It’s only money... right?

we pulled the boat last week for a bottom job and to get some minor fiberglass work done to cracks on the sides where the exhaust comes out of the hull.

While the boat was out I decided to get the rub rail down waxed as well.

Shortly after pulling the boat I noticed that I didn’t really need a bottom job but with the fiberglass work, I might as well have it done.

I budgeted $3k for the repairs which did not include the buffing/waxing.

Last Friday I picked it up and it looked amazing!

The yard found a few things extra and fixed them but I didn’t think of the costs until I got the bill!

Nothing like being $2200 over budget!

The port side cutlass bearing had to be replaced - $400

Since there was fiberglass work done, they had to redo the boot stripes - $400

There was some extra fiberglass work that had to be done -$600

They replaced all of my zincs to include the diver dream, trim tabs and shaft zincs - $400

Ugh, the cost of owning a boat...

Some photos.

I hear you. We can never justify the cost of boat ownership or make financial sense of it. It is simply a bad financial investment.
However, the value of the memories for us is very high. We are privileged that the cost doesn’t impact our lives.

I always felt boating was such a stress reliever from work that it was cheaper than - cardiac or mental health bills.

paulswagelock said:

I hear you. We can never justify the cost of boat ownership or make financial sense of it. It is simply a bad financial investment.
However, the value of the memories for us is very high. We are privileged that the cost doesn’t impact our lives.

Click to expand...

This is it for us exactly - make memories or excuses! Of course now I have to work more overtime to cover the expenses which almost negates the stress relief that boating provides. There is a reason why I don't add up total costs of boating. LOL

Year to date I am in this boat for over $11,000 extra...
January - new generator back end -$3500
February - $2700
March - haul out and repairs - $5200

I put my haul out and repairs on hold until I get myself out of a hole from being jobless.

I'm glad I can push it another year.

Now back to work for the last 4 weeks so things are looking up.

Captn TJ said:

I always felt boating was such a stress reliever from work that it was cheaper than - cardiac or mental health bills.

Click to expand...

I have had elevated blood pressure for many years. Just high enough that I would be right on the fence of maybe not passing my CDL physical. When I retired, we left 2 weeks later to do the Great Loop. My pressure started falling and I felt great. When we came home for Christmas that year, I had my annual physical and my doctor was thrilled and said that retirement was agreeing with me. When we finished the loop, my pressure was as low as I can ever remember it.
This past December's physical revealed a slightly rising pressure. I recently went for my CDL physical to keep my license in case I want to goof around with driving or wrenching on trucks for something to do in the future and the pressure was up a little more, not near to where it used to be when working, but the up trend is there. I'm fully retired, having the time of my life, just returned from a great vacation in Australia and New Zealand. There is no stress.
It was simply all about being on the boat for a year. For me it's great medicine and well worth the cost.

paulswagelock said:

We can never justify the cost of boat ownership or make financial sense of it. It is simply a bad financial investment.
However, the value of the memories for us is very high. We are privileged that the cost doesn’t impact our lives.

Click to expand...

100% How we feel. $2000 for the boat.."I guess it needs to be done." Pizza night, "Not if we don't have a coupon".

Such a warped world, lol

Well, The yard's prices look very reasonable, if it is any consolation.

A boat yard is a tough place to work and we find that every haul out you are met with new faces and the job you need done is the first time they new guys have ever seen it. That means, if the marina mgt. is left to their own devices, they will assign a $125/hour mechanic to "assist" the $65/hour yard guy......and your $400 cutless bearing becomes $875. It is for this reason that I never allow work on my boat in the yard unless I am there with it to see what it needs and how the marina staffs it. When the bill comes, it still becomes a war with the service manager to arrive at a fair charge. I am lucky.....I am retired and have the time to watch what is going on; most people have other time pressures to prevent their being present.

The other factor is that as these boats age to about 15 years +, stuff begins to wear out and the maintenance clock runs out on key systems. You may still have aftercooler cleaning, engine thermostat replacement, engine hoses, shaft seals, air conditioner replacement, ice maker replacement, water heater replacement, sea water pump replacement, potable water pump replacement, sump box pump and float switch replacement, amoung other things yet ahead of you.

Beautiful Job!

When you're on your floaty with your favorite libation, using your feet to egg-beater around your boat, you will admire the work done.

Name says it all....

Ever notice years later you never recall how pissed you were at the price of something or how badly your back ached from changing that damn impeller located on the under side of your engines. However that raft up with friends or the beautiful weekend spent on the hook is so vivid it will always put a smile on your face. I guess that's the justification.

k9medic said:

This is it for us exactly - make memories or excuses! Of course now I have to work more overtime to cover the expenses which almost negates the stress relief that boating provides. There is a reason why I don't add up total costs of boating. LOL

Year to date I am in this boat for over $11,000 extra...
January - new generator back end -$3500
February - $2700
March - haul out and repairs - $5200

Click to expand...

