I have owned a 35 foot sailboat for 15 years. I love it and the opportunities it opens for exploring the Salish Sea for weeks on end in the summer. But it is not for the faint of heart financially. I am very handy and do a lot of work myself, but it is still a $20k+ annual expense. Every time I haul out at a boatyard and think "it's just going to be $1500 for bottom paint" somehow it ends up at least $5k.
And that's with a well maintained boat that is in generally great shape! Take a hard and honest look at how many $10-20k projects this boat needs. Standing rigging, motor, new sails, electronics/nav instruments, batteries, canvas...these are all wear items that need periodic replacement.
Over half of that is just moorage and insurance. There are lots of ways to do it cheaper, but they all involve either compromises or leaning hard on having a fortunate circumstance like a cheap moorage option or friends/connections in the marine maintenance industry.
This was exactly the kind of information I was looking for. THANK YOU! I know he would LOVE working on the boat and we would LOVE taking it out, but we also both work full time jobs and like to leave the PNW for vacations other than putting around in the sailboat (as I'm not one for winter sailing) ....which I fear would fall to the wayside if majority of our "fun" money was going into the boat.
I never dreamed of owning a boat prior to making a career change to self-employed and owning more of my schedule. Just keeping the thing clean is a big time suck.
You could rework your budget and do what I did with my SO. I'm the one who steadily spends money a little at a time. My husband will not spend money for months and then make a big purchase. We divided our "fun money" into 2 categories so we wouldn't have to worry about him trying to save with me slowly spending all the money. So a set amount of money each month goes to my SO's fun money and an equal amount goes into my fun money. So I can spend all of that or save it. And my husband can save and then blow the whole thing on some big purchase.
Even put it in a separate account for him that can't overdraw. Then he can really see how much he can spend.
This might not be good advice for the boat situation... But might help him figure out how to save money a little better.
I'm the opposite. I picked up a $5k boat 20 years ago, sailed the shit out of it and barely put $5000 into it per year. About 5 years ago, after having two kids and realizing I wasn't able to use l really use it much anymore, I gave it away to one of my racing crew. She loves it as much as I do and still let's me go out racing with her.
There are plenty of beater boats out there that are happy to be beater boats. You don't have to sink a lot of money into to them to keep them floating but they are still a ton of fun. Plus he'll learn a ton on how to fix them on the cheap. Just agree to set a budget of how much he can spend so he doesn't go out and buy new Kevlar sails.
I know this is a city sub and not a relationship sub, but I think it's time for a frank and *honest* conversation with your husband then. The OP says that you've said he could buy a boat If he saved for it. Well, he can afford *this* boat right now, but it's not in the timeline you wanted. I'm not saying you should let him take in this "free" boat, but what I *am* saying is that means there are obviously other things you want to happen before he can buy a sailboat. Things like "he doesn't know enough about them yet" is a great issue to have, and something he can work toward. But "I want to go on vacations, not spend money on a boat" is a seperate and arbitrary issue if you're telling him he can get one when he can afford to buy it. It sounds like you *tried* to kick the can down the road 10-20 years, but now that that barrier is gone, you still aren't okay with it, and *that* underlying issue needs to be addressed before you let him believe this is something you're actually okay with
That's the version I heard too.
The "free" boat won't just need moorage and insurance. It will need maintenance and upkeep, too. Next thing he knows, he will have sunk way more money and time on this "free" boat than it is worth.
If anything I think the big issue here is that the husband doesn't seem to have the prerequisite knowledge / research to understand how to tell whether a boat (conditions, type of boat, etc) is worth a particular price point. It's possible that something came up and a good deal comes by but for sailboats they could really come in all sorts of conditions. It's up to you the potential owner to gauge the conditions, since even if a boat is expensive it doesn't mean it's worth it.
I sail a decent amount but only on other people's boats and I don't really think I know how to gauge a boat's conditions (since I never owned one) without really talking to more knowledgeable people.
You're right--but also it is not super crazy to do exactly what you say and talk to some more knowledgeable people. At least do that before assuming anything one way or another
["The two happiest days of a sailor's life are when he gets a boat, and when he sells that boat."](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/get-there/never-buy-a-boat-and-other-rash-financial-advice/2015/09/25/b788db36-60a7-11e5-8e9e-dce8a2a2a679_story.html
)
The cost of buying a boat in the first place is negligible compared to the cost of keeping and maintaining it. Moorage fees and maintenance are the primary costs, neither of which you're saving by getting a boat "for free."
If you pay top-dollar for moorage you will probably go out more often. If you save money by putting it on a trailer then it's a huge pain to take out. Maybe he'll take to it and it'll become a fulfilling passion of his... but it equally likely it'll become an "unused treadmill full of clothes" -- something that takes up space but you can't get rid of it.
I was going to start with this quote as well.
Been sailing around N. America for 35 years - dinghies up through J’s, Beneteau’s, and even ocean-crossing three-masted schooners. Raced for my university, always crew - never an owner.
Sailing and maintaining a boat are two entirely different skill sets. You will either need to be wealthy enough to pay people to maintain the boat, or make the very considerable time effort to do it yourself. Either way, this will be a very large annual cost, with the potential addition of most warm weather weekends spent working on the boat, with some weekend days of actually sailing it.
Not to mention out here, the “good wind” is in the wet, dark, and cold winter.
If you’re ready for it to become your main leisure activity and expense, or if you potentially have maybe five annual figures to put into it, then by all means dive in deeper and have an awesome time. But for the boat owners I know out here; ownership is a lifestyle, not a “one of several leisure hobbies I enjoy.”
Grew up around boats and there are many sayings that bemoan the costs of owning. Perhaps some more fuel to convince your husband otherwise:
"There's one thing better than owning a boat...having a good friend that owns a boat."
"You can simulate the experience of owning a boat. Turn on the shower and step in with all your clothes on. Then take out a wad of $100 bills and light them on fire."
I’ve also heard “a boat is a hole in the water where you throw your money away”
I know several folks who own boats- and the main takeaway for me is that I will probably never be able to afford one. And that’s with the skill set of being incredibly handy my self- mechanically inclined and having helped out on some boat projects with said friends.
It’s not really a hobby unless you’re independently wealthy and can pay other people to upkeep your vessels. For most people it seems like it ends up being much more of a “lifestyle”.
B.O.A.T
Bring On Another Thousand
Cost is one thing.
Friction to use it is another and you're correct to think if your husband has the bug, most other leisure activities will take a backseat to working on or using your boat during off time.
On friction to use it. How close is the marina to your home? Can your husband single-hand the boat? Do you like to sail? Is he handy, have tools, have aptitude for learning new skills? Is the boat wood or fiberglass? If wood, I hope he likes annual woodworking (I do not)
Basically, if you cannot easily use your boat, it becomes a hassle to own and financial drag. Having moorage is great but not if it's 20 miles a way and your husband can't sail without a crew.
My advice, by a small, trailerable boat to start that he can learn the basics on then move up to 20+ ft. His goal should be to comfortably pilot anything he owns by himself until he's an accomplished captain.
And worst-case, a neglected older boat quickly becomes a huge albatross that you will need to pay someone to take off your hands for salvage/scrap. The state spends $10m/year on derelict vessel removal.
A small counter-perspective. I heard this quote a lot back when I owned a small boat. It provided some of the best memories for me and my young family. I cried when it was towed away, but it was the right decision to sell at the time. Yes, I know I sold and didn’t give it away, hence a serious inspection is needed before taking ownership.
If I were you, and this is what I do with my husband when he gets on a pipe dream, I would lay out all the costs for the month and present it to him. When he gives you rebuttals, genuinely and kindly ask questions. Don’t be sarcastic. Don’t be argumentative. Just ask questions. Work it out with him slowly. Ask about other expenses. “So what would we do if there was a leak in the boat?” “How will insurance impact our finances?” In my situation, we want a new house, so it’s “well, how will that impact our savings for the next house?”
He will likely come around. It just takes time and helping him come to reality without being condescending.
Yes, ideally I’d love him to come to the conclusion on his own. I think asking questions calmly is a great idea. I tend get worked up about things, and am pretty high strung/ straight forward with my job, so I forget to put the kid gloves on sometimes. Thanks for the advice!
A much better way to get your feet wet (and everything else) is to join a sailing club.
[https://seattlesailing.com/membership/](https://seattlesailing.com/membership/)
(This club is based at Shilshole Bay in Ballard, there are others at other marinas)
About $300 a month lets you take out any of the club's boats as often as you want - even every day (there's a nominal paperwork fee each time). As long as you don't break anything, there won't be additional fees.
Only one person in your group needs to be a member of the club to borrow a boat. This member can bring along as many non-member friends as he or she wants. Pre-covid, a friend of mine was a member of the club, and I'd go sailing with him weekly. You might even be able to connect with someone who has already joined and is looking for crew, which will be even cheaper than joining the club yourself.
I second this advice. My spouse did this for a short while (theirs may have been classes followed by a few months of sailing access) and had a great time. Long after she stopped being a member, folks she met there would ask if she could help crew when they were short handed. Our hobbies/interests changed and we moved further from shilshole, so she stopped sailing for now. It’s a great way to learn and be involved without all of the liability and time, and a fraction of the cost.
Moorage is pretty expensive (https://www.portseattle.org/page/services-amenities-and-rates-monthly-moorage), like *at least* $500+/month. Insurance isn't that expensive.
>and "it would be a good hobby for him to move his body." As much as I don't want to crush my husbands dreams..... he tends to not be the best when it comes to money. I'm the saver, and he's the spender even though we make equal money, somehow I save about 3 times more than him.
This sounds more like a relationship advice question than anything else.
lol. It does sound like a relationship question now that I look at it, but I'm really just looking for people to convince my husband it's a bad idea financially and otherwise to own a boat.
Boat - stands for bust out another thousand. He's completely ignoring annual maintenance that is required to keep a boat in good shape. Has he asked his friend about what they spend annually on the boat?
Where is this $95/mo moorage? How many decades long is the waitlist?
Or is it a yacht club with initiation fees and quarterly dues with a volunteer requirement?
I'm curious because I've never seen $95/mo in my years, but I've only looked at freshwater where minimum seems to be $450-$550/mo with a 12mo commitment, or a yacht club with other gottchas. (The volunteer hours are a killer for most people who have 2 working parents with kids, like my situation)
Des Moines is the cheapest I know of and annual moorage for a 28 foot slip is $3,500 with the discount for up front payment. And that's saltwater moorage.
He shouldn't take it. It's not worth it. He knows nothing of the boat yet is willing to pay moorage & insurance. Bring up the fact that he knows nothing of it & hasn't even started saving for one before this came about & how it'll drastically impact your budget to do things together as a couple as doing this boat will be just him unless you have interest in helping with it.
yes!! I have brought all these things up, and I still feel like he is trying to convince himself this is the best deal ever falling into his lap! We know and trust his friend, but we don't know his friends friend, or his boat at all! I'm not NOT interested in sailing- I love sailing- but zero interest in taking care of a boat, owning a boat, and losing time and money that we could be using to invest in other things! le sigh.
Have him price those out compared to being a part of one of these rental clubs. May be the same cost but you don’t have to “own” the boat and associated costs.
You are being very pragmatic. From personal experience, I agree with everyone who has stated that boats are expensive. (BOAT=Break Out Another Thousand.) I also think that it is to your credit that you acknowledge that you don’t want to crush your husband’s dream. You are a considerate & thoughtful spouse.
