Shawn, I did think about the slip costs and that is most certainly an item that can add a good bit to the monthly average. We paid for slip fees in Annapolis up until 2003 and while fees in A-town are quite expensive, the back-yard marina that we kept the boat in is owned by close friends so by local standards, it was very, very cheap.
My wife and I purchased a weekend waterfront home in the mid to lower Chesapeake Bay in 2002 and moved the boat down in 2003. We have 8 1/2’ MLLW at our dock so our 6’8” draft has never gone aground. I consider that to be a “deep water slip” which can be pretty spendy in many locales so, yes, I suppose that we have ‘free’ slip fees but the reality is that the slip rent is hidden in the mortgage. ;-) All other items that are remotely linked to the boat, i.e., insurance and registration are included in the figures. I even include the yearly dues to a yacht club in Annapolis that we still belong to. I’ve done a short sail from San Diego to Ensenada and back (Passport 43) and I’m certain that a C&C would be just fine for a trip like that. Continuing on to the Panama Canal and then into the Caribbean, again, quite do-able I think. I have a friend who’s 20-something niece and another young woman bought a $4,000 25’ old production sailboat and sailed all over the Gulf of California and Baja and had a great time. Afterwards, she and some of her sailing buddies sailed our friend’s J-120 from San Francisco to Hawaii and then on to New Zealand. Just so that they could get a better price selling it... You can have fun and be safe on a C&C. I should just say that if I were to take off, I’d go with something a bit more robust (Passport, Oyster, Swan, Grand Soleil, Dehler, X-Yacht, etc.) and that had a bit more carrying capacity. But that’s me. Buy the boat that moves your heart. We love our 37’. Years ago as it sat deteriorating at our dock we starting thinking about letting her go and getting a cruiser/racer in the 42’ range. We decided against that avenue for reasons that folks on this list well know: beauty, speed, construction and comfort. So to close out, my advice would be to buy as large and as well-maintained a boat that you feel you will be able to afford over time. I would also advise against doing what I do. I just enjoy fixing up old things. I’ve never been called smart. :-) Regards, Dave Godwin 1982 C&C 37 - Ronin Reedville - Chesapeake Bay Ronin’s Overdue Refit <http://roninrebuild.blogspot.com/> > On Apr 24, 2019, at 3:05 PM, Shawn Wright via CnC-List > <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > Thanks, Dave. > > I think there is probably a big difference between going down the Pacific > coast to Mexico, and going offshore to Hawaii or the South Pacific, mainly in > that the former is limited to 3-5 days offshore between safe ports, vs 20+ > days for the latter, meaning weather windows are easier to hit. At this early > stage, I really don't know if we'll go offshore, but if things go well, I'd > like to go down the coast to Mexico at least, without having to search for > another boat. If I already had enough experience, I'd probably just fly to > California and find a boat there, then sail it to Mexico, and have the > advantage of 10x as many boats to choose from. But I want to sail our local > waters first, something I've wanted to do since I was a kid. I grew up around > powerboats and fishing boats, and always looking longingly at the sailboats > as I endured the drone and smell of the engine... > > Your accounting of your purchase is quite interesting; thanks. Does that > include moorage/storage, insurance, etc.? If so, that is very good value. > What do you think she would sell for today? If we had done this a few years > ago when I was still working, I would just spend the money on a nicer boat, > or not worry about fixing it up. But being only a few months into retirement, > and with my wife still working but soon to retire also, the uncertainty of > our real living expenses going forward are a significant factor. Moorage is > at least $4K/year here, unless we can join a club, or put it on a mooring > buoy, but winter storms are an issue with a buoy. Lots of spare parts on the > beaches this winter from all the boats washed ashore... > > >
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