Don't "Year to date it!" Year to date, I am in to mine:
Bravo 3 Outdrive $8000.00
Cabin fridge $800.00
batteries $700.00
and numerous odds and ends... I just bought it in December

k9medic said:

we pulled the boat last week for a bottom job and to get some minor fiberglass work done to cracks on the sides where the exhaust comes out of the hull.

While the boat was out I decided to get the rub rail down waxed as well.

Shortly after pulling the boat I noticed that I didn’t really need a bottom job but with the fiberglass work, I might as well have it done.

I budgeted $3k for the repairs which did not include the buffing/waxing.

Last Friday I picked it up and it looked amazing!

The yard found a few things extra and fixed them but I didn’t think of the costs until I got the bill!

Nothing like being $2200 over budget!

The port side cutlass bearing had to be replaced - $400

Since there was fiberglass work done, they had to redo the boot stripes - $400

There was some extra fiberglass work that had to be done -$600

They replaced all of my zincs to include the diver dream, trim tabs and shaft zincs - $400

Ugh, the cost of owning a boat...

Click to expand...

Dang....I feel your pain!

After purchasing my new to me 2003 270 SD and going out 3-4 times in Sept 2017 I went to the local Sea Ray dealers customer appreciation and mini boat show day. They gave me a 15% off coupon for a a buff & wax detail. I took it in to them and they gave me a quote for a 3 step process for $1700. I said go ahead but include a code read on the engine data since it was idling real fast and causing issues docking.

They came back with a diagnosis of a faulty fuel pressure regulator which was reading 80 psi and should read nearer to 40 psi. Was quoted $1000 to remove engine, install regulator with me purchasing the part and put engine back in. I said go ahead and do all the mechanical work before the buffing & wax detail.

Once the drive was off and engine was out of course a lot more things were found to need replacing while it was all apart. Your head and heart tell you to say yes as you are so far into it now and don't want to pay to remove the engine again later. A $10k bill later flabbergasted me! I know I agreed to all the parts like new starter, drive shaft, u-joints, bearings, engine mounts, power steering hoses, but the labor was way more than $1000 quote for the engine in/out process. They charged for 2 guys a lot of the time and especially for the drive install and alignment (which I felt should have been included in the quote).

Fast forward another 2-3 times out and then boat can't launch off the trailer. This time I took it to the local Mercruiser dealer who gave me the bad news that the engine coupler was toast. They quoted $3-4k for engine in/out process. I told them it shouldn't be a hard job with nothing rusted up because it had recently been out a few months ago at the Sea Ray dealer. When removing the drive they found that the bellows was full of gear oil and the seal was damaged from improper installation. Apparently the driveshaft had not been greased up nor torqued down enough and they could see where it had been moving back and forth and even touched the clutches. The engine came out and coupler was installed but the B3 transom plate had bravoitis and would not likely seal properly around the water pickup hose as it was flaking off and there was not enough material left to hold the o-ring in place. $3.5k for a new one. I expect a total bill of around $7-8k again when it is all buttoned up again but pray that it will be reliable now.

Hopefully these pre-purchased credits are redeemable for a lot of of good times & everlasting memories!

Curtis said:

Don't "Year to date it!" Year to date, I am in to mine:
Bravo 3 Outdrive $8000.00
Cabin fridge $800.00
batteries $700.00
and numerous odds and ends... I just bought it in December

Click to expand...

A whole Bravo 3 outdrive? I pray I don't have to do that.

I'm always over budget every year it think.... Joy of boating I'm up around the 12k this year i think... And i didn't even start the motors yet...

This is why we refer to them a "B.O.A.T" bucks - it makes it easier to rationalize.

-Kevin

k9medic said:

we pulled the boat last week for a bottom job and to get some minor fiberglass work done to cracks on the sides where the exhaust comes out of the hull.

While the boat was out I decided to get the rub rail down waxed as well.

Shortly after pulling the boat I noticed that I didn’t really need a bottom job but with the fiberglass work, I might as well have it done.

I budgeted $3k for the repairs which did not include the buffing/waxing.

Last Friday I picked it up and it looked amazing!

The yard found a few things extra and fixed them but I didn’t think of the costs until I got the bill!

Nothing like being $2200 over budget!

The port side cutlass bearing had to be replaced - $400

Since there was fiberglass work done, they had to redo the boot stripes - $400

There was some extra fiberglass work that had to be done -$600

They replaced all of my zincs to include the diver dream, trim tabs and shaft zincs - $400

Ugh, the cost of owning a boat...

Click to expand...

I am planning on doing the exact 3 things you started out with. My marina was at $3400 for the bottom paint (including pull out), $1600 for a total 3 phase buff and wax, and 3 hours each for the exhaust ports. I was curious what your exhaust port fiberglass work cost you?

They charged 10.5 hours at $90.00 per hour to fix all of the cracks in the fiberglass around the exhaust ports and to fix some gel coat around a cleat.

$2100 for the haul/block and paint that includes up to 5 days in the yard on blocks.

K9medic

I think I know the boat yard you had the work done (from your other postings).

Pittmans

Same one that did the haulout for survey when we were buying this boat.

Were you happy with the work they did?

Mark