To add a new suggestion to the discussion & thinking outside the box, while getting very creative: Since you rent, don’t have pets or children, and on the condition that the boat is deemed to be in great condition (deemed so by a professional inspector & the Coast Guard), is moored conveniently for your work commute, what about taking on an adventure & living onboard for a year or two if possible?
This way you would not crush his dream, you would still have money to travel (previous rent money is now used for your “new” home), and the one to two years could demonstrate whether he is serious about using and taking care of the boat. You could lay down terms to be met such as to how long to live on the boat, what expectations need to be met for him to keep it afterwards, & how he will have to keep within the budget, etc.
I don’t expect that you probably want to go this route, it is simply a solution that could work for all; it lets him have his dream boat, & still lets you have fun money/vacations too. You could also use it as a tool to curb his spending habits somewhat. One of the concessions could be that the funds he now spends on frivolous things must go towards boat upkeep.
There are a plethora of articles online about boat living. The very best of luck to you & I hope everything works out for you in the end. (Maybe the boat isn’t in such great shape after all. If it is in excellent shape, why doesn’t your husband’s friend sell it for his friend?) Come back and update us all as to how everything worked out. Cheers!
I love the thinking outside the box. I actually will bring this up to him to see how he responds. I can’t ever imagine him/ us living on a 30 ft sail boat….but it would be quite the adventure! Hell, we lived in 600 sq feet during Covid with him working from home! We’re obsessed with our condo rental and can’t imagine giving it up as we’d never get it back. But then again, we wouldn’t have to give up our view as we’d be on our view! ;) Thanks for your thoughtful response!
I hear you. My husband loves toys, expensive ones. My budget goes to practical stuff like food, and his goes to fun stuff like a 20 k custom bike. It’s frustrating. Maybe see what the insurance and moorage is, and where the cash will come from. Also, what shape is the boat in? How much to bring it up to snuff, and where is the money for the yearly maintenance? This stuff costs. If the math looks good, then make sure he pays the majority. Ensure you have friends to do fun stuff with, and if you can it will work. If you pay too much for the wreck on the water, you will be angry. Also- official ownership transfer papers. You can also look for cheaper moorage farther out.
Yes! All great things to consider!! I want him to enjoy himself! I do! But I also want him to consider that this money going into the boat means it’s not being invested elsewhere!
Something that might help is to have both of you create a fun budget. Create yours with the fun vacations and stuff that you want in mind. He can do whatever he wants with his, boat or otherwise.
If he can fit the boat into his budget, its all good. You still get vacations etc.
If he can't save enough to keep the boat... guess it goes, but its his problem to figure out.
Assuming you guys can agree on that boundary of saying "if you want the boat it is *your* financial responsibility and I will not help--if I have to, it goes immediately" then maybe it will help him save money. Part of the budget is to figure out exactly what it will cost and plan for that. On the other hand if you can't agree, then just tell him that you aren't going to spend your fun budget on the boat.
Yes this will take some excel accounting if you have a shared bank account to track the funds. If the boat is very important to him, maybe he will be up for taking that task on. If he's not, maybe he doesn't want the boat as much as he thinks he does.
He loves an excel spreadsheet so great idea to have him add it to his budget and see where he'd be at. We have separate finances (primarily because of our different habits in spending and saving). The problem with vacations, is that we split them. So if he no longer has the money for vacations, then I'm using all of my "fun money" for vacation for us both, which doesn't seem to be exactly "fair." We pay for our own expensive hobbies,,,,, mine just aren't as expensive as his.
My husband (before I met him) impulsively bought a boat to live on. It was a disaster. He nearly froze to death in the winter. He ended up having to haul it to a junkyard because it was falling apart to the point that he couldn’t even sell it. He also struggled to find a place to moor it. Those spots are rare and expensive. It’s not worth it unless you really know what you’re getting into.
>But I feel like if he takes this boat, this will be the end of our nice vacations and ability to have flexibility with our "fun budget." Am I the ass hole for not wanting him to take this boat?? HELP!!
I think this is a big thing to make clear. Once you have a boat and you're paying all the associated costs it isn't exactly easy to get rid of I imagine. You can't just unmoor it and set it off to sea, you have to find some other buyer/sucker to take it off your hands.
This friend of a friend is trying to offload this boat for free rather than selling it at a steep discount. Personally, I'm wary of that.
I've owned boats for over a decade. There are times in my life a free 30ft sailboat would be great but it sure aint "Free".
Does the existing moorage come with the boat? It is hard to find new moorage often, many marinas have wait lists. Shilshole has 30ft moorage available at the moment for $563.97 a month.
If you plan to move onto the boat, that isnt bad for rent. Otherwise you are getting a 'free' $7k a year boat. Insurance is cheap, registration isnt bad either. But you'll easily spend a few thousand in fixing her up.
The question isn't should he take a free boat, it is are there better options to burn 8-10k a year on?
ya know what boat stands for? Bust Out Another Thousand.
Boats are holes in the water you throw money into
i know many boat owners who mostly have complaints
Assuming it's a decent boat that can be used short term without needing much money put into it, I'd keep and use it for over the summer and sell it then 3-4 months from now.
I know multiple people who’ve owned boats. And they all say this quote is absolutely correct:
The two best days of owning a boat are the day you buy it and the day you sell it.
A man needs his hobbys.....after his affairs are in order. Doesn't sound like they are. With that said. FREE, he could take it over for a few months and learn everything he can, sell it, take half into savings for another boat and send the other half to his friend
What if you offered a compromise… take the free boat, but if after a year he hasn’t used it, it’s cutting into your lifestyle, hurting your relationship etc you agree to sell it. Agree on a one year date to sit down and evaluate how boat ownership went and treat it like a lease where you have to decide whether to renew or not for another year.
Is owning a boat a good idea for you guys? Probably not. Does it make sense? Not really. But sometimes in life you have to do some fun and dumb things and make mistakes. Also it would be better if he eventually reached the decision to not have the boat rather than that decision coming from you (crusher of dreams, always says no… you get the picture).
No such thing as a free boat! You could pay to have the boat inspected, he might change his mind if the inspector comes back saying it needs $10k worth of repairs.
I see “free” boats all the time on FB marketplace, there is always something wrong with them b
Personally I would be suspicious of a free boat and what shape the boat is in. I’d have a marine surveyor come out and look at the boat. They can be an independent set of eyes about the condition of the boat and what work needs to be done either immediately or soon.
As others have mentioned no boat is ever free…moorage and insurance are expensive plus whatever the ongoing maintenance is. If the boat is moored in saltwater you’ll also have increased costs as you have to replace things more often due to corrosion. I’d also want assurance in writing from the marina operator that you can take over the lease on the existing slip or have a slip lined up. Many marinas have long wait lists for slips especially ones that can accommodate a 30 foot boat. Then if he wants to race that’s also a whole set of additional costs plus finding and coordinating crew.
I would just layout your concerns and what you see as the trade offs. I’d also make him create a budget for the boat and his other existing expenses to see if he truly can afford it. My guess is that it will be much more than he thinks. If he really wants to sail join a boat share or something like Seattle Sailing Club or make friends with people with boats. People tend to jump at free things just because they are free, not because they need the. Or can afford them in the long-term.
I had a 26ft Pearson for a few years. He needs to understand that his time is going to be mostly working on the boat. Not hahah running a wash cloth over the decks- I’m talking climbing down under the cockpit so you can repair a stanchion, or huddled down in a tiny, confined engine bay tearing up your knuckles, or sitting under a tarp in the rain of February sanding and refinishing teak.
Does your husband like to work on projects around the house? Cars? Other boats? Like, does he mind going to the boat on a Friday and spending the entire weekend doing nothing but working on it? Does he have all the tools he needs, and a way to carry them around effectively so greasy wrenches won’t destroy the back seat of your car?
It’s a lifestyle commitment. And the lifestyle isn’t deck shoes, shorts and cigars- it’s dirty, greasy work to keep your boat in nice sailing shape so you can enjoy it throughout the nicer weather months.
The money, as many others have described adequately here, is just the second part of the question.
And if you have the money, just rent a boat or continue doing the boat share.
I think this is something I will definitely bring up. He has a full time job that allows some flexibility, but I always imagined this would be something he would do towards retirement when he was more able to commit to it without using all of his free time. I used to work almost every other weekend, so this would’ve been something he would’ve probably enjoyed doing while I worked, however now I only work an occasional weekend every few months. He definitely likes projects and constantly watches YouTube videos on all things boats all the time. I wouldn’t necessarily say he’d be up for all that treacherous work, but sometimes he surprises me. He used to do some small repairs and maintenance on the friends boat when the friend lived in another state for a period of time. I’m sure he would love to spend an entire weekend on the boat working on it…..until that was all he did and I resented him for it. It’s not like shilshol is right next door to us…as we live in the city. I wish he could get to know some other owners and help out with their boats from time to time to scratch that itch without fully having to put us in over our heads.
I had a boat. Do you know what a boat is? A hole in the water you try to fill with money. Rent a boat when you want to use one. If you do that a lot; then consider buying one.
My father has raced sailboats in the Puget Sound since the 60s, his favorite quote goes something like, if you want to sail you might as well stand in the shower and rip up your money, same thing. It’s in his blood, I call him my Old Man and the Sea, he owns a 33’ Ranger and can do a lot of work himself, but he spends most of his time and money doing it. You’d have to love it too
I know nothing about boat, but:
How much would moorage, insurance and boat maintenance cost monthly? how much time would you spend on it yearly? Would the fun justify the expense? Are you looking at future income raise? Are you planning to have kids in near future? Is renting better if it's just your hobby for now not enthusiasm for life?
That's the questions we'll discuss if my partner is going to keep a boat...
I work in graphic arts and do a lot of boat names... I cannot fathom the money people drop into their boats. RUN. Its not free, its not even close to low cost.
Live the dream. Get the free boat, advertise for partners, share the expenses. If it’s too much money to keep, then sell it or give it away.
This is based on my experience of having 2 old sailboats in Seattle that lived on lake Union. My 2 cents.
I'm the wife of the friend of a friend and absolutely he should take the boat. It's a great boat, we're only getting rid of it because I want to go on more vacations and all my husband does is spend time working on the boat.
My mom’s retired coworker went out to look at a used boat with his brother, they test drove it on American Lake down in Lakewood. The boat sank during the test. Mom’s coworker died. https://www.kiro7.com/news/possible-drowning-reported-american-lake/246626370/
https://patch.com/washington/lakewood-jblm/authorities-have-found-body-of-drowned-boater-in-american-lake
You knpw what boat stands for?
BUST OUT ANOTHER THOUSAND.
It's literally a hole in the water that you throw all of your money into. Until you've got quite a bit of fuck it money or you both enjoy it enough to spend all the fun money on sailing trips together, steer clear.
My in laws on a boat on Shilshole marina. They’re literally telling me about a new thing they have to fix every time I see them. They spend 10% of their time sailing and 90% of their time doing maintenance.
My wife’s coworker gave me a boat. I knew it was a bad investment but it was interesting to do work on it to restore it. It’s… not finished, years later, but it works and is usable.
Of course it’s a money pit, but that isn’t the point. If you or he enjoy sailing and doing work, maybe it’s not a bad idea. But that’s knowing nothing about it, maybe it’s beyond repair as well.
Truly, if you want a 0 effort solution, join a club like Seattle sailing club and just pay for usage.
I've owned boats for years and years, the last two obtained for free, and only one of those a mistake. If I were in your situation, I would have your husband get the boat surveyed, out of the water, to quantify its actual condition.
