another cost to consider, if you decide to resell your boat, expect to lose 20-30% of what you paid for. if its brand new within 1 year you might lose 10%, 2 year old might be 20% , 5-10 year old boat can be 30-50% . best way to start small and then keep upgrading if you still like it. but if you dont like it straight away your losses will be small ( smaller insurance, smaller maintenance , smaller loss on resale). eg say you got 50000$ spare cash to spend on a boat (not even considering borrowing from bank) , you should expect boat cost initially 50k$ then 10$k maintenance and if you decide to sell it in 12month , expect to sell it for 40k$ and it still might take couple of months to sell and you might have to keep paying mooring fees , insurance etc. so by the time you sold it you might spent 60-70k$ on it and got back 40k$ back.
You realize you just crushed a dream of buying a Gozzard 36 and sailing off into the sunset on just my SS check! Seriously though, thank you for a realistic breakdown of expenses. I've watched countless videos on boat expenses, but yours has been the most helpful.
Life long sailor here and snowbird cruiser. I watched this because we are getting to an age where we must consider power instead of sail. Your information is spot on. Well done! We are frankly shocked at the size boat first time buyers opt for. Working your way up in size is important especially as you add systems; AC, generators, electronics, engines, power sources etc.
Not boring. You both do a great job. Nice mix of video and information. I love it. Glad I found your site and will continue to follow. So great job keep it up. Thanks
Great video. First video I've seen from you guys. I love the Nordhavn boats. I've been around boats and ships since I was a kid, have the D5LA and can relate to most of the points in the video. Here in Europe the taxes and fees are more extreme. Insurance usually runs up to 15% of the value, and yearly tax can easily be 10% of value, depending on your country. Diesel is also very expensive, although some countries have tax-free diesel for off-road use. Internet is getting easier with Starlink. Boats need to be used. If not used, expect more maintenance. Thank you for making it. The Nordhavn 47 is a nice looking boat that handles well and has most of the stuff you need for living aboard. Greetings from Norway.
Way to go guys.This video was just what the doctor ordered.Yes the boating lifestyle is amazing but it's not cheap.I spend a fortune just maintaining my 29 ft. Rinker that is only used 5 months a year.
Live aboard in a heartbeat and the one thing I said i'd do before life is done with me. Kodiak, Alaska in summer and Mexico in winter. I'm in no hurry to get anywhere and rest assured I am going to be comfortable. Lordy Lordy I need a Nordy!
Very informative. I'll throw a heavy wrench into the discussion that applies to boat and RV purchases. I would only buy a New boat or RV to get full warranty, full knowledge that you are the first user removing any concerns of user abuse, and getting strong dealer support during and, hopefully, after the warranty period has expired. We went that route with our rather expensive Airstream travel trailer purchase. We waited, saved, and delayed the purchase for several years until we saved enough to purchase a new trailer that was current in all of its features and inclusions. btw, that delay offered us additional time to think and rethink this purchase decision and question it over and over. The ownership has been a success thus far. We have used it a lot. We don't full-time in it. That was never the plan. We have made two 4-week trips each year, a 1-week trip each year, and probably a half dozen weekend excursions each year since purchasing the trailer. That's a lot. You can see a lot and experience quite a bit through that many trips. Obviously, boats are a different experience. They don't compare as boats and RV's offer a uniquely different, amazing lifestyle. We want a boat and hope to get one sometime in the future. I have some boating experience - enough to know that we would love to own one. The warranty on our trailer has run out as we have had it for a number of years, yet we continue to receive excellent dealer support. That was researched heavily!!! (ask other buyers from that dealership - we required a list of buyers and their email address) when we were shopping and comparing dealerships and brands. We simply told the salesman to contact buyers and ask permission to share their email with us. Only one dealership refused to produce a buyer list. We didn't buy it from them. Boats and RV's have a lot of expected issues. They just do. They are moving homes, and the obvious wear and tear on everything is inescapable. Starting with a new one and being the first user offers a huge upside in terms of preventive maintenance and intelligent use. And, be sure this is a long-term purchase as others have stated due to the depreciation you will face when trying to sell it. Obviously, unplanned events can force a sale earlier than expected. That's a given. That's fate. But, selling due to a lack of use and/or a decline in interest is a financial disaster. We see MANY RV's parked in yards collecting tall grass next to their tires as they rust away, fade, and deteriorate. We see MANY boats that seemingly never leave the dock as they fade in the sun, rust away, and deteriorate. A delayed purchase like we required/experienced may have helped those people and redirected their interest before making the purchase.
Thanks for sharing this and congrats on your live-aboard voyage. Your info is bang on. Bought our first boat in 1999 and owned our current boat for 16 years. It's an adventure for sure.
I would say a boat that is seeing constant but light use will cost less in the long run than a boat that just sits in the water and used occasional. Good video by the way and highly useful for anyone thinking of making the leap into boating.
Yes We were on our Nordhavn 40 for 8 years , going from Dana Point ., California through the Panama Canal to the East Coast.It was wonderful, but everything can go wrong on a boat, because the ocean is a harsh environment. You really need a lot of knowledge to handel different projects on the boat and often in the middle of the ocean or in a hot marina or at anchor. But on the other hand it was a wonderful experience that I would never wanted to have missed for all these years.
This was not boring at all. Great info as boating is expensive and lot of work but oh so worth it. PS I lived in Thousand Islands for two years and you definitely need to add it your bucket list. One of my daughters was born there in Alexandria Bay, NY. Spectacular boating up there.
