.........have you sunk into your boat since you purchased it? Do you even
know??

I have always maintained detailed logs on expenses, maintenance and trips on
all our boats, so knowing an expense cost total is easy to find.

For us we hit the $2,000 mark and we will be in the $2,300 range once I buy
the fixed mount VHF radio AND the bill for the engine tune-up comes in from
the marina. Remember, this is not a 50 foot trawler but a 1997 21 foot
runabout and the expenses were made only since August of last year. Except
for the tune-up I did all the work/installations myself and the cost of my
labor is not included in the total cost spent on the boat to date.

New hardware items include: Depth finder, compass, anchor and chain,
anchor chocks, porta potty, helm seat, helm seat pedestal and seat slide,
battery A/B switch, starting battery, deep cycle battery and case, sunbrella
bimini, stereo and marine stereo box, new prop, VHF antenna and ratchet
mount, misc. hardware including battery cable and connectors, cabin door
latch, anchor chocks and seat pedestal base hardware.

Maintenance items include epoxy barrier paint (2 gallons) and bottom paint,
OEM gelcoat repair kits, new thermostat and an engine tune-up.

None of these items were absolutely necessary as most are upgrades and I
will not recoup the cost of these items, let alone my labor costs, once I
sell the boat. However, the upgrades make the boat safer/more reliable and
more comfortable. I also know I would have spent considerably more for the
boat if I purchased a similar one with all these features and upgrades.

So how about you? (Chuck, you are granted immunity unless you want to fill
us in on the costs of your total makeover). ;-)

I have a 19' bow rider I bought new in 1998. I added a utility outlet and
ski tow ring when I first bought it. The next summer, I added a wakeboard
tower, handheld radio and handheld GPS.
I joined the USCG Auxiliary and use the boat on safety patrols. I've added
radar, GPS sounder, a second VHF radio and direction finder, more utility
outlets (for chart light and for using a searchlight) spare anchor and rode,
tow bridles and lines.
http://members.cox.net/wgander/MyBoat.htm
I'm not done yet - I'd like to add a fuel flow meter and trim tabs.
I get tremendous satisfaction and joy from this boat and have it on the
water twice a week.

" JimH" jimhUNDERSCOREosudad@yahooDOTcom wrote in message
. ..
........have you sunk into your boat since you purchased it? Do you even
know??

I have always maintained detailed logs on expenses, maintenance and trips
on
all our boats, so knowing an expense cost total is easy to find.

For us we hit the $2,000 mark and we will be in the $2,300 range once I
buy
the fixed mount VHF radio AND the bill for the engine tune-up comes in
from
the marina. Remember, this is not a 50 foot trawler but a 1997 21 foot
runabout and the expenses were made only since August of last year.
Except
for the tune-up I did all the work/installations myself and the cost of my
labor is not included in the total cost spent on the boat to date.

New hardware items include: Depth finder, compass, anchor and chain,
anchor chocks, porta potty, helm seat, helm seat pedestal and seat slide,
battery A/B switch, starting battery, deep cycle battery and case,
sunbrella
bimini, stereo and marine stereo box, new prop, VHF antenna and ratchet
mount, misc. hardware including battery cable and connectors, cabin door
latch, anchor chocks and seat pedestal base hardware.

Maintenance items include epoxy barrier paint (2 gallons) and bottom
paint,
OEM gelcoat repair kits, new thermostat and an engine tune-up.

None of these items were absolutely necessary as most are upgrades and I
will not recoup the cost of these items, let alone my labor costs, once I
sell the boat. However, the upgrades make the boat safer/more reliable
and
more comfortable. I also know I would have spent considerably more for
the
boat if I purchased a similar one with all these features and upgrades.

So how about you? (Chuck, you are granted immunity unless you want to
fill
us in on the costs of your total makeover). ;-)

JimH wrote:


So how about you? (Chuck, you are granted immunity unless you want to fill
us in on the costs of your total makeover). ;-)

Between the new engine we put in a couple of years ago and the work now
being completed, we have spent more to restore and upgrade this boat
than similar vessels (of her same age) often sell for. That doesn't
make any financial sense, of course. But the first decision one makes
outside of the realm of financial sense is to buy a boat in the first
place. We're lucky enough to have money to spend as we wish, (within
reason), and we wished to have our "old boat" look fantastic more than
we wished to sell her off and get something else.

One way to look at it is this: For what I could have realized from the
sale of my tired and shopworn 36-footer and what we have spent on the
mechanical and cosmetic upgrades I could easily own a 45-footer.
However, the 45-footer that we would own at that figure would likely be
a 15-20 year old boat and would still need just about all of the work
that we have just accomplished. The boat we know and have come to love
will be a real headturner, and I'd rather have a bristol 36-footer than
a tired out 45-footer any day. (But that's just me, YMMV). In my line
of work, it's hard to go anywhere with the boat and be certain that
you're absolutely 100% incognito, so I worry more than a lot of people
might about having a boat that looks at least presentable. More than
anything else, though...after the good and faithful service she has
given us, and considering that some of the happiest times of our lives
have been spent aboard her, "Indulgence" deserved another lease on
life.

