We are in the process of upgrading to a trawler. Hence, I am quite
interested in the costs of a larger, diesel boat.
What we have done is this:
-
Contact the several marinas the boat likely will be berthed and got
quotes from them for annual/monthly slip fees. (We pretty much know the
size of the next boat.)
-
Contacted several insurance companies and asked for quotes.
-
Estimate how many hours a year we will run and then extrapolate that
into fuel costs.
-
Figure out the costs for haulout and winterization for said boat. (One
marina includes haulout and launch in the spring as well as bottom wash
in their annual fee -- not bad).
-
Figure out routine maintenance costs such as oil changes, fuel filters
etc.
-
The wild card is anticipating what is going to break and how much it
will cost to repair. But we are kind to mechanical systems and dont
drive a vessel hard. We have never had a substantial breakdown on
previous vessels. I believe in preventative maintenance and keeping
engines/transmissions etc happy.
The boat we are looking at has no teak decks, no exterior wood work, and
virtually no exterior canvass. Hence, not much for exterior maintenance.
We are in the Great Lakes, so barnacles and that sort of thing are not
much of a problem here for bottom jobs. A few zebra mussels, but not a
serious problem where we are. We operate in Lake Superior which is about
99.5% deep water and so the prospects of damage to running gear or being
towed off shoals is minimal.
What am I forgetting to factor into this list?
David Sorenson
Duluth
We are in the process of upgrading to a trawler. Hence, I am quite
interested in the costs of a larger, diesel boat.
What we have done is this:
1. Contact the several marinas the boat likely will be berthed and got
quotes from them for annual/monthly slip fees. (We pretty much know the
size of the next boat.)
2. Contacted several insurance companies and asked for quotes.
3. Estimate how many hours a year we will run and then extrapolate that
into fuel costs.
4. Figure out the costs for haulout and winterization for said boat. (One
marina includes haulout and launch in the spring as well as bottom wash
in their annual fee -- not bad).
5. Figure out routine maintenance costs such as oil changes, fuel filters
etc.
6. The wild card is anticipating what is going to break and how much it
will cost to repair. But we are kind to mechanical systems and dont
drive a vessel hard. We have never had a substantial breakdown on
previous vessels. I believe in preventative maintenance and keeping
engines/transmissions etc happy.
The boat we are looking at has no teak decks, no exterior wood work, and
virtually no exterior canvass. Hence, not much for exterior maintenance.
We are in the Great Lakes, so barnacles and that sort of thing are not
much of a problem here for bottom jobs. A few zebra mussels, but not a
serious problem where we are. We operate in Lake Superior which is about
99.5% deep water and so the prospects of damage to running gear or being
towed off shoals is minimal.
What am I forgetting to factor into this list?
David Sorenson
Duluth