Really enjoy the videos you share. Thank you for adding the fun to the work required. This is our first year on our 54’ MV. The first six months of ownership we worked hard fixing and getting to know the boat, and, have it right for all the cruising we wanted to get to. We have made it up to Princess Louisa Inlet twice, then Desolation Sound, onto The Broughtons and just as far as Rivers Inlet. It has been thrilling being on the water and seeing so many places. I am sad that our border keeps us away from cruising the beautiful Puget Sound area right now. My husband and I are many years older than you two! I congratulate you both on making it happen for yourselves! 👍🏻❤️👍🏻
Suzanne Bowen that’s great to hear and great that you’re enjoying so much cruising so far. We, too, can’t wait for the borders to open to enjoy BC. You guys really do have the best boating 👍👍👍
Thanks for sharing the info, don’t have a boat but do have a caravan and tour around Australia in it. Like boating every thing for caravans seems to be 2 to 3 times the cost of one for our house. Stay safe
Glad you mentioned electricity. The port of Seattle nails you for electricity. There is definitely a higher than uti!ity rate cost. My summer moorage is 40% cheaper than Seattle.
Great video! Anyone thinking about buying a boat needs to see this video, you nailed it. We have a Ranger Tug 27 that we keep on a trailer but now we have to add storage, trailer maintenance and maintenance on our diesel truck to tow it. I can’t even imagine what the cost of ownership would be if I didn’t do the normal maintenance myself, not sure we would even own a boat at that point. Keep up the great videos!
The mistake I made was comparing the cost of distance traveled by boat to a car. That is shocking when you see the cost of one nm traveled. The KingFisher I want uses 80 litres @ 30 knots which when compared to your previous boat makes me feel less sad. ;)
Hello From Montreal, my first boat was a 19'.....it was a kayak.........Last week we bought a 28'...1991 Carver 28......hoping to buy a Nordhavn one day....... Keep up the great Video !
Nice job covering the cost of boat ownership. One aspect that cannot be overstated...they are not like cars or homes. Boats require constant maintenance and repairs.
One thing to consider is how much surface needs to be polished. LOL Your fuel consumption rate is impressive. In my family boat years ago, we had a 226ci flat head 6cyl with 90hp and it burned two gallons an hour in a 40' boat weighed about 12 tons. Your rate has to be delivering more power and has more weight to move, so I'm definitely impressed. That says a lot about getting a Nordhavn.
I'd Did hope the emergency boat didn't blow up, I'd rather it inflates! Great video, great information, I always look forward to new episodes, could your captain do a video on getting his captains license , hope you don't mind me mentioning 3 other boat related TH-cam channels that your viewers might enjoy, CruisingTheCut, Aquaholic, and Lorna Jane Adventures.
Excellent Excellent and very factual. Having done very similar in boat purchases over 12 Years and each boat we call "TWOFOOTFEVER" until the last was a Monk trawler which was called "SHIPMONK" We live on the Great Lakes and we would spend the whole summer on it into late fall living on it.You must enjoy this life but it comes with a lot of maintenance which you cannot put aside and boat owners have to realize that. Thank You for a great and informative video that all people considering this life should watch.
Thank You, Yes many od not know what they are getting into when buying a boat. Research for sure and most of all find only what you can afford. You both are smart and have shown the breakdown of the cost. You oick a wise boat to finally live abord. Plenty of room and capable of traveling long distances in cofrt and safety. Thank you for sharing and i look forward to more Q& A's as you travel the sound and sorround shorlines along the west coast. Keep safe
I've GOT IT! Another side gig for ya. After my wife and I purchase, we pay ya'll for a weekend bootcamp on "Proper" boat maintenance. You bought a beautiful boat But you maintain to near perfection.
Had to break comment 111 to 112. 1111 keeps reoccurring in my life. Great explanation I always heard the 10% rule for upkeep and ownership. Great information, we love your stories and your upfront ownership analysis.
I see a lot of folks recommending charter before you buy. That sounds good ~ also Coast guard training and also hands on captain training. Ask Capt Chris has a great channel and great information. If I ever had the funds ~ I would definitely do both.
I greatly appreciate this informative video. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, my Dad had a number of cruisers/fishing boats. I always remember 3 things, ALWAYS maintain your motors, pulling the boat in and out of the water for storage when we were not using it. Dad commenting on his 2nd boat only burning 12 gallons an hours compared to his previous boat burning 18 gallons an hour. My wife and I are debating on getting into a bigger boats however the costs of what things REALLY cost is the regular discussion at our house.
This is such an interesting video. For some reason, I was expecting a much more life of leisure. I can see how it would be very easy to get behind on maintenance until one feels overwhelmed.
Another great video, your framing, and composition are always first-rate. I am a former editor and now handle post for many TV series and features. As mentioned in the past, you two really know how to capture, post, and deliver a consistently great product. I would have hoped you would have been more specific in your costs, just saying! I am working on a new series, short-form, automotive theme, maybe you can do the editing for me!
Very good videos. I enjoy watching them. My question is surrounding electronics and the helm. Watching other videos of products coming out, they appear to be always increasing in functionality, compatibility in that they talk to each other, and ease of use. But one of the videos states that once you buy, say your plot charter, you are kinda locked in for many years just do to costs. If you could just pull money out of your pocket, what would you replace in your helm (and associated senders, receivers, engine, etc)? The second question was what was the process to get your captain's license? Jim from Michigan. You should come to visit the great lakes.
I can answer captains license details. You start off with a simple Recreational boaters license and then can step up into Yachtmaster/Commercial classes based on tonnage. 100 ton, 200 Ton, 400 ton and so on. If I recall correctly it take 50 hours of Combined Overnight passages to qualify for Commercial/Yachtmaster certifying. So you need a well kept logbook of your trips. There is a cost associated with each level you seek to reach. Safety courses you need as well. (STCW95) common title, also referred to as BST basic Safety Training, which recently was updated. USCG or Transport Canada provide all your programs. A Marine first aid is also needed.
What a sobering but realistic outline of the recurring costs of boat ownership. Another important expense is depreciation if you move from boat to boat often. A brand new 2021/ 2020 Nordhavn N41 will cost approximately $700K at retail price. How do you resist the temptation to go to new boat shows?
We like boat shows but at this stage we’re totally content window shopping. And good point on the HUGE expense it is to buy/sell boats frequently. We got lucky twice and actually made money on boats...must’ve been Shawn’s OCD waxing and buffing 😉
Sean, could you expand on getting this Capt. license? We’re 4 years before on the water and we would like to get as much under the belt as possible. Picked up on some gyrations info.