We think there's one more boat in our future, a "retirement" boat in 5,
7, or 10 years depending mostly upon how long we're having a good time
working. When the time comes to pass "Indulgence" along to the next
owner, it will be like marrying off a daughter and we'll want to find
somebody that will take good care of her. If she looks as sharp then as
she's turning out now, we will be able to be a lilttle discriminating
about who we'll let enjoy her next; rather than being forced to take
the first (and maybe only) buyer that comes along. :-)

Bought a new 18' cc fishing boat 1 month ago. I have already spent
over $2000 on it for...
GPS/Fishfinder, VHF and antenna, stereo, safety equipment, anchor, 2
types of grease, epoxy to fasten those screws that come lose in the
first few trips. My wife refuses to let me spend more money, but I
still NEED... trolling motor, on board battery charger, t-top, extra
rod holders, bench seat instead of captain's chairs (they are pretty
cheap) and that's about it. Women can be so greedy (I'm joking, I have
to say that because I'm sure someone will lecture me if I don't specify
that I'm joking).

FishinJC wrote:
Bought a new 18' cc fishing boat 1 month ago. I have already spent
over $2000 on it for...
GPS/Fishfinder, VHF and antenna, stereo, safety equipment, anchor, 2
types of grease, epoxy to fasten those screws that come lose in the
first few trips. My wife refuses to let me spend more money, but I
still NEED... trolling motor, on board battery charger, t-top, extra
rod holders, bench seat instead of captain's chairs (they are pretty
cheap) and that's about it. Women can be so greedy (I'm joking, I have
to say that because I'm sure someone will lecture me if I don't specify
that I'm joking).

You know the old saying about, if you have to ask how much, you can't
afford it. I hate to admit it but I'm up to 40K on my 37 in refinishing
and such. Thank god the engines aren't original and have low hours
(1500 hours on 3208 Cats). But I have to admit, the boat looks
incredible, it turns heads big time. And I bought it cheap, so I'm
still ahead of the game.

Bottom line, six feet or sixty feet, put the calculator away, it'll
just make you sick.

Enjoy your boat.

John

FishinJC wrote:
Bought a new 18' cc fishing boat 1 month ago. I have already spent
over $2000 on it for...
GPS/Fishfinder, VHF and antenna, stereo, safety equipment, anchor, 2
types of grease, epoxy to fasten those screws that come lose in the
first few trips. My wife refuses to let me spend more money, but I
still NEED... trolling motor, on board battery charger, t-top, extra
rod holders, bench seat instead of captain's chairs (they are pretty
cheap) and that's about it. Women can be so greedy (I'm joking, I have
to say that because I'm sure someone will lecture me if I don't specify
that I'm joking).

My wife and I reached an understanding. Within the last few years, she
insisted the house had to have new siding, a new kitchen, two new
bathrooms, refinished hardwood floors, a new mega-bucks natgas
fireplace log and custom bifold door ("the doors match the leaded glass
panes in the LR windows!"), new plumbing, new wiring, etc etc etc. We
were writing 5-figure checks as frequently as if we were buying
groceries. She keeps the family books, and she has never really
admitted how much her home remodeling binge cost us (but I have a rough
idea. ouch).

When I told her we were going to do the boat, she said "That's a lot to
spend on *your* boat!" I replied, "It's not much compared to what we
spent on *your* house!" She then agreed right away, with the comment,
"OK, it's settled. In case of divorce, you get to keep *your* boat and
I get to keep *my* house......" Hmmmm. It's a bad idea to "step in it"
immediately prior to putting your foot in your mouth. Oh well....Aside
from the fact that she's a CPA, there are other reasons I let her take
charge of our personal accounting. :-)

On Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:37:55 GMT, Gene Kearns
wrote:

And now that I *have* thought about it, I DON'T WANT TO KNOW......

I know how that works.

BOAT =

Break

Out

Another

Thousand

"Capt John" wrote in message
oups.com...

FishinJC wrote:
Bought a new 18' cc fishing boat 1 month ago. I have already spent
over $2000 on it for...
GPS/Fishfinder, VHF and antenna, stereo, safety equipment, anchor, 2
types of grease, epoxy to fasten those screws that come lose in the
first few trips. My wife refuses to let me spend more money, but I
still NEED... trolling motor, on board battery charger, t-top, extra
rod holders, bench seat instead of captain's chairs (they are pretty
cheap) and that's about it. Women can be so greedy (I'm joking, I have
to say that because I'm sure someone will lecture me if I don't specify
that I'm joking).