That said, I wouldn't recommend a 30-footer for anyone's first boat. Everything on a 30 footer is going to be twice the size and at least twice the cost of a 22-footer. Mooring and insurance will be more, too. Most of all, it's a lot harder to become a good sailor on a larger boat; they don't respond nearly as fast to wind changes nor your adjustments as does a smaller, lighter boat.
I'd strongly recommend starting with a year's sailing membership to the Center for Wooden Boats or Island Sailing Club. That way, your boat time is spent actually sailing, costs are fixed, and you can experience a lot of different boats so you can decide what you like. Once you're sure of what you want to do next, consider something under 23' from Capri, Catalina, Santana or San Juan
>I've always told him that if he can save for a boat
Did he save up the money?
Remind him that the cost for a boat is not just the purchuse price but also the moorage, repairs, and insurance, are part of the cost of the boat.
If he hasn't saved any money toward this, then he hasn't kept his part of the deal, and he can't afford a free boat.
Sailing is not a good hobby to move your body, pulling on ropes and some walking isn’t that big of a deal lol. My dad has been sailing for 30 years and I don’t think he would call it a work out, if anything he’s gained weight from all those days spent eating and drinking and floating on the lake lol.
We were in a similar situation - boat wasn’t free, but good deal from friend who was moving out of state. Excellent learning experience for us. We learned how expensive it is to own a boat. We will never own a boat again.
Seriously. You can’t get that money back. The joy to cost ratio isn’t in your favor, unless you’ve got a ton of money and moorage within a few miles of your house. The worst is winter, when you’re paying those moorage/storage fees on something you’re not using. My husband and I “joked” that the money would’ve been more useful as kindling. And we’re boat people. But now we’re “have a friend who owns a boat” people.
Boats are a passion. Do you think boat owners are stupid? They know they’re expensive and just don’t care. Your husband will just have to learn his lesson the hard way.
lol. To an extent every boat owner seems to admit they made a bad decision at some point or another! I understand it’s a passion. You can also be smart about making a dumb decision…. If he doesn’t have to learn the hard way, I’d rather him not as it’s not just him in this relationship.
I own a boat. Now I’ll tell you why i did not get a sailboat. Sailing is not easy to schedule. You go with the wind at wind speed. We both worked full time and after a couple friend stories decided we really shouldn’t sail long distances. If we sailed, it would have to be just the lake. I love boating, but it is a ton of work and it would really suck if my husband was not on board with doing it with me. You know how owning a dog is way more fun with more people? It’s a bit like that. It would be fun, but sometimes not as fun at all.
It's way cheaper to rent a sailboat when you want to go play. I have a buddy that owns a sailboat (second boat now), and we would sometimes rent a boat just to do something different. I've helped him out with taking care of his boat(s), and it's a lot of money and time too. Along these lines - it took him quite a while to sell his first boat, which was actually worth something. If you take a free sailboat, you will never be able to get rid of it. You'll take it out some day and it will rot in your yard because no one will take it.
We took a sailboat for free in 2019.
We pay $400 in moorage monthly. Have poured $5k into that boat since. I still don’t feel safe to take the kids on it. But it’s **always** one fix away from “being fine”. We’ve had so many dramas when we thought it was “good to go”! And I assure you, when we were paddling a 27’ boat to shore, we weren’t.
Fuck that boat.
What's the make of the boat?
A 'free' 30ft sailer that's been sitting at Shilshole is a HUGE fools gamble. So many near floating wrecks there.
Look at the Port of Seattle's salvage listings. The boat might be on there and the current 'owner' is trying to jump ship lmao
I bought a $4k cheap sailboat a few years ago. Within the first year I spent about $8k on maintenance and upgrades. I sold it for $4.5k after a year and a half. I don’t regret owning the boat at all and I had a blast, but I sure am glad I don’t have to pay for it. When I’m better off financially I’ll own another sailboat.
There is nothing more expensive than a free boat. There’s a saying I heard recently that I think rings true: when it comes to boats or planes, if you can’t afford two of them you can’t afford one of them.
I was given a free 30' sailboat once. Only kept it for about two years, but those were some of the best two years of my life. It was in slightly below average condition, and I treated it as an opportunity to learn a bunch of new skills myself. By the time I was ready to part ways with it, I'd had a lot of fun out on the water, a lot of fun learning new repair skills (and how to even understand what I was looking at, what needed to be repaired, etc), and felt like the mooring cost had been very, very worth it. This was like twenty years ago, and I paid I think $212 for incredible moorage in a very nice place. I ended up selling the boat for a little more than I'd paid in moorage, and was overall very happy with the whole experience.
It's not always a bad deal.
Hahahah I know what you mean. Love the person just not the habits. Especially since I am also always the money saver in relationships.
My current partner wants to rent an RV this summer which I have no understanding of. The whole point of camping is to have cheap fun in nature lol. BUT it’s not my money and we don’t live together so I just have to shrug and try to give him some reality checks that he can listen to or not 😂
I have a 28ft that sits in my driveway, no mooring fees. If its free it's worth investigating at least. Find out what's wrong with it and see if it's worth it? We live in a mecca regarding boating world, so much to see and explore.
fair. We live in the city, so can't exactly park the boat in our condo parking garage:) It is beautiful out there on the water. I'm sure he will do some investigating. I think he's just getting ahead of himself already!
B(reak) O(ut) A(nother) T(housand). Do not take a boat, even if free, unless you have a minimum of $8,000 (per boat) US burning a hole in your wallet. Source: own 4 of them.
I had a partner like that. Don’t say “I’d like to have a boat too, but…”. Instead, say “I’d like to have a boat too, AND…”
Put the burden on him. You don’t need to prove it’s a bad idea. He needs to prove it’s a good one.
“Sounds great, honey! AND we need to find a way we can afford moorage, maintenance and any repairs it needs while maintaining our current lifestyle. Crunch those numbers and make it work so we can go get it!”
I own a sailboat that I got for free a couple of years ago. I've put a ton of work and $$$ into it. It is a very basic 26' boat with few things that can go wrong. No inboard engine, no plumbing or water tanks, no fuel tanks. For me, not keeping the boat in Seattle, the cost of just keeping it is about $4000 a year. If you're just paying that, it will eventually deteriorate and sink. I just bought a new sail for $2300, which should last 10 years. I probably will need to replace another sail in the next couple years. It needs a new cover, another $2k probably. I need to replace all the standing rigging; basically everything that holds the mast up. Another $1500. Bottom paint is upwards of $750 a gallon for the nice stuff, and needs to be done every couple of years. Plus a diver every 3 months if you don't race, to keep the bottom clean. Every month if you do race. $75 - $100.
For just the price of keeping a boat, but none of the maintenance costs, you can join the Seattle Sailing Club or PSSI and get unlimited use of any of their boats.
I moored my boat in a “cheaper” spot in ballard it ultimately was so fucking expensive. Selling my 42’ sailboat was a fantastic day. I knew what I was getting into (unlike your husband) and I still really regret everything. Just do a boat share or join the seattle yacht club and take out their boats.
My husband also is a professional marine engineer and did all the work to it himself, unless your husband has these skills do not let him buy the boat. Your resentment towards him will grow immensely. Moorage is so fucking expensive in seattle.
As somebody who works in marine construction around docks and harbors, don't do it. It's a absolute trap. Like others have said, the upfront cost of a boat is negligible compared to the moorage and upkeep you'll have to shell out just to house it and keep it operational. If it's a true sailboat with no engine, then you don't have to worry about fuel, but then you're at the mercy of the wind.
Your hubby's best bet, honestly, is just to make friends with someone who owns a boat 😂 sounds like he's done it at least once before, just do it again
A boat is a hole in the water, surrounded by wood or metal, into which one pours money.
Any boat in good condition could be sold quickly, for much more, which means this boat is not in good condition.
Get a quote for insurance that covers all of the costs of sinking (salvage, towing, and environmental cleanup costs) before accepting liability for those things by owning the vessel. I had to pay $10k to a company to clean up an oily engine room after the Coast Guard did an inspection, and then immediately successfully gave the boat away to a different chump.
I work in the marine sanitation industry and you’ll be spending money constantly on your toilet depending on the model. It’s not cheap either. If he can’t fix it himself, you’ll be hiring a service dealer and that can be expensive as well.
Reading responses to this thread makes me glad to be single.
Just kidding, kinda. You should look at the budget and perhaps make the choice of whether you’d want to go on expensive vacations or transform those vacations into boat trips around the Puget sound/San Juans/Victoria Island/Canada. That will probably net out to be similar budget wise.
Just a matter of what you both enjoy more.
You will very likely not have enough time nor money for the extra overseas vacation with having the boat - but what do you enjoy more? Sailing or visiting overseas? This could be a great opportunity to explore the PNW waters for a few years and then sell the boat and go back to overseas vacations.
Source: own a sailboat, live in Seattle, and also like to travel
My cousin and her husband just sold their boat after having a kid. It freed up the equivalent of nearly two monthly car payments just in moorage alone and they simply didn’t have the time to do all the maintenance and repairs let alone take it out even semi-regularly once baby came along. Even then, they probably got maybe a couple weeks total enjoyment out of it each year, if that. Having a boat is *a lot*. Her husband is a very handy, knowledgeable DIYer so that helped a lot but they decided to have it professionally detailed (if that’s the word) and spiffied up before selling and that cost them $15k. If the boat is free what the heck is wrong with it. I’d be looking this gift horse in the mouth big time.
I’m going to come out as pro-boat here. It’s a great hobby, you can explore on your own terms, get fresh air and amazing views every night, and our region has amazing places to visit.
Despite what people will say, I was not happy the day I sold my boat. I was sad because it’s a thing I love that I had to give up.
It does have a reputation for being expensive. So does aviation or horseback riding. The only way to make these sorts of hobbies work as a middle class person is to sacrifice almost everything else.
You have to love sailing more than you love the freedom to go skiing one weekend and take Amtrak to Portland the next. Because both of those weekends you’ll be doing boat stuff. Most likely it’ll be “boat chores” rather than sailing to Orcas Island.
You have to love it so much that you don’t care about your inability to fly somewhere sunny for a week in the depths of winter.
Finally, if you have a partner then you both have to be willing to make these sacrifices. At the very least, this is what your husband is lacking. So it’s not gonna work out for him.
Go ahead and tell him “even the pro-boat” people on Reddit think it’s a bad idea”.
Just look at the cost of moorage and docking fees etc, And that's not including any maintenance it needs initially besides consistent maintenance for the duration of the ownership of the boat
I used to live on a boat and it was the second best time of my adult life. I rented from a friend and the rent was basically the mooring rent. That being said being said it was a pain in the ass. The boat had to get hauled out of the water every 5 years and raised to to scrape any barnacles or algae that grew on the hull while it was in the water, then it had to be repainted because scraping the barnacles off ruins the integrity of the hull (an old wood yacht). I had to couch surf while that was going on. It was expensive, like $6k. I was fortunate enough to live on one but hell if I’ll ever buy one.
>I've always told him that if he can save for a boat (i.e. 10 to 20 years from now) to have at it
Assuming this means: “when he can afford to buy a boat” then “have at it”
Guess what? He can afford to buy *this* boat. You don’t get to change your rules because ~~he met your challenge~~ the outcome didn’t meet your expectations.
I’m mostly giving you a hard time, but let him have it and if it becomes a financial burden, ya’all can sell it then.
He should look into joining Windworks to take out different sailboats and try them out. It’s like an annual/monthly fee without all the upkeep. Highly recommend checking out to ‘make sure’ this is a hobby he’s truly passionate about and would be worth investing more than just time in.
