Year End Cruising Cost Comparison

Okay... now comes the scary part! What did we spend to cruise Mexico in 2009 and what did it cost us in 2010 with a bigger boat? Well, keep in mind that many of the outfitting costs for the larger boat will be one-time-only costs. Nevertheless, we still had to pay for those!

In 2008, we had already prepared our Cal Cruising 35' Windfall for her cruising life ahead. Her start-up costs were not included in the yearly expenses because all our re-fitting was done prior to cruising. However, any repairs or upgrades or new equipment after our maiden voyage WAS included.

In 2010, Hotspur was purchased and needed major repairs: Fuel tank had massive leakage (dumped out all over everywhere is a better description) and then the rebuild of Ford Lehman 80HP engine. In order to do that, we had to keep her in marinas and on the hard at a huge expense to us. Luckily, it was in Mazatlan... beautiful and convenient, but not necessarily cheap.

And then there are the one-time-only-hopefully major equipment purchases I mentioned: Pactor Modem $1,095, Spectra Watermaker $2,500, brand new batteries $790, and new refrigerator $1,292. These we won't have to purchase again any time soon, but it took a whopper chunk out of our pocketbook.

Most of the other expenses are in line, with the exception of the BOOZE column. It looks like buying a bigger boat drove us to drink more... and it may have! But I didn't create this line until July of 2009. Therefore, half the first year of booze is under the GROCERIES column. Speaking of which, as our teenage boy continues to grow the grocery expenses continue to grow, too.

And MISC... I added that late in the first year. The largest cost under MISC was the accountant at $710. And STORAGE? I don't know where the heck I put that in 2009, but I made its own line for 2010. The car was sold in Dec. 2009, so that line is gone for 2010. I also added FABRICS/CRAFTS for 2010 and separated it from other expenses. Carolyne and I enjoy sewing and beading.

Had we not had the equipment costs and the re-build costs, our year-end for 2010 aboard the bigger boat Hotspur would have been substantially less: $23,470.51 versus $41,943.02. This is a $18,472.51 difference, to give you some idea of new equipment and repairs.