You know the old saying about, if you have to ask how much, you can't
afford it. I hate to admit it but I'm up to 40K on my 37 in refinishing
and such. Thank god the engines aren't original and have low hours
(1500 hours on 3208 Cats). But I have to admit, the boat looks
incredible, it turns heads big time. And I bought it cheap, so I'm
still ahead of the game.

Bottom line, six feet or sixty feet, put the calculator away, it'll
just make you sick.

Enjoy your boat.

John


I agree that one should not fret over the money spent on their boat unless
they cannot afford it..........and, as you say, in that case perhaps they
should consider selling the boat. Boating is definitely not a cheap
hobby, no matter what size boat, especially now with rising fuel and
insurance costs.

With that understanding............. recording/logging expenses and upgrades
to the boat, along with regular maintenance and trip information is a smart
thing to do. It is not only a handy PM tool but it is also a definite plus
when selling the boat, especially when backed up with engine hour meter
notations associated with the log entries and receipts.

My wife and I still read our old boat logs (from our larger boats) to
remember the trips and great times we had on those boats. Her trip logs
were quite detailed and we often had our guests offer comments in the logs.
;-)

On Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:37:55 GMT, Gene Kearns
wrote:

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 20:25:42 -0400, " JimH"
jimhUNDERSCOREosudad@yahooDOTcom wrote:

........have you sunk into your boat since you purchased it? Do you even
know??

I have always maintained detailed logs on expenses, maintenance and trips on
all our boats, so knowing an expense cost total is easy to find.

For us we hit the $2,000 mark and we will be in the $2,300 range once I buy
the fixed mount VHF radio AND the bill for the engine tune-up comes in from
the marina. Remember, this is not a 50 foot trawler but a 1997 21 foot
runabout and the expenses were made only since August of last year. Except
for the tune-up I did all the work/installations myself and the cost of my
labor is not included in the total cost spent on the boat to date.

New hardware items include: Depth finder, compass, anchor and chain,
anchor chocks, porta potty, helm seat, helm seat pedestal and seat slide,
battery A/B switch, starting battery, deep cycle battery and case, sunbrella
bimini, stereo and marine stereo box, new prop, VHF antenna and ratchet
mount, misc. hardware including battery cable and connectors, cabin door
latch, anchor chocks and seat pedestal base hardware.

Maintenance items include epoxy barrier paint (2 gallons) and bottom paint,
OEM gelcoat repair kits, new thermostat and an engine tune-up.

None of these items were absolutely necessary as most are upgrades and I
will not recoup the cost of these items, let alone my labor costs, once I
sell the boat. However, the upgrades make the boat safer/more reliable and
more comfortable. I also know I would have spent considerably more for the
boat if I purchased a similar one with all these features and upgrades.

So how about you? (Chuck, you are granted immunity unless you want to fill
us in on the costs of your total makeover). ;-)


Hmmm.. Hadn't really thought about it, but in the last 7 years:

New:

Wiring, Cables, Main Switches, and Master Breakers Throughout
Windshield Wiper Motors and Arms
Fuel Hoses, Valves, and Vent Lines
Anchor and 300' Rode
Windlass
2 VHF Radios and Antennae
Depth Sounder
Radar
Bottom Paint
Hydraulic Pump for Trim Tabs
Hydraulic Steering Lines
Motor Controls & Ignition Switches
Engine Gages
2 140 hp Engines and 4 props
Dive Ladder
Bolsters and Teak
Cushions
Transom Cover

and a New Aluminum Trailer

And now that I *have* thought about it, I DON'T WANT TO KNOW......

Besides, it sounds like JimH is building a data base so he can come down on
people who have spent more than he has, a la his 'Richey Rich' comments!

--
John H

******************************************
***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
******************************************

" JimH" jimhUNDERSCOREosudad@yahooDOTcom wrote in message
. ..
........have you sunk into your boat since you purchased it? Do you even
know??

I have no idea! I don't want to know. I will let the dealer where it's
serviced keep the records. If I take it somewhere else for service or
repair I'll keep that paperwork for any future buyer.

2005 Sea Ray 185 Sport purchased last July.
Serviced once on my dime; about time for next service.
Purchased a wakeboard and skis and a tube plus tow ropes and half a dozen
watersport pfd's.
Purchased a lot of fuel for the boat and the tow vehicle, a lot of
sandwiches, sodas, and chips and launch fees at $12 a pop.
Just bought a 12 person tent for an upcoming boat-in camping trip for my
daughter and her friends.

I am leaning toward a wakeboard tower, but only if the kids demonstrate some
serious devotion to wakeboarding.

Oh, then there's the fishing gear I'm purchasing to support the U.S.
economy!