Have always heard there are two great days of boat ownership - the day you buy and the day you sell - airplanes are my passion and it's much like a boat $$$$$ but fun
Boats are expensive to keep going... People talk about land yachts (RVs) being expensive, but that's the tip of the iceberg compared to the expenses on a boat, depending on the size of the yacht you've chosen. My best to you!
Gananoque, Ontario = Gan-a-noc-kway - 10 miles from where I dock my sailboat on the New York side of the St. Lawrence River/1000 Islands - We stay at some of the Canadian Park Islands on the Ontario side, and an island that our Syracuse, NY Power Squadron owns at Gananoque - Great area you guys need to explore some year
Well done guys! The one other expense you could add is travel to your boat. I live in Edmonton, Alberta and my wife and I either fly or drive to Ladysmith several times a season.
Great info...looking to be a full timer but going with the weekender model at first...project boat none the less...just a thought. How bout doing a video on your maintenance days...a day in the life of. All the good and bad. you know, the reality of it...thanks for all the time you put into your videos
Thank You for this video Hi Im Ben from Seattle Wa USA and Im going to retire and thinking about buying a boat use to do some boating when I was young with my dad a commercial salmon boat about 45ft.hook and line did that for 3yrs but no pleasure boats so thak you for the information about new boats and what I have to look forward to it would be better to learn here in the NW before taking some long trips thank you look foward to your videos especially your matinance videos learning alot on there too 😀 😊 😉 😄
Excellent video! Gives one lots to contemplate when considering the boating lifestyle - I'd love to be there but it's probably not financial feasible for us. As a RV enthusiast, I have a question about getting maintenance done. In the RV world, it can be quite tough to find a good place to have one's RV serviced, and long term relationships are always best to have. Trying to get in on short notice is often nearly impossible. How is the availability of maintenance and yards to the live-aboard boater? Do you book long in advance? Where do you live temporarily when you haul the boat out of the water? Thanks so much for sharing your lifestyle and advice with all of us.
Good question! So far we’ve had luck with getting into yards but typically like to plan a month or 6 weeks in advance. Now living aboard, we could either live on the boat in the yard if it was a few days or maybe stay in a nearby hotel.
The subject of different state's taxes is rarely brought up and is hard to get one's head around. I once cruised through california, and 4 yrs later a county tax assessor sent me a bill (thousands of $s) for a marina I stayed at for 1 week (Moss Landing). The marina mgr left my name on the books for years to cover up who was actually staying there. I sorted it out with the tax assessor over the phone.
Hi, I was surprised when you said that live aboard was 50% more expensive, did not realize that. We are on E dock in Shilshole and pay around $800 per month non live aboard. Also, when I checked for live aboard they told me it’s was a 10 year wait ... you guys are lucky.
Yeah most every marina we’ve checked with is around 50% higher. Sounds like a lot but much better than rent! And waitlists are weird, most say 5-10 years but then things come up quickly. We were on many lists and recently got called up for a different one after 6 years, so 5-10 might be accurate.
@@mvfreedom I've placed quite a few boats (including a couple of my own) into live-aboard slips in the SF Bay area. For a variety of reasons (mostly political) live-aboards are limited and hard to come by. If you simply walk into the harbor master's office and ask how long the wait is you always get a huge number - several years or a straight out refusal. I think they honestly do it just to scare people off as so many times you get somebody who just wants to buy a junk boat that's barely if at all seaworthy and find some low-income housing. However if you show up on their guest dock with a nicer boat in good shape I find that wait list magically seems to become shorter. Harbor masters are the king of their little domain - they can make your life easy or hard so it pays to do everything you can to get on their nice side!
Brother-n-law launches his 35 foot Bayliner with an old airplane tug in Des Moines Yacht cub. They launch up to 50 foot boats for day use. Craziest thing I have seen in a while.
For those of us in BC, when we come to Washington on our boat we need to pay a fee at customs for the privilege of cruising in Washington. It is only $25 USD annually though that can easily increase, but it could also apply to someone from Oregon or California or someone coming from the East Coast or Alaska. One marina in Vancouver BC is a strata, you buy the slip. These slips have metered power, cable and telephone connections as well as water and pump out. The issue of live aboard, the strata charter denies anyone living on their boat, a weekend or two a month ok, more is not. The civic marinas in False Creek are removing ALL live aboard slips, a friend of mine has been forced from his long term slip because of this. Insurance, one uncle is restricted to daytime only and 150 miles distance from home port by his coverage. That is the lowest rate policy available, it drastically increases when you want more distance or to move the boat at night.
@@mvfreedom I'm not positive on when it started, but I heard about it last year. paying a 1 time of 25 bucks for an annual sticker or a couple bucks every time we cross over, the unrestricted fee quickly becomes lower cost if you live near the border and cross fairly regularly. Lets just hope BC doesn't copy them, since everyone from Washington would need to pay to get to Alaska.
As a sixty-year old cancer survivor, I can think of nothing better than to spend the rest of my days cruising around New Zealand on a Nordhavn! I guess the question to you would be do you run lithium Ion batteries, and do you ever intend to install solar panels to help reduce running expenses?
Wow good for you to have beaten such a horrible disease. We’re doing what we’re doing since life is too short and health isn’t a given, so NOW is everything. We don’t have lithium batteries but with so many folks going that route for solar we’re definitely going to look into it for the future. We’ve got about 4 more years on our current battery bank so maybe then it’ll make sense to make the investment.
The new paint applications like F11 is a good option for a consideration on outside maintenance.....im old and it helps support you while you keep up with your washing. Cheers
We just bought a 28 ft boat & have spent almost what I paid for it on upgrades, repairs & maintenance & I'm doing all the work myself. Looking forward to getting it out to the San Juan's next month. Maybe we'll see you cruising around there this summer. Been watching your videos since I got the boat.