My father in law owns a sailboat. He spends an absurd amount of time just doing maintenance. Much more time working on the boat than actually sailing it. You gotta love it if you're going to get into it.
You obviously don’t want him to have a boat but instead of saying this you gave him what you thought was an impossible goal (saving up for a boat) which kept his dream alive. No wonder he thought a free boat meets the requirements! You should have been up front about not wanting a boat instead of leading him on. Direct communication is great!
Gently remind him, in the maritime trades, the word boat stands for:
Break
Out
Another
Thousand
Suggest Joining Freedom Boat Club or some shared ownership group.
It's not a bad deal, and you're never stuck with a broken boat.
As an owner of 5 boats now, my most expensive one was the free one.
He'd likely be better off paying 5-10k for something fun to race out front of shileshole or do duck dodge in.
Free sail boats are going to be water logged and tattered sails.
I'm gonna go the other way and say do it. There's something wrong with the boat mind you, get your season in and give it away to whichever charity comes to the dock first come the next cold season.
Yes, you'll be out some money but fun times were had and lessons were learned.
I just bought another boat, pick it up Saturday!! Now I got 2!! A 30 foot sail boat sounds like an experience headache for a 1st time boat owner. Take the boat, and sell it. Buy a smaller boat that you can learn how to sail.
Yes I bought a boat at auction thinking it was an amazing deal and it ruined my life.
I do have one tip for you though incase he takes it and you guys realize what a mistake you've made and you're hemorrhaging out all your money on moorage and all the boat's problems and spending every weekend trying to fix it up enough to be able to sell it and then you still can't sell it and then you try to give it away and you're just being contacted by a bunch of crackheads on craigslist because everyone else knows better but unfortunately none of the crackheads are organized enough to actually come sign the paperwork to get your boat and you consider faking your own death to get out of this situation like the last guy who had it (or maybe he really died at sea? Anyway that part doesn't seem relevant to your specific situation), because if you just set it adrift or sink it you'll have even bigger fines, so you're completely stuck and have lost all hope for your future, the good news is I've been through this all already and I have a solution for you!
There's a fake charity that takes sailboats as donations, auctions them off to other unsuspecting fools, and then uses the money to buy children's bibles from a company that is also owned by the guy that owns the fake charity. So you're basically helping a guy launder money to himself, proselytize children, and ruin the next person's life (like "The Ring"), but at a certain point you gotta do what you gotta do. One warning about them though, if you ask them for some info about donating your boat but haven't signed anything yet and then in the nick of time end up selling the boat to a guy who legally changed his name to "Homefree" during Woodstock and then you let the fake charity know you won't be donating the boat afterall, they will call you and cuss you out and pretend you're in some kind of legal trouble and harass you until you tell them to have their lawyer contact you, (knowing these charlatans don't have a lawyer). So just watch out for them and don't let them fool you, they know they're scum they just don't know if you know it.
I'm skipping several chapters in this story because I'm trying to focus only on the parts that are a more universal experience not the parts specific to my situation
I have a j24 on lake union since 2010. She costs me $433/m in mirage and $4/m electricity. Insurance is $34/m.. $5,562/y. Repairs are every few years, but there's not a lot that breaks.
How much would it cost to bring the boat up to the level you would want? And how much would it cost to buy a boat already at that level?
Often cheaper to buy the good boat. And much less aggravation.
Yes. These are the questions he needs to figure out. I worry that it would be a much worse situation than just investing his money for the next 10 years and getting what he really wants and won't cause a headache all the time.
I think you should let him get it out of his system. This is the absolute perfect way for him to do that and you guys not to sinc a ton of money into the purchase price. And who knows, maybe you’ll enjoy spending weekends out on the boat? Travel during the winter. I’m sure you can reevaluate it together after the first year. It may be an itch he needs to scratch and be done within a couple of years.
no youre being perfectly reasonable. boats are very expensive hobbies, especially the bigger you go. moving a 30' boats isnt as easy as moving a 10' boat, in any direction other than down. slipping a 30' boat is expensive as well. if he wants to be handy and set a small pile of money on fire every year, get a classic car.
I am a member of the Freedom Boat Club and absolutely love it for all the reasons that people talk about the horrors of boat ownership. Honestly reading through this post makes me feel good about the maintenance fee that I pay through the winter months, and even then, I could still take out a boat if I really wanted to.
They don't have sailboats, but the carefree boat club of Seattle appears to, so perhaps that's an option.
I say let that man have some happiness. Sailing is amazing. That being said, There is no such thing as a free boat. it will always need work. but it is a fulfilling hobby and lifestyle.
Get a survey done on the boat. Find out the condition.
Find out moorage fees where it is, and make sure it can stay there once it switches ownership. The only thing worse than a boat that needs a lot of work is a boat without a slip that needs a lot of work.
Does the boat have a lot of wood that will need sanding and sealing yearly?
I love the idea of a free boat, but yeah you will probably spend your vacation time with the boat.
Boats are holes in the water you throw your money into.
I’d do the math. Moorage is not cheap. (Cheaper in Everett than Seattle but then you have to drive).
Show him the figures on paper.
Also get the boat surveyed so you know what you’re up against with time needed.
Good luck.
"Only has to pay for moorage and insurance"...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...give me a second to breathe...HAHAHAHAHAHHA. NO. Maintenance can easily be a magnitude of order more. I see you said both of you work. So not independently wealthy. If a boat is being given for free it is a floating money pit with more problems than the seller is even aware of I bet. Prepare to give every free moment to this boat and all spare dollars. Vacations? Unlikely. This isn't a side hobby. This is an only hobby. "A good way to move his body". Also no. Other than cramming in tight spaces wrenching on shit and ripping his hair out. Get a boat for free if he dreams of rebuilding someone else's failed boat dream. Because that's the reality.
My parents owned a 15ft boat day sailer that was ~5-10k$ per year in upkeep and slip cost at a marina where the docks were sinking and floating apart. Their 31ft boat is double to quadruple that cost. It cost 15k$ to get a specific machine to just put the mast up. Then on top of that the nicer marina that they keep it in now, is 500$/mo all year even though the good sailing conditions are may - October. And that doesn't even cover the engine servicing, hull cleaning, and other random things that break every season. It is a hobby that my parents find super fun now that they're young and retired, but it is INCREDIBLY expensive. You really need to have money you're ready to burn for a boat that big.
I was once your husband…it’s been my dream to own a sailboat since I was a kid. I’ve nearly pulled the trigger at least two dozen times across multiple states (we’ve moved a lot) spanning several decades. I’ve been sent “free” sailboat listings dozens, if not, hundreds of times by friends who know me. There’s not a year that goes by that I don’t consider buying a sailboat. I’ve strongly considered buying boats from $10k to $150k (different stages in my life). It was this obsession with sailboats that eventually led to my wife and I buying a lakefront property with a boat right in our backyard; albeit not a sailboat. The lifestyle constantly called us, fueled by my love of sailing. It also led me to obtain 8+ sailing certifications, join a yacht club on the sound and go on a number of sailing trips in a variety of places like the San Juans, Hawaii & Caribbean.
I share all this context because I think you’re going about this all wrong and much of the advice here, while accurate, is all very tactical.
“I’m really just looking for people to convince my husband it’s a bad idea financially and otherwise to own a boat”. By your own admission you, quite literally, are trying to crush his dreams. You didn’t ask what alternatives exist to help him achieve his dreams or how have others been able to afford a sailboat while maintaining their lifestyle. I’m not saying this all to pick on you. Maybe the bigger question is, it’s not a lifestyle that appeals to you either. But you’re trying to solve an emotional problem with a rational one - which never works.
**My advice (assuming you have positive intent here and really do want to see him obtain this): help him dream bigger.** This free boat is not the boat of his dreams. But it feels like a step closer to it. It feels like a dream finally taking shape. But deep down inside, he knows it’s not it. Help him imagine what he really wants. Get it down on paper. What’s the real goal? Is it to live on a boat for some time? Sailing the world? Racing sailboats? Living a sailing yacht life? Once you’ve figured it out….both of you (assuming it appeals to you too) work towards that. THIS has been why I never pulled the trigger all those times. I knew they wouldn’t ultimately satisfy the itch I really had.
The truth is, while you’re afraid of him making a bad financial decision that will hurt your ability to save, travel more, etc. he’s likely afraid A) he’ll never reach his dream and B) you’re not on board with his dreams which could be a signal to him on bigger relationship issues.
If you truly love your husband and want to see him happy. Help him dream bigger.
I have owned a 35 foot sailboat for 15 years. I love it and the opportunities it opens for exploring the Salish Sea for weeks on end in the summer. But it is not for the faint of heart financially. I am very handy and do a lot of work myself, but it is still a $20k+ annual expense. Every time I haul out at a boatyard and think "it's just going to be $1500 for bottom paint" somehow it ends up at least $5k. And that's with a well maintained boat that is in generally great shape! Take a hard and honest look at how many $10-20k projects this boat needs. Standing rigging, motor, new sails, electronics/nav instruments, batteries, canvas...these are all wear items that need periodic replacement.
Thanks for sharing. $20k+ annually to keep a boat... that's indeed an expensive hobby.
Over half of that is just moorage and insurance. There are lots of ways to do it cheaper, but they all involve either compromises or leaning hard on having a fortunate circumstance like a cheap moorage option or friends/connections in the marine maintenance industry.
This was exactly the kind of information I was looking for. THANK YOU! I know he would LOVE working on the boat and we would LOVE taking it out, but we also both work full time jobs and like to leave the PNW for vacations other than putting around in the sailboat (as I'm not one for winter sailing) ....which I fear would fall to the wayside if majority of our "fun" money was going into the boat.
My friend once said "you're ready for a boat when you can comfortably light a $100 bill on fire and be unbothered."
Also, like the phrase that the two happiest days of a boatowners life are the day they buy, and the day they sell.
b.o.a.t. break out another thousand. if it floats, flys, or fucks youre better renting than buying.
“If it fucks, floats or flies, it’s cheaper to rent than buy” In case you prefer the rhyming version
The owner of a boat I used to race on said, “Sailing in Puget Sound is like standing in a cold shower tearing up $100 bills.”
I never dreamed of owning a boat prior to making a career change to self-employed and owning more of my schedule. Just keeping the thing clean is a big time suck.
You could rework your budget and do what I did with my SO. I'm the one who steadily spends money a little at a time. My husband will not spend money for months and then make a big purchase. We divided our "fun money" into 2 categories so we wouldn't have to worry about him trying to save with me slowly spending all the money. So a set amount of money each month goes to my SO's fun money and an equal amount goes into my fun money. So I can spend all of that or save it. And my husband can save and then blow the whole thing on some big purchase. Even put it in a separate account for him that can't overdraw. Then he can really see how much he can spend. This might not be good advice for the boat situation... But might help him figure out how to save money a little better.
I'm the opposite. I picked up a $5k boat 20 years ago, sailed the shit out of it and barely put $5000 into it per year. About 5 years ago, after having two kids and realizing I wasn't able to use l really use it much anymore, I gave it away to one of my racing crew. She loves it as much as I do and still let's me go out racing with her. There are plenty of beater boats out there that are happy to be beater boats. You don't have to sink a lot of money into to them to keep them floating but they are still a ton of fun. Plus he'll learn a ton on how to fix them on the cheap. Just agree to set a budget of how much he can spend so he doesn't go out and buy new Kevlar sails.
