Cruiser. In 2009, we spent $17,611 USD, including a haul in/out, bottom paint job, new Engle freezer, and three road trips to the USA. To get a full overview of the year, you can go to:http://expaticus.com/web-expaticus-com/files/u2/Files/expenses2009.htm
In 2010, we realized we outgrew our 35' Cal and so sold her and bought a 41' Tartan TOCK in Mazatlan... 'fixer upper' is a mild way of putting it. We purchased her for a good price, but spent 5 months in a marina repairing her. Therefore, our numbers for 2010 are a bit whacked. But it goes to show you what buying a boat and outfitting it for cruising can cost you. Keep in mind that we're cheapo, pinch penny, "do-it-yourself-if-you-can" kinds of cruisers. We would rather spend our money enjoying the beautiful places we visit and cruise longer.
For 2010, our expenses ran $41,942 USD. (This number does not include the purchase of HOTSPUR or the sale of WINDFALL) Our rebuild cost alone was $10,341 USD. Boat equipment was $8,131. In addition, we were living aboard her for the entire time. Had we not the equipment costs and the re-build costs, our year-end for 2010 aboard the bigger boat HOTSPUR would have been substantially less: $23,471. To see a full breakdown of 2010 expenses, go to:http://expaticus.com/web-expaticus.
Our 12 month year begins December - November, as we cast off on Thanksgiving Day 2008.
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 (1st 7 mos.) |
| Groceries 5,925 | 6,749 | 3,294 |
| Boat Hardware 651 | 1,250 | 80 |
| Transportation 284 | 1,051 | 302 |
| Dining Out/Tips 1,137 | 1,775 | 1,734 |
| Internet/Phone 260 | 169 | 267 |
| Tourism 353 | 397 | 595 |
| Laundry 215 | 199 | 249 |
| Mail 198 | 210 | 79 |
| Clothing 270 | 224 | 220 |
| Extra Tips 86 | 100 | 89 |
| Fishing/Snorkel 294 | 312 | 0 |
| Marina/Mooring 752 | 3,412 | 1,814 |
| Education 238 | 127 | 452 |
| Insurance/Tax 606 | 478 | 381 |
| Computer Hosting 181 | 312 | 422 |
| Booze 490 (July-Dec) | 1,333 | 783 |
| Medical 391 | 300 | 2,278 |
| Gifts 409 | 574 | 453 |
| Boat Repair/Maint. 1,487 | 2,020 | 1,586 |
| Boat Fuel 885 | 822 | 595 |
| Propane 70 | 51 | 28 |
| Boat Equipment 1,794 | 8,131 | 1,638 |
| Fabric/Crafts | 148 | 26 |
| MISC 12 | 1,090 | 1,619 |
| Car 631 | ||
| Hotspur Boat Rebuild | 10,341 | |
| Storage | 367 | 38 |
| TOTAL: $17,611 | $41,942 | $19,022 |