To make it short if your pockets isn't deep enough better not to have a boat like the one in the video or équivalant, just choose the tow capable. For me if i cant make it moored infront of my house water ways (if i have it one), i'll just keep it in my dream list.
This liveaboard premium thing must be a west coast thing, or at least a not-east-coast thing. Of course, dockage in the north east is stupidly exepensive but this cost varies little to none regardless of liveaboard or not. So you might as well live on your boat!
In the North East on the north shore of Lake Ontario , Lake Ontario does not freeze over , some people live on their boats , but many of them are enclosed in plastic . I imagine the cockpit of the enclosed boats, must not smell very nice .
It may be; I've never looked into it anywhere else but here in the SF Bay area it's about the same as MV Freedom noted in the PNW. Of course there are always the more 'colorful' marinas out in the delta or other areas where you can find cheaper dockage, but you won't be finding a lot of Nordhavns there. :)
Well done, this was the probably best episode I have watched regarding the information that you have provided in term of cost and living onboard and travelling. We were contemplating to buy a boat and live on board with my family, but I have to say you have changed my mind. :-)
Boating requires a dedicated committment to the boat which requires, mostly time but money expenses is also there. With committment, it can be a very rewarding endeavor... One other thing, you really should have money you can afford to waste should it not be the thing you're looking for. If it's the right thing, it will provide a world of memories. I know, I was there.
Hi from Bulgaria! I've been binge watching your videos over the last few weeks, love MV Freedom! I second one of the other Q&A questions about the Med. I'd really love to see that, it would be an epic trip!
Enjoying your channel, you refer to MV Freedom as a trawler, I live in the UK, where a trawler is a fishing vessel. Did Freedom start out that way and was she refitted?
We've watched most of your videos over the years and have found them both entertaining and very useful. We live in Port Angeles and are moving to one of the smaller San Juan Islands (partly inspired by some of your trips!). We plan to buy a day cruiser just to use locally. The house has a deep water dock, which was part of the reason we chose it. We really want to keep our boat in the water year round at our dock so we can use it on the spur of the moment and have it for emergencies. Do you think that's feasible? Would we be better off to create some sort of boat house? We can certainly have it hauled out in Friday Harbor for maintenance. We want to get the smallest size boat that would still be safe in a bad turn of weather. What size range would you suggest? We don't need many bells or whistles, just for intra-island travel. Thanks! And we hope you make it to Alaska next year. ~Anna
How exciting to be moving to the SJI’s with a place on the water! Boats are so specific to what you want to use them for, so size is hard to say without knowing exactly what you want. If we were in your shoes, and only wanted a day boat with comfort we’d choose something maybe 18-22’ in length with a hard top for both rain and shine, and something easy for a raised boat lift (Grady White or Boston Whaler have some great models with cabin space and enclosures). Ideally a covered slip or covering would be great to protect it, as well as a raised life to keep it out of salt water as much as possible since it would be small enough. We love Ranger Tugs in the mid 20’ lengths, and think those are fantastic boats for the islands. You can “glamp” on them overnight, enjoy meals, enjoy year round boating and bop around very easily. Have fun with whatever you choose!
![30 Hours Underway on the North Pacific Ocean + Weekly Q&A! [NORDHAVN 43]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/udh68bkj-xY/mqdefault.jpg)
![30 Hours Underway on the North Pacific Ocean + Weekly Q&A! [NORDHAVN 43]](/img/tr.png)
![LIVING ABOARD A BOAT: the PROS & CONS of living full-time aboard a 43' trawler! [NORDHAVN 43]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wsdFbk2Y4ws/mqdefault.jpg)
![Here's the TOTAL COST $ breakdown of our haulout & how we saved a BOAT LOAD of cash!!! [MV FREEDOM]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/P2okxzt-81Q/mqdefault.jpg)
![No DOCK? No PROBLEM in the Pacific Northwest's BEST KEPT SECRET...Port Gamble, WA! [NORDHAVN 43]](/img/n.gif)
another cost to consider, if you decide to resell your boat, expect to lose 20-30% of what you paid for. if its brand new within 1 year you might lose 10%, 2 year old might be 20% , 5-10 year old boat can be 30-50% . best way to start small and then keep upgrading if you still like it. but if you dont like it straight away your losses will be small ( smaller insurance, smaller maintenance , smaller loss on resale). eg say you got 50000$ spare cash to spend on a boat (not even considering borrowing from bank) , you should expect boat cost initially 50k$ then 10$k maintenance and if you decide to sell it in 12month , expect to sell it for 40k$ and it still might take couple of months to sell and you might have to keep paying mooring fees , insurance etc. so by the time you sold it you might spent 60-70k$ on it and got back 40k$ back.
This is super helpful. Soul destroying but super helpful. Love the channel!
Lol
You realize you just crushed a dream of buying a Gozzard 36 and sailing off into the sunset on just my SS check! Seriously though, thank you for a realistic breakdown of expenses. I've watched countless videos on boat expenses, but yours has been the most helpful.
Not boring at all. Part of the success of vlogging is getting to know the people more and learning from their experiences. Love the videos.
Life long sailor here and snowbird cruiser. I watched this because we are getting to an age where we must consider power instead of sail. Your information is spot on. Well done! We are frankly shocked at the size boat first time buyers opt for. Working your way up in size is important especially as you add systems; AC, generators, electronics, engines, power sources etc.
Not boring. You both do a great job. Nice mix of video and information. I love it. Glad I found your site and will continue to follow. So great job keep it up. Thanks
Thanks and welcome!
Hello from Cincy! Great show, great info...we’ve had boats mainly sail...your 100% right it’s pricey.
Be safe sorry for your out of control state!
Thank you!
Great video. First video I've seen from you guys. I love the Nordhavn boats. I've been around boats and ships since I was a kid, have the D5LA and can relate to most of the points in the video. Here in Europe the taxes and fees are more extreme. Insurance usually runs up to 15% of the value, and yearly tax can easily be 10% of value, depending on your country. Diesel is also very expensive, although some countries have tax-free diesel for off-road use. Internet is getting easier with Starlink. Boats need to be used. If not used, expect more maintenance. Thank you for making it. The Nordhavn 47 is a nice looking boat that handles well and has most of the stuff you need for living aboard. Greetings from Norway.