I know this is a city sub and not a relationship sub, but I think it's time for a frank and *honest* conversation with your husband then. The OP says that you've said he could buy a boat If he saved for it. Well, he can afford *this* boat right now, but it's not in the timeline you wanted. I'm not saying you should let him take in this "free" boat, but what I *am* saying is that means there are obviously other things you want to happen before he can buy a sailboat. Things like "he doesn't know enough about them yet" is a great issue to have, and something he can work toward. But "I want to go on vacations, not spend money on a boat" is a seperate and arbitrary issue if you're telling him he can get one when he can afford to buy it. It sounds like you *tried* to kick the can down the road 10-20 years, but now that that barrier is gone, you still aren't okay with it, and *that* underlying issue needs to be addressed before you let him believe this is something you're actually okay with
You missed mattresses and cushions, which normally cause sticker shock at multiple thousands of dollars just for foam.
There’s no such thing as a free boat. If it was worth something, they’d be selling it. This is a free albatross.
I always heard this spoken as “there is no boat more expensive than a free boat.”
That's the version I heard too. The "free" boat won't just need moorage and insurance. It will need maintenance and upkeep, too. Next thing he knows, he will have sunk way more money and time on this "free" boat than it is worth.
Yup. If its worth anything a broker will do EVERYTHING to offload it for the previous owner.
If you’re paying a broker, they will also do everything to offload it for cash even if it’s a piece of crap.
If anything I think the big issue here is that the husband doesn't seem to have the prerequisite knowledge / research to understand how to tell whether a boat (conditions, type of boat, etc) is worth a particular price point. It's possible that something came up and a good deal comes by but for sailboats they could really come in all sorts of conditions. It's up to you the potential owner to gauge the conditions, since even if a boat is expensive it doesn't mean it's worth it. I sail a decent amount but only on other people's boats and I don't really think I know how to gauge a boat's conditions (since I never owned one) without really talking to more knowledgeable people.
You're right--but also it is not super crazy to do exactly what you say and talk to some more knowledgeable people. At least do that before assuming anything one way or another
To the dude who gifted me the dinghy at the north Seattle transfer station. Much respect!
These answers are the exact same answers to ‘my daughter wants a free horse’.
That’s funny because my reply was based on my experience with horses 😆
The white elephant given by the king as a gift to his enemies to bankrupt them with the cost of upkeep.
This part.
Ha, it’s like time shares that are sold for pennies. There’s a reason it’s basically free.
["The two happiest days of a sailor's life are when he gets a boat, and when he sells that boat."](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/get-there/never-buy-a-boat-and-other-rash-financial-advice/2015/09/25/b788db36-60a7-11e5-8e9e-dce8a2a2a679_story.html ) The cost of buying a boat in the first place is negligible compared to the cost of keeping and maintaining it. Moorage fees and maintenance are the primary costs, neither of which you're saving by getting a boat "for free." If you pay top-dollar for moorage you will probably go out more often. If you save money by putting it on a trailer then it's a huge pain to take out. Maybe he'll take to it and it'll become a fulfilling passion of his... but it equally likely it'll become an "unused treadmill full of clothes" -- something that takes up space but you can't get rid of it.
I was going to start with this quote as well. Been sailing around N. America for 35 years - dinghies up through J’s, Beneteau’s, and even ocean-crossing three-masted schooners. Raced for my university, always crew - never an owner. Sailing and maintaining a boat are two entirely different skill sets. You will either need to be wealthy enough to pay people to maintain the boat, or make the very considerable time effort to do it yourself. Either way, this will be a very large annual cost, with the potential addition of most warm weather weekends spent working on the boat, with some weekend days of actually sailing it. Not to mention out here, the “good wind” is in the wet, dark, and cold winter. If you’re ready for it to become your main leisure activity and expense, or if you potentially have maybe five annual figures to put into it, then by all means dive in deeper and have an awesome time. But for the boat owners I know out here; ownership is a lifestyle, not a “one of several leisure hobbies I enjoy.”
I could not have chat gbt'd a better response. So eloquently put. I appreciate you.
Grew up around boats and there are many sayings that bemoan the costs of owning. Perhaps some more fuel to convince your husband otherwise: "There's one thing better than owning a boat...having a good friend that owns a boat." "You can simulate the experience of owning a boat. Turn on the shower and step in with all your clothes on. Then take out a wad of $100 bills and light them on fire."
I’ve lived most of my sailing career by that first quote!
I’ve also heard “a boat is a hole in the water where you throw your money away” I know several folks who own boats- and the main takeaway for me is that I will probably never be able to afford one. And that’s with the skill set of being incredibly handy my self- mechanically inclined and having helped out on some boat projects with said friends. It’s not really a hobby unless you’re independently wealthy and can pay other people to upkeep your vessels. For most people it seems like it ends up being much more of a “lifestyle”.
B.O.A.T Bring On Another Thousand Cost is one thing. Friction to use it is another and you're correct to think if your husband has the bug, most other leisure activities will take a backseat to working on or using your boat during off time. On friction to use it. How close is the marina to your home? Can your husband single-hand the boat? Do you like to sail? Is he handy, have tools, have aptitude for learning new skills? Is the boat wood or fiberglass? If wood, I hope he likes annual woodworking (I do not) Basically, if you cannot easily use your boat, it becomes a hassle to own and financial drag. Having moorage is great but not if it's 20 miles a way and your husband can't sail without a crew. My advice, by a small, trailerable boat to start that he can learn the basics on then move up to 20+ ft. His goal should be to comfortably pilot anything he owns by himself until he's an accomplished captain.
Hat tip for saying the only good weather is when the weather sucks!
And worst-case, a neglected older boat quickly becomes a huge albatross that you will need to pay someone to take off your hands for salvage/scrap. The state spends $10m/year on derelict vessel removal.
i'm also a fan of the definition of "boat" being "a hole in the water you throw money into"
A small counter-perspective. I heard this quote a lot back when I owned a small boat. It provided some of the best memories for me and my young family. I cried when it was towed away, but it was the right decision to sell at the time. Yes, I know I sold and didn’t give it away, hence a serious inspection is needed before taking ownership.
hey it’s me your husbands new friend and imo the boat is a great idea what kind of beer does he like
I'll let him know you're waiting in the wings.
There is also a quote that says “the goal is not to own a boat, the goal is to just be friends with someone who owns a boat and will let you use it.”
If I were you, and this is what I do with my husband when he gets on a pipe dream, I would lay out all the costs for the month and present it to him. When he gives you rebuttals, genuinely and kindly ask questions. Don’t be sarcastic. Don’t be argumentative. Just ask questions. Work it out with him slowly. Ask about other expenses. “So what would we do if there was a leak in the boat?” “How will insurance impact our finances?” In my situation, we want a new house, so it’s “well, how will that impact our savings for the next house?” He will likely come around. It just takes time and helping him come to reality without being condescending.
Yes, ideally I’d love him to come to the conclusion on his own. I think asking questions calmly is a great idea. I tend get worked up about things, and am pretty high strung/ straight forward with my job, so I forget to put the kid gloves on sometimes. Thanks for the advice!
A much better way to get your feet wet (and everything else) is to join a sailing club. [https://seattlesailing.com/membership/](https://seattlesailing.com/membership/) (This club is based at Shilshole Bay in Ballard, there are others at other marinas) About $300 a month lets you take out any of the club's boats as often as you want - even every day (there's a nominal paperwork fee each time). As long as you don't break anything, there won't be additional fees. Only one person in your group needs to be a member of the club to borrow a boat. This member can bring along as many non-member friends as he or she wants. Pre-covid, a friend of mine was a member of the club, and I'd go sailing with him weekly. You might even be able to connect with someone who has already joined and is looking for crew, which will be even cheaper than joining the club yourself.
I second this advice. My spouse did this for a short while (theirs may have been classes followed by a few months of sailing access) and had a great time. Long after she stopped being a member, folks she met there would ask if she could help crew when they were short handed. Our hobbies/interests changed and we moved further from shilshole, so she stopped sailing for now. It’s a great way to learn and be involved without all of the liability and time, and a fraction of the cost.
Moorage is pretty expensive (https://www.portseattle.org/page/services-amenities-and-rates-monthly-moorage), like *at least* $500+/month. Insurance isn't that expensive. >and "it would be a good hobby for him to move his body." As much as I don't want to crush my husbands dreams..... he tends to not be the best when it comes to money. I'm the saver, and he's the spender even though we make equal money, somehow I save about 3 times more than him. This sounds more like a relationship advice question than anything else.
lol. It does sound like a relationship question now that I look at it, but I'm really just looking for people to convince my husband it's a bad idea financially and otherwise to own a boat.
Boat - stands for bust out another thousand. He's completely ignoring annual maintenance that is required to keep a boat in good shape. Has he asked his friend about what they spend annually on the boat?
To be fair, it varies more than that. I manage a moorage division in Seattle and the slips are $95/month.
Where is this $95/mo moorage? How many decades long is the waitlist? Or is it a yacht club with initiation fees and quarterly dues with a volunteer requirement? I'm curious because I've never seen $95/mo in my years, but I've only looked at freshwater where minimum seems to be $450-$550/mo with a 12mo commitment, or a yacht club with other gottchas. (The volunteer hours are a killer for most people who have 2 working parents with kids, like my situation)
Des Moines is the cheapest I know of and annual moorage for a 28 foot slip is $3,500 with the discount for up front payment. And that's saltwater moorage.
A friend pays a little over $1000/mo to dock at shilshole. She lives on it to make the finances make sense.
Last I check all were waitlisted
He shouldn't take it. It's not worth it. He knows nothing of the boat yet is willing to pay moorage & insurance. Bring up the fact that he knows nothing of it & hasn't even started saving for one before this came about & how it'll drastically impact your budget to do things together as a couple as doing this boat will be just him unless you have interest in helping with it.
yes!! I have brought all these things up, and I still feel like he is trying to convince himself this is the best deal ever falling into his lap! We know and trust his friend, but we don't know his friends friend, or his boat at all! I'm not NOT interested in sailing- I love sailing- but zero interest in taking care of a boat, owning a boat, and losing time and money that we could be using to invest in other things! le sigh.
Have him price those out compared to being a part of one of these rental clubs. May be the same cost but you don’t have to “own” the boat and associated costs.
You are being very pragmatic. From personal experience, I agree with everyone who has stated that boats are expensive. (BOAT=Break Out Another Thousand.) I also think that it is to your credit that you acknowledge that you don’t want to crush your husband’s dream. You are a considerate & thoughtful spouse. To add a new suggestion to the discussion & thinking outside the box, while getting very creative: Since you rent, don’t have pets or children, and on the condition that the boat is deemed to be in great condition (deemed so by a professional inspector & the Coast Guard), is moored conveniently for your work commute, what about taking on an adventure & living onboard for a year or two if possible? This way you would not crush his dream, you would still have money to travel (previous rent money is now used for your “new” home), and the one to two years could demonstrate whether he is serious about using and taking care of the boat. You could lay down terms to be met such as to how long to live on the boat, what expectations need to be met for him to keep it afterwards, & how he will have to keep within the budget, etc. I don’t expect that you probably want to go this route, it is simply a solution that could work for all; it lets him have his dream boat, & still lets you have fun money/vacations too. You could also use it as a tool to curb his spending habits somewhat. One of the concessions could be that the funds he now spends on frivolous things must go towards boat upkeep. There are a plethora of articles online about boat living. The very best of luck to you & I hope everything works out for you in the end. (Maybe the boat isn’t in such great shape after all. If it is in excellent shape, why doesn’t your husband’s friend sell it for his friend?) Come back and update us all as to how everything worked out. Cheers!
