{"id":1057,"date":"1999-11-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"1999-11-30T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/?p=1057"},"modified":"2015-10-16T12:11:38","modified_gmt":"2015-10-16T17:11:38","slug":"cruising-on-30000year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/cruising-on-30000year\/","title":{"rendered":"Cruising on $30,000\/year?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I’m retiring and thinking of sailing. I’m a Alaskan sailor all my life…but im thinking of US- VI or South Florida. I’ve fished all my life off boats that make so much noise you can’t think. A catamarn sounds like my kind of boat. What do you think? Can a guy figure on living free at $30,000 a year? I have no bills and no wife nor kids. At 56 it’s time to get a tan. Any commments? – Jim<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Hi Jim: I agree – time to get a tan. <\/p>\n

The cost of cruising is very much a function of how you do it. First the variables. If you anchor out (we think this much more pleasant than being in a marina), do the majority of your own maintenance, and keep the consumption of liquor to moderate proportions, the 30K\/year will leave you with a big cushion. Depending on the condition of your boat, and how you maintain it, this cushion should still allow for the odd major overhaul of whatever has gone wrong. <\/p>\n

You will find Mexico and Central America less costly than the Caribbean. And in the Caribbean, the closer to South America you get, the less it will cost. <\/p>\n

As to the boat, we are not big fans of cats. The condo versions offer a lot of space, but are very slow, and not very good at crossing oceans (in our opinion). My preference would be a longer monohull, with better performance, good ocean going characteristics, at the same price. But there is that space issue. <\/p>\n

On the other hand, if you are going to be content in the Caribbean, a cat could do just fine (but the South Pacific is awfully nice!). <\/p>\n

Good Luck with your plans – Steve<\/p>\n

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