Way to go guys.This video was just what the doctor ordered.Yes the boating lifestyle is amazing but it's not cheap.I spend a fortune just maintaining my 29 ft. Rinker that is only used 5 months a year.
Yes when we boated in WI we hated having only 6 months to enjoy them with another 6 months having to still pay and maintain them.
Great video guys. Think chartering is the way for me to go. Such a realistic POV. Thank you.
Live aboard in a heartbeat and the one thing I said i'd do before life is done with me. Kodiak, Alaska in summer and Mexico in winter. I'm in no hurry to get anywhere and rest assured I am going to be comfortable. Lordy Lordy I need a Nordy!
Very informative. I'll throw a heavy wrench into the discussion that applies to boat and RV purchases. I would only buy a New boat or RV to get full warranty, full knowledge that you are the first user removing any concerns of user abuse, and getting strong dealer support during and, hopefully, after the warranty period has expired. We went that route with our rather expensive Airstream travel trailer purchase. We waited, saved, and delayed the purchase for several years until we saved enough to purchase a new trailer that was current in all of its features and inclusions. btw, that delay offered us additional time to think and rethink this purchase decision and question it over and over. The ownership has been a success thus far. We have used it a lot. We don't full-time in it. That was never the plan. We have made two 4-week trips each year, a 1-week trip each year, and probably a half dozen weekend excursions each year since purchasing the trailer. That's a lot. You can see a lot and experience quite a bit through that many trips. Obviously, boats are a different experience. They don't compare as boats and RV's offer a uniquely different, amazing lifestyle. We want a boat and hope to get one sometime in the future. I have some boating experience - enough to know that we would love to own one. The warranty on our trailer has run out as we have had it for a number of years, yet we continue to receive excellent dealer support. That was researched heavily!!! (ask other buyers from that dealership - we required a list of buyers and their email address) when we were shopping and comparing dealerships and brands. We simply told the salesman to contact buyers and ask permission to share their email with us. Only one dealership refused to produce a buyer list. We didn't buy it from them. Boats and RV's have a lot of expected issues. They just do. They are moving homes, and the obvious wear and tear on everything is inescapable. Starting with a new one and being the first user offers a huge upside in terms of preventive maintenance and intelligent use. And, be sure this is a long-term purchase as others have stated due to the depreciation you will face when trying to sell it. Obviously, unplanned events can force a sale earlier than expected. That's a given. That's fate. But, selling due to a lack of use and/or a decline in interest is a financial disaster. We see MANY RV's parked in yards collecting tall grass next to their tires as they rust away, fade, and deteriorate. We see MANY boats that seemingly never leave the dock as they fade in the sun, rust away, and deteriorate. A delayed purchase like we required/experienced may have helped those people and redirected their interest before making the purchase.
Thanks for sharing this and congrats on your live-aboard voyage. Your info is bang on. Bought our first boat in 1999 and owned our current boat for 16 years. It's an adventure for sure.
I would say a boat that is seeing constant but light use will cost less in the long run than a boat that just sits in the water and used occasional. Good video by the way and highly useful for anyone thinking of making the leap into boating.
Yes We were on our Nordhavn 40 for 8 years , going from Dana Point ., California through the Panama Canal to the East Coast.It was wonderful, but everything can go wrong on a boat, because the ocean is a harsh environment. You really need a lot of knowledge to handel different projects on the boat and often in the middle of the ocean or in a hot marina or at anchor. But on the other hand it was a wonderful experience that I would never wanted to have missed for all these years.
Great video with wonderful content! I love watching your travels and adventures in beautiful Freedom. Continued safe travels and joy!!!
BTW... my brother’s family has a hobby farm in Gillett. Very lovely country and wooded areas!
Amy Boxer Owner if we weren’t water people, or maybe later in life, we’d LOVE a hobby farm!
This was not boring at all. Great info as boating is expensive and lot of work but oh so worth it. PS I lived in Thousand Islands for two years and you definitely need to add it your bucket list. One of my daughters was born there in Alexandria Bay, NY. Spectacular boating up there.
Really enjoy the videos you share. Thank you for adding the fun to the work required. This is our first year on our 54’ MV. The first six months of ownership we worked hard fixing and getting to know the boat, and, have it right for all the cruising we wanted to get to. We have made it up to Princess Louisa Inlet twice, then Desolation Sound, onto The Broughtons and just as far as Rivers Inlet. It has been thrilling being on the water and seeing so many places. I am sad that our border keeps us away from cruising the beautiful Puget Sound area right now. My husband and I are many years older than you two! I congratulate you both on making it happen for yourselves! 👍🏻❤️👍🏻
Suzanne Bowen that’s great to hear and great that you’re enjoying so much cruising so far. We, too, can’t wait for the borders to open to enjoy BC. You guys really do have the best boating 👍👍👍
Older Bayliners/Meridians have household fridges in refitted vessels. Those are great for new boaters looking for live-boards on budget.
You're not wrong. The 459 is an incredible liveaboard.
Thanks for sharing the info, don’t have a boat but do have a caravan and tour around Australia in it. Like boating every thing for caravans seems to be 2 to 3 times the cost of one for our house. Stay safe
Glad you mentioned electricity. The port of Seattle nails you for electricity. There is definitely a higher than uti!ity rate cost. My summer moorage is 40% cheaper than Seattle.
Great video! Anyone thinking about buying a boat needs to see this video, you nailed it. We have a Ranger Tug 27 that we keep on a trailer but now we have to add storage, trailer maintenance and maintenance on our diesel truck to tow it. I can’t even imagine what the cost of ownership would be if I didn’t do the normal maintenance myself, not sure we would even own a boat at that point. Keep up the great videos!