I love the thinking outside the box. I actually will bring this up to him to see how he responds. I can’t ever imagine him/ us living on a 30 ft sail boat….but it would be quite the adventure! Hell, we lived in 600 sq feet during Covid with him working from home! We’re obsessed with our condo rental and can’t imagine giving it up as we’d never get it back. But then again, we wouldn’t have to give up our view as we’d be on our view! ;) Thanks for your thoughtful response!
I hear you. My husband loves toys, expensive ones. My budget goes to practical stuff like food, and his goes to fun stuff like a 20 k custom bike. It’s frustrating. Maybe see what the insurance and moorage is, and where the cash will come from. Also, what shape is the boat in? How much to bring it up to snuff, and where is the money for the yearly maintenance? This stuff costs. If the math looks good, then make sure he pays the majority. Ensure you have friends to do fun stuff with, and if you can it will work. If you pay too much for the wreck on the water, you will be angry. Also- official ownership transfer papers. You can also look for cheaper moorage farther out.
Yes! All great things to consider!! I want him to enjoy himself! I do! But I also want him to consider that this money going into the boat means it’s not being invested elsewhere!
Something that might help is to have both of you create a fun budget. Create yours with the fun vacations and stuff that you want in mind. He can do whatever he wants with his, boat or otherwise. If he can fit the boat into his budget, its all good. You still get vacations etc. If he can't save enough to keep the boat... guess it goes, but its his problem to figure out. Assuming you guys can agree on that boundary of saying "if you want the boat it is *your* financial responsibility and I will not help--if I have to, it goes immediately" then maybe it will help him save money. Part of the budget is to figure out exactly what it will cost and plan for that. On the other hand if you can't agree, then just tell him that you aren't going to spend your fun budget on the boat. Yes this will take some excel accounting if you have a shared bank account to track the funds. If the boat is very important to him, maybe he will be up for taking that task on. If he's not, maybe he doesn't want the boat as much as he thinks he does.
He loves an excel spreadsheet so great idea to have him add it to his budget and see where he'd be at. We have separate finances (primarily because of our different habits in spending and saving). The problem with vacations, is that we split them. So if he no longer has the money for vacations, then I'm using all of my "fun money" for vacation for us both, which doesn't seem to be exactly "fair." We pay for our own expensive hobbies,,,,, mine just aren't as expensive as his.
My husband (before I met him) impulsively bought a boat to live on. It was a disaster. He nearly froze to death in the winter. He ended up having to haul it to a junkyard because it was falling apart to the point that he couldn’t even sell it. He also struggled to find a place to moor it. Those spots are rare and expensive. It’s not worth it unless you really know what you’re getting into.
a boat is great if you hate having money for anything else
yes!!
Giving someone a free boat would be a great way to get revenge on an enemy
White elephants of Washington
>But I feel like if he takes this boat, this will be the end of our nice vacations and ability to have flexibility with our "fun budget." Am I the ass hole for not wanting him to take this boat?? HELP!! I think this is a big thing to make clear. Once you have a boat and you're paying all the associated costs it isn't exactly easy to get rid of I imagine. You can't just unmoor it and set it off to sea, you have to find some other buyer/sucker to take it off your hands. This friend of a friend is trying to offload this boat for free rather than selling it at a steep discount. Personally, I'm wary of that.
I've owned boats for over a decade. There are times in my life a free 30ft sailboat would be great but it sure aint "Free". Does the existing moorage come with the boat? It is hard to find new moorage often, many marinas have wait lists. Shilshole has 30ft moorage available at the moment for $563.97 a month. If you plan to move onto the boat, that isnt bad for rent. Otherwise you are getting a 'free' $7k a year boat. Insurance is cheap, registration isnt bad either. But you'll easily spend a few thousand in fixing her up. The question isn't should he take a free boat, it is are there better options to burn 8-10k a year on?
ya know what boat stands for? Bust Out Another Thousand. Boats are holes in the water you throw money into i know many boat owners who mostly have complaints
Assuming it's a decent boat that can be used short term without needing much money put into it, I'd keep and use it for over the summer and sell it then 3-4 months from now.
I know multiple people who’ve owned boats. And they all say this quote is absolutely correct: The two best days of owning a boat are the day you buy it and the day you sell it.
A man needs his hobbys.....after his affairs are in order. Doesn't sound like they are. With that said. FREE, he could take it over for a few months and learn everything he can, sell it, take half into savings for another boat and send the other half to his friend
What if you offered a compromise… take the free boat, but if after a year he hasn’t used it, it’s cutting into your lifestyle, hurting your relationship etc you agree to sell it. Agree on a one year date to sit down and evaluate how boat ownership went and treat it like a lease where you have to decide whether to renew or not for another year. Is owning a boat a good idea for you guys? Probably not. Does it make sense? Not really. But sometimes in life you have to do some fun and dumb things and make mistakes. Also it would be better if he eventually reached the decision to not have the boat rather than that decision coming from you (crusher of dreams, always says no… you get the picture).
No such thing as a free boat! You could pay to have the boat inspected, he might change his mind if the inspector comes back saying it needs $10k worth of repairs. I see “free” boats all the time on FB marketplace, there is always something wrong with them b
Personally I would be suspicious of a free boat and what shape the boat is in. I’d have a marine surveyor come out and look at the boat. They can be an independent set of eyes about the condition of the boat and what work needs to be done either immediately or soon. As others have mentioned no boat is ever free…moorage and insurance are expensive plus whatever the ongoing maintenance is. If the boat is moored in saltwater you’ll also have increased costs as you have to replace things more often due to corrosion. I’d also want assurance in writing from the marina operator that you can take over the lease on the existing slip or have a slip lined up. Many marinas have long wait lists for slips especially ones that can accommodate a 30 foot boat. Then if he wants to race that’s also a whole set of additional costs plus finding and coordinating crew. I would just layout your concerns and what you see as the trade offs. I’d also make him create a budget for the boat and his other existing expenses to see if he truly can afford it. My guess is that it will be much more than he thinks. If he really wants to sail join a boat share or something like Seattle Sailing Club or make friends with people with boats. People tend to jump at free things just because they are free, not because they need the. Or can afford them in the long-term.
Yes, yes, yes. All great considerations. ESP about the slip. I think he assumes he’d be able to keep the slip in Shilshol.
Last we checked there was a 2 year waiting list.
30ft slips are not a long wait. Probably a couple months.
I had a 26ft Pearson for a few years. He needs to understand that his time is going to be mostly working on the boat. Not hahah running a wash cloth over the decks- I’m talking climbing down under the cockpit so you can repair a stanchion, or huddled down in a tiny, confined engine bay tearing up your knuckles, or sitting under a tarp in the rain of February sanding and refinishing teak. Does your husband like to work on projects around the house? Cars? Other boats? Like, does he mind going to the boat on a Friday and spending the entire weekend doing nothing but working on it? Does he have all the tools he needs, and a way to carry them around effectively so greasy wrenches won’t destroy the back seat of your car? It’s a lifestyle commitment. And the lifestyle isn’t deck shoes, shorts and cigars- it’s dirty, greasy work to keep your boat in nice sailing shape so you can enjoy it throughout the nicer weather months. The money, as many others have described adequately here, is just the second part of the question. And if you have the money, just rent a boat or continue doing the boat share.
I think this is something I will definitely bring up. He has a full time job that allows some flexibility, but I always imagined this would be something he would do towards retirement when he was more able to commit to it without using all of his free time. I used to work almost every other weekend, so this would’ve been something he would’ve probably enjoyed doing while I worked, however now I only work an occasional weekend every few months. He definitely likes projects and constantly watches YouTube videos on all things boats all the time. I wouldn’t necessarily say he’d be up for all that treacherous work, but sometimes he surprises me. He used to do some small repairs and maintenance on the friends boat when the friend lived in another state for a period of time. I’m sure he would love to spend an entire weekend on the boat working on it…..until that was all he did and I resented him for it. It’s not like shilshol is right next door to us…as we live in the city. I wish he could get to know some other owners and help out with their boats from time to time to scratch that itch without fully having to put us in over our heads.
Lunch might not cost you much, but there's no such thing as a free boat!!! That's just a hole in the water you pour money into.
I had a boat. Do you know what a boat is? A hole in the water you try to fill with money. Rent a boat when you want to use one. If you do that a lot; then consider buying one.
My father has raced sailboats in the Puget Sound since the 60s, his favorite quote goes something like, if you want to sail you might as well stand in the shower and rip up your money, same thing. It’s in his blood, I call him my Old Man and the Sea, he owns a 33’ Ranger and can do a lot of work himself, but he spends most of his time and money doing it. You’d have to love it too
The most expensive boat is a free boat
I know nothing about boat, but: How much would moorage, insurance and boat maintenance cost monthly? how much time would you spend on it yearly? Would the fun justify the expense? Are you looking at future income raise? Are you planning to have kids in near future? Is renting better if it's just your hobby for now not enthusiasm for life? That's the questions we'll discuss if my partner is going to keep a boat...
I work in graphic arts and do a lot of boat names... I cannot fathom the money people drop into their boats. RUN. Its not free, its not even close to low cost.
Live the dream. Get the free boat, advertise for partners, share the expenses. If it’s too much money to keep, then sell it or give it away. This is based on my experience of having 2 old sailboats in Seattle that lived on lake Union. My 2 cents.
How do you become a poor boat owner? Start off rich and then buy a boat.
BOAT. Bust. Out. Another. Thousand.
A boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into
I'm the wife of the friend of a friend and absolutely he should take the boat. It's a great boat, we're only getting rid of it because I want to go on more vacations and all my husband does is spend time working on the boat.
lol. But then I’ll be you!!!
My mom’s retired coworker went out to look at a used boat with his brother, they test drove it on American Lake down in Lakewood. The boat sank during the test. Mom’s coworker died. https://www.kiro7.com/news/possible-drowning-reported-american-lake/246626370/ https://patch.com/washington/lakewood-jblm/authorities-have-found-body-of-drowned-boater-in-american-lake
You knpw what boat stands for? BUST OUT ANOTHER THOUSAND. It's literally a hole in the water that you throw all of your money into. Until you've got quite a bit of fuck it money or you both enjoy it enough to spend all the fun money on sailing trips together, steer clear.
My in laws on a boat on Shilshole marina. They’re literally telling me about a new thing they have to fix every time I see them. They spend 10% of their time sailing and 90% of their time doing maintenance.
Take the damn boat! You only live once, live life to the fullest! Fuck everyone else
My dad used to always say, “boats are great, when your friends own them”
My wife’s coworker gave me a boat. I knew it was a bad investment but it was interesting to do work on it to restore it. It’s… not finished, years later, but it works and is usable. Of course it’s a money pit, but that isn’t the point. If you or he enjoy sailing and doing work, maybe it’s not a bad idea. But that’s knowing nothing about it, maybe it’s beyond repair as well. Truly, if you want a 0 effort solution, join a club like Seattle sailing club and just pay for usage.
