IMHO,

Boating, a hole in the water where you pour your money or BOAT, Break Out
Another Thousand, we've heard them all.

I believe we boat for various reasons, mostly enjoyment (you generally
don't do something if you aren't enjoying it, right?). I know the mate and
I have a much more relaxed life when we are onboard. Whether docked,
anchored or cruising the euphoria of the moment is the feeling we all crave.

What does it cost to get and maintain that feeling?

You've probably spent the big money buying the boat, why?

It can be broken down to dollars & cents but does it really need to be.
Does that help enjoy it more? Expenses to me are a roller coaster of
emotion.

Do we do the Loop to watch the dollars or to explore what and where we've
never been before and even if we explore the same area and get the same
feeling is that a bad thing. Either way it still costs $$$$.

I tell people all the time I gave up golf to take up boating. We, with some
disposable income, spend it searching for the fun, enjoyment, challenge and
a way to spend free time.

When I look at spreadsheets of others, I wonder where they are spending
their money. X thousand a month for grocery's, X thousand a month for
entertainment. There is no break down as to which store they shopped in or
where they went for entertainment and if a spreadsheet is necessary to
track all of that, then I wonder how much fun, excitement and wonder at all
the new places they went, that they enjoyed.

I would say the cost of doing the Loop is what you make it.

If you are really concerned you will run out of money before you start you
will never go. Just as if you never take the first step you will never see
what you are missing.

If expense is that important, look at your current land expenses. If you
spend X thousands of dollars a month on groceries, then you will probably
spend X thousands of dollars a month on the boat, BUT there are ways, I've
read and heard, as I haven't done the Loop, yet ('17 here we go), that
money can be saved and enjoyment increased. New place yield new
experiences, try a farmers market to replenish stores, go to a concert and
sit away from the location, you still hear the music. Small museums
generally charge a smaller fee. Ride a bike instead of renting a car or see
if the marina has a loaner to run errands. There are ways to save money and
still have great experiences. Think around that old box!

Now, you ask about fuel. You probably know your burn rate so you can get an
idea of what a 6000 mile trip will cost, but that is a cost that will
fluctuate with the area and where you might want to explore. Repairs, take
a course to learn a few basics and save some money. Would you NOT go up the
Ohio River to see what is there to save a few dollars, there is no right
answer to that, only your answer.

The real question, asked by someone who first made a trip west when all
that people talked about was the difficulty, is, Do you want to explore
what you've probably never seen before or worry about cost?

I think if you have a budget of money for the boat, stick to it as much as
possible but be prepared to spend some extra when necessary.

The bottom line; "twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by
the things you didn't do than the ones you did do. So throw off the
bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor and catch the trade winds in your
sails", (Mark Twain). Think of it this way, you can start the Loop and if
your aren't enjoying it because of expense you can turn around and go back
home. Part of a Loop is better than none.

Fair winds and calm seas.

Best regards,

Charles

Charles Williamson
m/v Nepidae
Albin 43 Sundeck
Nepidae.trawler@gmail.com
MTOA 3927

The cost of doing the Great Loop (or cruising) is very subjective to individuals and boat.  Costs for food are null as you must eat whether or not on a boat. Similar are medical and road trip costs.
In our individual situation we made the decision to sell our house and live full time on the boat.  Hence all the associated house costs are null.  Of course, the boat costs are our "house costs" however not duplicated by retaining a house.  We did rent the house out but found that it was still an added expense when adding climate controlled storage of furnishings and the rental market the house was in.  The negative cash flow and a couple of bad renters motivated us to sell the house and dispose of much of the stored furnishings.
We selected our boat to meet our individual comfort levels in the shortest length, as that translates to reduced dockage costs billed by LOA (length over all).  We think of our boat as an RV home on the water comfortably taking us to new and interesting places and experiences.
Our annual costs of cruising are directly linked to fuel costs (we burn 2.1 gal an hr at cruise speed including generator use) and cruising area/destination dockage costs.  For example, the Western Erie Canal is very inexpensive cruising (your boat must clear 15'6").  The canal season pass for our boat was $75 and dockage with power, water, plentiful free pump outs and full wash rooms with showers and some with washer/dryers was mostly free.  This is also the alternate loop route as opposed to going through the Canadian Canal system which is more expensive.  However, I highly recommend that all loopers experience the beauty of the Canadian Canals at least once.  The North Channel and Georgian Bay can still be explored without transiting the Canadian Canal system via Lake Heron.
Off season(winter) we are motivated to be located close to grandchildren.  We target a marina that is economical, where we have access to transportation (we retained an old vehicle we geo locate) , and has acceptable health providers.  Thanks for medicare :).  We have found nice marinas at < $300 a month plus metered electric.  We do have an ITR hydronic diesel heater system which is 50% the cost of resistance heaters to heat the boat vice kilowatt charges.  The water is too cold to run our reverse A/Cs.  ROI(return on investment) for the heater is still not determined  with regard to amortizing cost of unit.  However, it certainly makes our life comfortable in colder areas.

Overall, the cost of fuel and dockage are the greatest cruising cost determinate for us based on living aboard for 7 years, 3 loops (with side trips) and  37,000 miles.  We seldom eat out, however do go to museums and rent cars to explore (thankful for the Labor to Memorial day Enterprise $9.99 weekend special).  While fuel costs fluctuation is out of our control, dockage costs vary greatly depending on region.  In some areas of the country, dockage is free or extremely inexpensive. Generally not so on East Coast.  We found the least expensive dockage in midwest, e.g. The Ohio and Tennessee Rivers.  These make for very economical and interesting cruising if adventuresome and thrifty.

To sum up: fuel and dockage are "our" greatest cruising costs.  All other costs exist whether living on a boat or in a house.
As always your mileage may vary.

Joe Pica

M/V Carolyn Ann GH N-37
currently docked in New Bern, NC
http://carolynann-n37.blogspot.com/
MTOA#3813, AGLCA #5485 life member

Joe Pica
M/V Carolyn Ann GH N-37
http://carolynann-n37.blogspot.com/
MTOA#3813, AGLCA #5485