The mistake I made was comparing the cost of distance traveled by boat to a car. That is shocking when you see the cost of one nm traveled. The KingFisher I want uses 80 litres @ 30 knots which when compared to your previous boat makes me feel less sad. ;)
Hello From Montreal, my first boat was a 19'.....it was a kayak.........Last week we bought a 28'...1991 Carver 28......hoping to buy a Nordhavn one day....... Keep up the great Video !
Nice job covering the cost of boat ownership. One aspect that cannot be overstated...they are not like cars or homes. Boats require constant maintenance and repairs.
One thing to consider is how much surface needs to be polished. LOL Your fuel consumption rate is impressive. In my family boat years ago, we had a 226ci flat head 6cyl with 90hp and it burned two gallons an hour in a 40' boat weighed about 12 tons. Your rate has to be delivering more power and has more weight to move, so I'm definitely impressed. That says a lot about getting a Nordhavn.
I'd Did hope the emergency boat didn't blow up, I'd rather it inflates! Great video, great information, I always look forward to new episodes, could your captain do a video on getting his captains license , hope you don't mind me mentioning 3 other boat related TH-cam channels that your viewers might enjoy, CruisingTheCut, Aquaholic, and Lorna Jane Adventures.
You Both are Terrific!
😉
Excellent Excellent and very factual. Having done very similar in boat purchases over 12 Years and each boat we call "TWOFOOTFEVER" until the last was a Monk trawler which was called "SHIPMONK" We live on the Great Lakes and we would spend the whole summer on it into late fall living on it.You must enjoy this life but it comes with a lot of maintenance which you cannot put aside and boat owners have to realize that. Thank You for a great and informative video that all people considering this life should watch.
Thank You, Yes many od not know what they are getting into when buying a boat. Research for sure and most of all find only what you can afford. You both are smart and have shown the breakdown of the cost. You oick a wise boat to finally live abord. Plenty of room and capable of traveling long distances in cofrt and safety. Thank you for sharing and i look forward to more Q& A's as you travel the sound and sorround shorlines along the west coast. Keep safe
I've GOT IT! Another side gig for ya. After my wife and I purchase, we pay ya'll for a weekend bootcamp on "Proper" boat maintenance. You bought a beautiful boat But you maintain to near perfection.
Perfect!
Had to break comment 111 to 112. 1111 keeps reoccurring in my life. Great explanation I always heard the 10% rule for upkeep and ownership. Great information, we love your stories and your upfront ownership analysis.
I see a lot of folks recommending charter before you buy. That sounds good ~ also Coast guard training and also hands on captain training. Ask Capt Chris has a great channel and great information. If I ever had the funds ~ I would definitely do both.
I greatly appreciate this informative video. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, my Dad had a number of cruisers/fishing boats. I always remember 3 things, ALWAYS maintain your motors, pulling the boat in and out of the water for storage when we were not using it. Dad commenting on his 2nd boat only burning 12 gallons an hours compared to his previous boat burning 18 gallons an hour. My wife and I are debating on getting into a bigger boats however the costs of what things REALLY cost is the regular discussion at our house.
This is such an interesting video. For some reason, I was expecting a much more life of leisure. I can see how it would be very easy to get behind on maintenance until one feels overwhelmed.
Simple answer... YES!!!
Thanks for this! Looking for a 40 foot live aboard. Quite the different world from our 27 foot day sailboat!
Another great video, your framing, and composition are always first-rate. I am a former editor and now handle post for many TV series and features. As mentioned in the past, you two really know how to capture, post, and deliver a consistently great product. I would have hoped you would have been more specific in your costs, just saying! I am working on a new series, short-form, automotive theme, maybe you can do the editing for me!
Very good videos. I enjoy watching them. My question is surrounding electronics and the helm. Watching other videos of products coming out, they appear to be always increasing in functionality, compatibility in that they talk to each other, and ease of use. But one of the videos states that once you buy, say your plot charter, you are kinda locked in for many years just do to costs. If you could just pull money out of your pocket, what would you replace in your helm (and associated senders, receivers, engine, etc)? The second question was what was the process to get your captain's license? Jim from Michigan. You should come to visit the great lakes.
I can answer captains license details. You start off with a simple Recreational boaters license and then can step up into Yachtmaster/Commercial classes based on tonnage. 100 ton, 200 Ton, 400 ton and so on. If I recall correctly it take 50 hours of Combined Overnight passages to qualify for Commercial/Yachtmaster certifying. So you need a well kept logbook of your trips. There is a cost associated with each level you seek to reach. Safety courses you need as well. (STCW95) common title, also referred to as BST basic Safety Training, which recently was updated. USCG or Transport Canada provide all your programs. A Marine first aid is also needed.
Didnt bore me love your videos I want to be a skipper myself always have been working on tickets atm.I never knew shaun was a skipper .
What a sobering but realistic outline of the recurring costs of boat ownership. Another important expense is depreciation if you move from boat to boat often. A brand new 2021/ 2020 Nordhavn N41 will cost approximately $700K at retail price. How do you resist the temptation to go to new boat shows?
We like boat shows but at this stage we’re totally content window shopping. And good point on the HUGE expense it is to buy/sell boats frequently. We got lucky twice and actually made money on boats...must’ve been Shawn’s OCD waxing and buffing 😉
Sean, could you expand on getting this Capt. license? We’re 4 years before on the water and we would like to get as much under the belt as possible. Picked up on some gyrations info.
Gyrations was supposed to be “great”. Sorry
Have always heard there are two great days of boat ownership - the day you buy and the day you sell - airplanes are my passion and it's much like a boat $$$$$ but fun
I'm not sure about buying a boat, But if Elizabeth were my First Mate, I would pop for a 60 footer! Something sporty like a Targa 65 GT! ...:)
Boats are expensive to keep going... People talk about land yachts (RVs) being expensive, but that's the tip of the iceberg compared to the expenses on a boat, depending on the size of the yacht you've chosen. My best to you!
Great information! I bet those who bought a boat did not know this. Going to have a lot of used boats in the future. (miss my Boat).