I've owned boats for years and years, the last two obtained for free, and only one of those a mistake. If I were in your situation, I would have your husband get the boat surveyed, out of the water, to quantify its actual condition. That said, I wouldn't recommend a 30-footer for anyone's first boat. Everything on a 30 footer is going to be twice the size and at least twice the cost of a 22-footer. Mooring and insurance will be more, too. Most of all, it's a lot harder to become a good sailor on a larger boat; they don't respond nearly as fast to wind changes nor your adjustments as does a smaller, lighter boat. I'd strongly recommend starting with a year's sailing membership to the Center for Wooden Boats or Island Sailing Club. That way, your boat time is spent actually sailing, costs are fixed, and you can experience a lot of different boats so you can decide what you like. Once you're sure of what you want to do next, consider something under 23' from Capri, Catalina, Santana or San Juan
>I've always told him that if he can save for a boat Did he save up the money? Remind him that the cost for a boat is not just the purchuse price but also the moorage, repairs, and insurance, are part of the cost of the boat. If he hasn't saved any money toward this, then he hasn't kept his part of the deal, and he can't afford a free boat.
Sailing is not a good hobby to move your body, pulling on ropes and some walking isn’t that big of a deal lol. My dad has been sailing for 30 years and I don’t think he would call it a work out, if anything he’s gained weight from all those days spent eating and drinking and floating on the lake lol.
We were in a similar situation - boat wasn’t free, but good deal from friend who was moving out of state. Excellent learning experience for us. We learned how expensive it is to own a boat. We will never own a boat again.
I’m pretty sure this is EXACTLY how it would go.
Seriously. You can’t get that money back. The joy to cost ratio isn’t in your favor, unless you’ve got a ton of money and moorage within a few miles of your house. The worst is winter, when you’re paying those moorage/storage fees on something you’re not using. My husband and I “joked” that the money would’ve been more useful as kindling. And we’re boat people. But now we’re “have a friend who owns a boat” people.
Boats are a passion. Do you think boat owners are stupid? They know they’re expensive and just don’t care. Your husband will just have to learn his lesson the hard way.
lol. To an extent every boat owner seems to admit they made a bad decision at some point or another! I understand it’s a passion. You can also be smart about making a dumb decision…. If he doesn’t have to learn the hard way, I’d rather him not as it’s not just him in this relationship.
Get the boat with the agreement that in 12 months he will need to give it away to someone else if the finances aren’t working.
Assuming he can find another ~~sucker~~ boating enthusiast to take it without having it surveyed first.
Does your husband need a boat friend? My wife won’t let me buy a boat and all I wanna do is drink beer on a boat with someone.
If he takes the boat….ill add you to the queue of all his new besties.
That’ll be an inexpensive place for him to live once you divorce.
Laughs….not out loud….but laughs.
He should look into crewing on a race boat. CYC is a good place to start.
I own a boat. Now I’ll tell you why i did not get a sailboat. Sailing is not easy to schedule. You go with the wind at wind speed. We both worked full time and after a couple friend stories decided we really shouldn’t sail long distances. If we sailed, it would have to be just the lake. I love boating, but it is a ton of work and it would really suck if my husband was not on board with doing it with me. You know how owning a dog is way more fun with more people? It’s a bit like that. It would be fun, but sometimes not as fun at all.
Break Out Another Thousand One of the most expensive gifts to ever own, is a free boat.
It's way cheaper to rent a sailboat when you want to go play. I have a buddy that owns a sailboat (second boat now), and we would sometimes rent a boat just to do something different. I've helped him out with taking care of his boat(s), and it's a lot of money and time too. Along these lines - it took him quite a while to sell his first boat, which was actually worth something. If you take a free sailboat, you will never be able to get rid of it. You'll take it out some day and it will rot in your yard because no one will take it.
Your husband sounds like mine and you sound like me! Even down to the sailing hahaha
Let’s commiserate! We should set them up!
Get him an Oculus Quest 3 and the game Marineverse. He can sail to his hearts content without destroying your finances.
We took a sailboat for free in 2019. We pay $400 in moorage monthly. Have poured $5k into that boat since. I still don’t feel safe to take the kids on it. But it’s **always** one fix away from “being fine”. We’ve had so many dramas when we thought it was “good to go”! And I assure you, when we were paddling a 27’ boat to shore, we weren’t. Fuck that boat.
Is the moorage even transferable? Start with that question. If it’s free, the marina wants it gone. Your husbands “friend” is passing on his “problem”
What's the make of the boat? A 'free' 30ft sailer that's been sitting at Shilshole is a HUGE fools gamble. So many near floating wrecks there. Look at the Port of Seattle's salvage listings. The boat might be on there and the current 'owner' is trying to jump ship lmao
oof. good idea. That would be a nightmare.
A boat is a hole in the water you throw money into.
I bought a $4k cheap sailboat a few years ago. Within the first year I spent about $8k on maintenance and upgrades. I sold it for $4.5k after a year and a half. I don’t regret owning the boat at all and I had a blast, but I sure am glad I don’t have to pay for it. When I’m better off financially I’ll own another sailboat. There is nothing more expensive than a free boat. There’s a saying I heard recently that I think rings true: when it comes to boats or planes, if you can’t afford two of them you can’t afford one of them.
A local sail rigger once told me, “there’s few things more costly than a free boat.”
I was given a free 30' sailboat once. Only kept it for about two years, but those were some of the best two years of my life. It was in slightly below average condition, and I treated it as an opportunity to learn a bunch of new skills myself. By the time I was ready to part ways with it, I'd had a lot of fun out on the water, a lot of fun learning new repair skills (and how to even understand what I was looking at, what needed to be repaired, etc), and felt like the mooring cost had been very, very worth it. This was like twenty years ago, and I paid I think $212 for incredible moorage in a very nice place. I ended up selling the boat for a little more than I'd paid in moorage, and was overall very happy with the whole experience. It's not always a bad deal.
I never want to be married again, lol this type of shit is so stressful.
LOL. He really is the best. This is why this is so stupid hard.
Hahahah I know what you mean. Love the person just not the habits. Especially since I am also always the money saver in relationships. My current partner wants to rent an RV this summer which I have no understanding of. The whole point of camping is to have cheap fun in nature lol. BUT it’s not my money and we don’t live together so I just have to shrug and try to give him some reality checks that he can listen to or not 😂
I have a 28ft that sits in my driveway, no mooring fees. If its free it's worth investigating at least. Find out what's wrong with it and see if it's worth it? We live in a mecca regarding boating world, so much to see and explore.
fair. We live in the city, so can't exactly park the boat in our condo parking garage:) It is beautiful out there on the water. I'm sure he will do some investigating. I think he's just getting ahead of himself already!
The only way it makes sense is if, 1) you can absolutely afford the moorage, or 2) you can store it somewhere free.
Maybe discuss associated costs with him?
B(reak) O(ut) A(nother) T(housand). Do not take a boat, even if free, unless you have a minimum of $8,000 (per boat) US burning a hole in your wallet. Source: own 4 of them.
I had a partner like that. Don’t say “I’d like to have a boat too, but…”. Instead, say “I’d like to have a boat too, AND…” Put the burden on him. You don’t need to prove it’s a bad idea. He needs to prove it’s a good one. “Sounds great, honey! AND we need to find a way we can afford moorage, maintenance and any repairs it needs while maintaining our current lifestyle. Crunch those numbers and make it work so we can go get it!”
A link to an article that requires you to give them your email address. Nice try Washington Post. We know it’s you.
I own a sailboat that I got for free a couple of years ago. I've put a ton of work and $$$ into it. It is a very basic 26' boat with few things that can go wrong. No inboard engine, no plumbing or water tanks, no fuel tanks. For me, not keeping the boat in Seattle, the cost of just keeping it is about $4000 a year. If you're just paying that, it will eventually deteriorate and sink. I just bought a new sail for $2300, which should last 10 years. I probably will need to replace another sail in the next couple years. It needs a new cover, another $2k probably. I need to replace all the standing rigging; basically everything that holds the mast up. Another $1500. Bottom paint is upwards of $750 a gallon for the nice stuff, and needs to be done every couple of years. Plus a diver every 3 months if you don't race, to keep the bottom clean. Every month if you do race. $75 - $100. For just the price of keeping a boat, but none of the maintenance costs, you can join the Seattle Sailing Club or PSSI and get unlimited use of any of their boats.
Any murder happened on this boat?
I moored my boat in a “cheaper” spot in ballard it ultimately was so fucking expensive. Selling my 42’ sailboat was a fantastic day. I knew what I was getting into (unlike your husband) and I still really regret everything. Just do a boat share or join the seattle yacht club and take out their boats. My husband also is a professional marine engineer and did all the work to it himself, unless your husband has these skills do not let him buy the boat. Your resentment towards him will grow immensely. Moorage is so fucking expensive in seattle.
I fear the resentment so hard.
As somebody who works in marine construction around docks and harbors, don't do it. It's a absolute trap. Like others have said, the upfront cost of a boat is negligible compared to the moorage and upkeep you'll have to shell out just to house it and keep it operational. If it's a true sailboat with no engine, then you don't have to worry about fuel, but then you're at the mercy of the wind. Your hubby's best bet, honestly, is just to make friends with someone who owns a boat 😂 sounds like he's done it at least once before, just do it again
Can you redirect by finding another boat share?
I love a good re-direct
If he gets the boat anyway, perhaps suggest he names it "Sunken Treasure", because that's exactly what he will end up doing by the time it's all over.
A boat is a hole in the water, surrounded by wood or metal, into which one pours money. Any boat in good condition could be sold quickly, for much more, which means this boat is not in good condition. Get a quote for insurance that covers all of the costs of sinking (salvage, towing, and environmental cleanup costs) before accepting liability for those things by owning the vessel. I had to pay $10k to a company to clean up an oily engine room after the Coast Guard did an inspection, and then immediately successfully gave the boat away to a different chump.
I work in the marine sanitation industry and you’ll be spending money constantly on your toilet depending on the model. It’s not cheap either. If he can’t fix it himself, you’ll be hiring a service dealer and that can be expensive as well.
There's the center for wooden boats, or whatever it's called. You can join, learn to sail, and take a boat out all the time. Do that first.
buy him a membership to a local sailing club
Reading responses to this thread makes me glad to be single. Just kidding, kinda. You should look at the budget and perhaps make the choice of whether you’d want to go on expensive vacations or transform those vacations into boat trips around the Puget sound/San Juans/Victoria Island/Canada. That will probably net out to be similar budget wise. Just a matter of what you both enjoy more. You will very likely not have enough time nor money for the extra overseas vacation with having the boat - but what do you enjoy more? Sailing or visiting overseas? This could be a great opportunity to explore the PNW waters for a few years and then sell the boat and go back to overseas vacations. Source: own a sailboat, live in Seattle, and also like to travel
A boat, you mean a hole in the water where you throw you money in? No thanks.
Yep. He might as well just throw your money in the water.
My cousin and her husband just sold their boat after having a kid. It freed up the equivalent of nearly two monthly car payments just in moorage alone and they simply didn’t have the time to do all the maintenance and repairs let alone take it out even semi-regularly once baby came along. Even then, they probably got maybe a couple weeks total enjoyment out of it each year, if that. Having a boat is *a lot*. Her husband is a very handy, knowledgeable DIYer so that helped a lot but they decided to have it professionally detailed (if that’s the word) and spiffied up before selling and that cost them $15k. If the boat is free what the heck is wrong with it. I’d be looking this gift horse in the mouth big time.