Great video guys! Was very informative and interesting...
Love your videos. Be well stay safe.
I don't know anything about boats, but I did hear of a saying that boat is a acronym for Break Out Another Thousand. Is that true about owning boats?
Gananoque, Ontario = Gan-a-noc-kway - 10 miles from where I dock my sailboat on the New York side of the St. Lawrence River/1000 Islands - We stay at some of the Canadian Park Islands on the Ontario side, and an island that our Syracuse, NY Power Squadron owns at Gananoque - Great area you guys need to explore some year
Well done guys! The one other expense you could add is travel to your boat. I live in Edmonton, Alberta and my wife and I either fly or drive to Ladysmith several times a season.
Let's Go Outdoors yes good call, we know a lot of people who fly or drive long distances to their boats which adds a lot of time and $$$
Very valuable information ... thank you guys!
I am looking into buying a boat. I am in Washington on the Columbia. Thank you for all the videos.
Great info...looking to be a full timer but going with the weekender model at first...project boat none the less...just a thought. How bout doing a video on your maintenance days...a day in the life of. All the good and bad. you know, the reality of it...thanks for all the time you put into your videos
Thank You for this video Hi Im Ben from Seattle Wa USA and Im going to retire and thinking about buying a boat use to do some boating when I was young with my dad a commercial salmon boat about 45ft.hook and line did that for 3yrs but no pleasure boats so thak you for the information about new boats and what I have to look forward to it would be better to learn here in the NW before taking some long trips thank you look foward to your videos especially your matinance videos learning alot on there too 😀 😊 😉 😄
Tony & susan here, thank you for all the great info, 23 months til we castthe lines
That’s exciting, it’ll go fast!
Very interesting getting yout honesty.
Excellent video! Gives one lots to contemplate when considering the boating lifestyle - I'd love to be there but it's probably not financial feasible for us. As a RV enthusiast, I have a question about getting maintenance done. In the RV world, it can be quite tough to find a good place to have one's RV serviced, and long term relationships are always best to have. Trying to get in on short notice is often nearly impossible. How is the availability of maintenance and yards to the live-aboard boater? Do you book long in advance? Where do you live temporarily when you haul the boat out of the water? Thanks so much for sharing your lifestyle and advice with all of us.
Good question! So far we’ve had luck with getting into yards but typically like to plan a month or 6 weeks in advance. Now living aboard, we could either live on the boat in the yard if it was a few days or maybe stay in a nearby hotel.
@@mvfreedom Thanks. I look forward to seeing a video of a haul-out experience.
Have you ever considered to cruise the “great loop” - M/V Freedom would be the perfect vessel for such a trip. Cheers from Whitehorse/Yukon
Sadly we’re too tall to make the Great Loop 😏
@@mvfreedom well, in one piece...
but the plus side is, think of all the cool maintenance Shawn would get AFTER hitting the bridges!!!
this is your best video so far, i learned alot! thank you
The subject of different state's taxes is rarely brought up and is hard to get one's head around. I once cruised through california, and 4 yrs later a county tax assessor sent me a bill (thousands of $s) for a marina I stayed at for 1 week (Moss Landing). The marina mgr left my name on the books for years to cover up who was actually staying there. I sorted it out with the tax assessor over the phone.
Water Trails wow that’s crazy!
I'd like to see that whole dry stack storage thing work for a fleet of Nordhavns.
Great information guys. TY. Almost a public service announcement. If you have one; you might consider a spreadsheet as a download! :-)
Yacht world is a DANGEROUS place! 😉😅
Great solid info & advice. Thanks guys!
Learning about marina live aboard availability, all the lawyering, and taxes involved I will probably continue to be a Nordhavn’T
rightsideup you could always register in the Cayman Islands and not stay in one place for too long to avoid much of that like the mega yachts do 👍
Hi, I was surprised when you said that live aboard was 50% more expensive, did not realize that. We are on E dock in Shilshole and pay around $800 per month non live aboard. Also, when I checked for live aboard they told me it’s was a 10 year wait ... you guys are lucky.
Yeah most every marina we’ve checked with is around 50% higher. Sounds like a lot but much better than rent! And waitlists are weird, most say 5-10 years but then things come up quickly. We were on many lists and recently got called up for a different one after 6 years, so 5-10 might be accurate.
@@mvfreedom I've placed quite a few boats (including a couple of my own) into live-aboard slips in the SF Bay area. For a variety of reasons (mostly political) live-aboards are limited and hard to come by. If you simply walk into the harbor master's office and ask how long the wait is you always get a huge number - several years or a straight out refusal. I think they honestly do it just to scare people off as so many times you get somebody who just wants to buy a junk boat that's barely if at all seaworthy and find some low-income housing. However if you show up on their guest dock with a nicer boat in good shape I find that wait list magically seems to become shorter. Harbor masters are the king of their little domain - they can make your life easy or hard so it pays to do everything you can to get on their nice side!
Don Happel that’s very true!
Just a quick hello... Thanks for the fun videos. Keep them coming, give Sully a scratch.
Brother-n-law launches his 35 foot Bayliner with an old airplane tug in Des Moines Yacht cub. They launch up to 50 foot boats for day use. Craziest thing I have seen in a while.
For those of us in BC, when we come to Washington on our boat we need to pay a fee at customs for the privilege of cruising in Washington. It is only $25 USD annually though that can easily increase, but it could also apply to someone from Oregon or California or someone coming from the East Coast or Alaska.
One marina in Vancouver BC is a strata, you buy the slip. These slips have metered power, cable and telephone connections as well as water and pump out. The issue of live aboard, the strata charter denies anyone living on their boat, a weekend or two a month ok, more is not.
The civic marinas in False Creek are removing ALL live aboard slips, a friend of mine has been forced from his long term slip because of this.
Insurance, one uncle is restricted to daytime only and 150 miles distance from home port by his coverage. That is the lowest rate policy available, it drastically increases when you want more distance or to move the boat at night.