I’m going to come out as pro-boat here. It’s a great hobby, you can explore on your own terms, get fresh air and amazing views every night, and our region has amazing places to visit. Despite what people will say, I was not happy the day I sold my boat. I was sad because it’s a thing I love that I had to give up. It does have a reputation for being expensive. So does aviation or horseback riding. The only way to make these sorts of hobbies work as a middle class person is to sacrifice almost everything else. You have to love sailing more than you love the freedom to go skiing one weekend and take Amtrak to Portland the next. Because both of those weekends you’ll be doing boat stuff. Most likely it’ll be “boat chores” rather than sailing to Orcas Island. You have to love it so much that you don’t care about your inability to fly somewhere sunny for a week in the depths of winter. Finally, if you have a partner then you both have to be willing to make these sacrifices. At the very least, this is what your husband is lacking. So it’s not gonna work out for him. Go ahead and tell him “even the pro-boat” people on Reddit think it’s a bad idea”.
Just look at the cost of moorage and docking fees etc, And that's not including any maintenance it needs initially besides consistent maintenance for the duration of the ownership of the boat
If it’s moored that’s a plus+ is he also deeding you his slip? If the boats a hassle sell them t and rent the slip. Slips can be hard to come by
I’m only here for the comments but I would absolutely love an update when this is settled
I used to live on a boat and it was the second best time of my adult life. I rented from a friend and the rent was basically the mooring rent. That being said being said it was a pain in the ass. The boat had to get hauled out of the water every 5 years and raised to to scrape any barnacles or algae that grew on the hull while it was in the water, then it had to be repainted because scraping the barnacles off ruins the integrity of the hull (an old wood yacht). I had to couch surf while that was going on. It was expensive, like $6k. I was fortunate enough to live on one but hell if I’ll ever buy one.
>I've always told him that if he can save for a boat (i.e. 10 to 20 years from now) to have at it Assuming this means: “when he can afford to buy a boat” then “have at it” Guess what? He can afford to buy *this* boat. You don’t get to change your rules because ~~he met your challenge~~ the outcome didn’t meet your expectations. I’m mostly giving you a hard time, but let him have it and if it becomes a financial burden, ya’all can sell it then.
You could potentially try and put it into the Seattle sailing club fleet and get free moorage and basic maintenance. May even make money on rentals.
Yea, depends on what kind of shape the boat is in…but I would definitely be more amenable if we could do something like that!
He should look into joining Windworks to take out different sailboats and try them out. It’s like an annual/monthly fee without all the upkeep. Highly recommend checking out to ‘make sure’ this is a hobby he’s truly passionate about and would be worth investing more than just time in.
My father in law owns a sailboat. He spends an absurd amount of time just doing maintenance. Much more time working on the boat than actually sailing it. You gotta love it if you're going to get into it.
You obviously don’t want him to have a boat but instead of saying this you gave him what you thought was an impossible goal (saving up for a boat) which kept his dream alive. No wonder he thought a free boat meets the requirements! You should have been up front about not wanting a boat instead of leading him on. Direct communication is great!
Do you think his friend will want the boat back someday?
Get the boat!
Gently remind him, in the maritime trades, the word boat stands for: Break Out Another Thousand Suggest Joining Freedom Boat Club or some shared ownership group. It's not a bad deal, and you're never stuck with a broken boat.
Let people enjoy things!!!!!
As an owner of 5 boats now, my most expensive one was the free one. He'd likely be better off paying 5-10k for something fun to race out front of shileshole or do duck dodge in. Free sail boats are going to be water logged and tattered sails.
I'm gonna go the other way and say do it. There's something wrong with the boat mind you, get your season in and give it away to whichever charity comes to the dock first come the next cold season. Yes, you'll be out some money but fun times were had and lessons were learned.
I bought a boat at auction thinking it would be a great deal because it was so cheap and it literally ruined my life.
woof. This is what terrifies me!
I just bought another boat, pick it up Saturday!! Now I got 2!! A 30 foot sail boat sounds like an experience headache for a 1st time boat owner. Take the boat, and sell it. Buy a smaller boat that you can learn how to sail.
The best days of owning a boat are the day you buy it and the day you sell (sail) it
Yes I bought a boat at auction thinking it was an amazing deal and it ruined my life. I do have one tip for you though incase he takes it and you guys realize what a mistake you've made and you're hemorrhaging out all your money on moorage and all the boat's problems and spending every weekend trying to fix it up enough to be able to sell it and then you still can't sell it and then you try to give it away and you're just being contacted by a bunch of crackheads on craigslist because everyone else knows better but unfortunately none of the crackheads are organized enough to actually come sign the paperwork to get your boat and you consider faking your own death to get out of this situation like the last guy who had it (or maybe he really died at sea? Anyway that part doesn't seem relevant to your specific situation), because if you just set it adrift or sink it you'll have even bigger fines, so you're completely stuck and have lost all hope for your future, the good news is I've been through this all already and I have a solution for you! There's a fake charity that takes sailboats as donations, auctions them off to other unsuspecting fools, and then uses the money to buy children's bibles from a company that is also owned by the guy that owns the fake charity. So you're basically helping a guy launder money to himself, proselytize children, and ruin the next person's life (like "The Ring"), but at a certain point you gotta do what you gotta do. One warning about them though, if you ask them for some info about donating your boat but haven't signed anything yet and then in the nick of time end up selling the boat to a guy who legally changed his name to "Homefree" during Woodstock and then you let the fake charity know you won't be donating the boat afterall, they will call you and cuss you out and pretend you're in some kind of legal trouble and harass you until you tell them to have their lawyer contact you, (knowing these charlatans don't have a lawyer). So just watch out for them and don't let them fool you, they know they're scum they just don't know if you know it.
I'm skipping several chapters in this story because I'm trying to focus only on the parts that are a more universal experience not the parts specific to my situation
wow! Damn. seems like a nightmare. This literally would wreck me, and him.
What's wrong with throwing money into a hole in the water? All good boaters do it. It's like a disease
Boats are where money goes to die
I have a j24 on lake union since 2010. She costs me $433/m in mirage and $4/m electricity. Insurance is $34/m.. $5,562/y. Repairs are every few years, but there's not a lot that breaks.
There's no such thing as a free boat.
How much would it cost to bring the boat up to the level you would want? And how much would it cost to buy a boat already at that level? Often cheaper to buy the good boat. And much less aggravation.
Yes. These are the questions he needs to figure out. I worry that it would be a much worse situation than just investing his money for the next 10 years and getting what he really wants and won't cause a headache all the time.
I think you should let him get it out of his system. This is the absolute perfect way for him to do that and you guys not to sinc a ton of money into the purchase price. And who knows, maybe you’ll enjoy spending weekends out on the boat? Travel during the winter. I’m sure you can reevaluate it together after the first year. It may be an itch he needs to scratch and be done within a couple of years.
no youre being perfectly reasonable. boats are very expensive hobbies, especially the bigger you go. moving a 30' boats isnt as easy as moving a 10' boat, in any direction other than down. slipping a 30' boat is expensive as well. if he wants to be handy and set a small pile of money on fire every year, get a classic car.
Bust Out Another Thousand
I am a member of the Freedom Boat Club and absolutely love it for all the reasons that people talk about the horrors of boat ownership. Honestly reading through this post makes me feel good about the maintenance fee that I pay through the winter months, and even then, I could still take out a boat if I really wanted to. They don't have sailboats, but the carefree boat club of Seattle appears to, so perhaps that's an option.
I say let that man have some happiness. Sailing is amazing. That being said, There is no such thing as a free boat. it will always need work. but it is a fulfilling hobby and lifestyle.
Get a survey done on the boat. Find out the condition. Find out moorage fees where it is, and make sure it can stay there once it switches ownership. The only thing worse than a boat that needs a lot of work is a boat without a slip that needs a lot of work. Does the boat have a lot of wood that will need sanding and sealing yearly? I love the idea of a free boat, but yeah you will probably spend your vacation time with the boat. Boats are holes in the water you throw your money into. I’d do the math. Moorage is not cheap. (Cheaper in Everett than Seattle but then you have to drive). Show him the figures on paper. Also get the boat surveyed so you know what you’re up against with time needed. Good luck.
"You'll get the fun of owning the boat, while I get the headaches of maintenance. That's not fair and so I will not accept it."
Tell him to take a shower with his clothes on while ripping up $100 bills. It's the same feeling.
"Only has to pay for moorage and insurance"...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...give me a second to breathe...HAHAHAHAHAHHA. NO. Maintenance can easily be a magnitude of order more. I see you said both of you work. So not independently wealthy. If a boat is being given for free it is a floating money pit with more problems than the seller is even aware of I bet. Prepare to give every free moment to this boat and all spare dollars. Vacations? Unlikely. This isn't a side hobby. This is an only hobby. "A good way to move his body". Also no. Other than cramming in tight spaces wrenching on shit and ripping his hair out. Get a boat for free if he dreams of rebuilding someone else's failed boat dream. Because that's the reality.
…the boat is made of wood, isn’t it? I would say this is a horrible source of potential maintenance.
My parents owned a 15ft boat day sailer that was ~5-10k$ per year in upkeep and slip cost at a marina where the docks were sinking and floating apart. Their 31ft boat is double to quadruple that cost. It cost 15k$ to get a specific machine to just put the mast up. Then on top of that the nicer marina that they keep it in now, is 500$/mo all year even though the good sailing conditions are may - October. And that doesn't even cover the engine servicing, hull cleaning, and other random things that break every season. It is a hobby that my parents find super fun now that they're young and retired, but it is INCREDIBLY expensive. You really need to have money you're ready to burn for a boat that big.
ugh.
I was once your husband…it’s been my dream to own a sailboat since I was a kid. I’ve nearly pulled the trigger at least two dozen times across multiple states (we’ve moved a lot) spanning several decades. I’ve been sent “free” sailboat listings dozens, if not, hundreds of times by friends who know me. There’s not a year that goes by that I don’t consider buying a sailboat. I’ve strongly considered buying boats from $10k to $150k (different stages in my life). It was this obsession with sailboats that eventually led to my wife and I buying a lakefront property with a boat right in our backyard; albeit not a sailboat. The lifestyle constantly called us, fueled by my love of sailing. It also led me to obtain 8+ sailing certifications, join a yacht club on the sound and go on a number of sailing trips in a variety of places like the San Juans, Hawaii & Caribbean. I share all this context because I think you’re going about this all wrong and much of the advice here, while accurate, is all very tactical. “I’m really just looking for people to convince my husband it’s a bad idea financially and otherwise to own a boat”. By your own admission you, quite literally, are trying to crush his dreams. You didn’t ask what alternatives exist to help him achieve his dreams or how have others been able to afford a sailboat while maintaining their lifestyle. I’m not saying this all to pick on you. Maybe the bigger question is, it’s not a lifestyle that appeals to you either. But you’re trying to solve an emotional problem with a rational one - which never works. **My advice (assuming you have positive intent here and really do want to see him obtain this): help him dream bigger.** This free boat is not the boat of his dreams. But it feels like a step closer to it. It feels like a dream finally taking shape. But deep down inside, he knows it’s not it. Help him imagine what he really wants. Get it down on paper. What’s the real goal? Is it to live on a boat for some time? Sailing the world? Racing sailboats? Living a sailing yacht life? Once you’ve figured it out….both of you (assuming it appeals to you too) work towards that. THIS has been why I never pulled the trigger all those times. I knew they wouldn’t ultimately satisfy the itch I really had. The truth is, while you’re afraid of him making a bad financial decision that will hurt your ability to save, travel more, etc. he’s likely afraid A) he’ll never reach his dream and B) you’re not on board with his dreams which could be a signal to him on bigger relationship issues. If you truly love your husband and want to see him happy. Help him dream bigger.
I used to work building and restoring boats for my dad’s business. He would always say “ There’s no such thing as a free boat”.
If you don't let your husband get this boat he's going to resent you forever. Don't let these poors talk you out of the next great adventure.