That’s all so sad and unfair. We had no idea WA charged a fee, is that new? But doesn’t surprise us, they nickel and dime every chance they get.
@@mvfreedom I'm not positive on when it started, but I heard about it last year.
paying a 1 time of 25 bucks for an annual sticker or a couple bucks every time we cross over, the unrestricted fee quickly becomes lower cost if you live near the border and cross fairly regularly.
Lets just hope BC doesn't copy them, since everyone from Washington would need to pay to get to Alaska.
As a sixty-year old cancer survivor, I can think of nothing better than to spend the rest of my days cruising around New Zealand on a Nordhavn! I guess the question to you would be do you run lithium Ion batteries, and do you ever intend to install solar panels to help reduce running expenses?
Wow good for you to have beaten such a horrible disease. We’re doing what we’re doing since life is too short and health isn’t a given, so NOW is everything. We don’t have lithium batteries but with so many folks going that route for solar we’re definitely going to look into it for the future. We’ve got about 4 more years on our current battery bank so maybe then it’ll make sense to make the investment.
The new paint applications like F11 is a good option for a consideration on outside maintenance.....im old and it helps support you while you keep up with your washing. Cheers
Thank you for the video. Most likely I will never own a boat but it is interesting. Like your channel. Good to see videos from my neighborhood.
have you contested the tax as the boat is actually your home?... It's different here in uk
Very helpful information. Thank you.
by the way those toenail clippers they advertise work fabulous really really good
Thanks for sharing your story and the helpful tips on cost etc.
Fantastically informational and anchored in reality!
We just bought a 28 ft boat & have spent almost what I paid for it on upgrades, repairs & maintenance & I'm doing all the work myself. Looking forward to getting it out to the San Juan's next month. Maybe we'll see you cruising around there this summer. Been watching your videos since I got the boat.
Ha guys thank you for the expense of living the boat, One question ? Have you considered the new ceramic coatings and do they work on fiberglass.
We haven’t but it sounds interesting!
To make it short if your pockets isn't deep enough better not to have a boat like the one in the video or équivalant, just choose the tow capable.
For me if i cant make it moored infront of my house water ways (if i have it one), i'll just keep it in my dream list.
This liveaboard premium thing must be a west coast thing, or at least a not-east-coast thing. Of course, dockage in the north east is stupidly exepensive but this cost varies little to none regardless of liveaboard or not. So you might as well live on your boat!
In the North East on the north shore of Lake Ontario , Lake Ontario does not freeze over , some people live on their boats , but many of them are enclosed in plastic . I imagine the cockpit of the enclosed boats, must not smell very nice .
It may be; I've never looked into it anywhere else but here in the SF Bay area it's about the same as MV Freedom noted in the PNW. Of course there are always the more 'colorful' marinas out in the delta or other areas where you can find cheaper dockage, but you won't be finding a lot of Nordhavns there. :)
That's why you see so many boats in florida. Often many developments include a dock for each home.
Great video guys! So true!!
Well done, this was the probably best episode I have watched regarding the information that you have provided in term of cost and living onboard and travelling. We were contemplating to buy a boat and live on board with my family, but I have to say you have changed my mind. :-)
Boating requires a dedicated committment to the boat which requires, mostly time but money expenses is also there. With committment, it can be a very rewarding endeavor... One other thing, you really should have money you can afford to waste should it not be the thing you're looking for. If it's the right thing, it will provide a world of memories. I know, I was there.
Really great video! Love learning all about boat life! John from Big Bear CA
Yes , I really want a boat , a 43 footer
Thanks for the great video, lots of things to consider, some I'd already known about, others new.
Do you guys have a ProSafe SF60 Galvanic Isolator?
Robert Torres yes we have 2 GI’s 👍
Hi from Bulgaria!
I've been binge watching your videos over the last few weeks, love MV Freedom!
I second one of the other Q&A questions about the Med. I'd really love to see that, it would be an epic trip!
Thank you guys! Great information
Very informative! (Dan in New Hampshire!)
Enjoying your channel, you refer to MV Freedom as a trawler, I live in the UK, where a trawler is a fishing vessel. Did Freedom start out that way and was she refitted?
Hey it's good to see everybody with smiling faces including the happy little puppy just checking in
Great informative programme
We've watched most of your videos over the years and have found them both entertaining and very useful. We live in Port Angeles and are moving to one of the smaller San Juan Islands (partly inspired by some of your trips!). We plan to buy a day cruiser just to use locally. The house has a deep water dock, which was part of the reason we chose it. We really want to keep our boat in the water year round at our dock so we can use it on the spur of the moment and have it for emergencies. Do you think that's feasible? Would we be better off to create some sort of boat house? We can certainly have it hauled out in Friday Harbor for maintenance. We want to get the smallest size boat that would still be safe in a bad turn of weather. What size range would you suggest? We don't need many bells or whistles, just for intra-island travel. Thanks! And we hope you make it to Alaska next year. ~Anna
How exciting to be moving to the SJI’s with a place on the water! Boats are so specific to what you want to use them for, so size is hard to say without knowing exactly what you want. If we were in your shoes, and only wanted a day boat with comfort we’d choose something maybe 18-22’ in length with a hard top for both rain and shine, and something easy for a raised boat lift (Grady White or Boston Whaler have some great models with cabin space and enclosures). Ideally a covered slip or covering would be great to protect it, as well as a raised life to keep it out of salt water as much as possible since it would be small enough. We love Ranger Tugs in the mid 20’ lengths, and think those are fantastic boats for the islands. You can “glamp” on them overnight, enjoy meals, enjoy year round boating and bop around very easily. Have fun with whatever you choose!
@@mvfreedom Thanks so much for the thorough reply, really helps! Maybe we'll wave at you one day. Happy cruising.
Love the safety question/answer
Howard from Oldham, how you guys stay fit being aboard all the time, my wrist band says must do 8000 steps a day
Mr. Sully says hes the captain and not the second mate
Very true, our bad!
You two are wonderful! Thanks