Cost of Ownership(Liveaboard)
Chuck Rose
thinking about how much it has cost me to live aboard my boat. Since
this question comes up from time to time, I thought this might be of
some interest, especially to the newcomers to the group.
As of April 1st 2000 I will have lived aboard Lealea, an Albin Vega 27,
for ten years. As of March 5th, Laura and I will have lived aboard
together for four years. This has cost, broken down into a monthly
figure, $334.59US. This figure is accurate as of today, Dec. 27th 1999
and includes every nickel I've spent on the boat since I bought her in
1990. Every nut bolt, stainless steel cotter pin, pint of paint or
varnish, brush, sheet of sandpaper or plywood, lumber, tool rental, haul
out charges and all casual labor paid. It includes the initial purchase
price of $15000, new engine (installed by the yard) new sails, new rig,
anchors, chain, rope, deck fittings and complete exterior refinishing
with Awlgrip. Also included are all repairs and replacement parts (Like
the pulpit I mangled the first time I took Laura sailing) oil, oil
filters and other engine maintenance costs and periodic bottom cleaning
and inspection by a diver. Replacement zincs are included as are
replacements for ensign and state flag and for new burgees, state
registration fees and stick on registration numbers. Also on the list
are new cushion covers and curtains, custom made, and materials and
supplies for the current interior remodeling project still in progress.
Let us not forget navigation equipment such as GPS, sextant, charts,
HO249, almanac etc. and navigation software lest someone think we are
less than completely equipped and, oh yes, the new VHF set, stereo and
speakers.
The only thing not included is the monthly slip rent which has varied
from a low of $92.00 to a high of $477. per month. The current slip
rent is $266.45 at the State run Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor in Honolulu
and includes the live aboard permit fee and all water and electricity
plus shower key and parking(for two motorcycles). We do not have a
storage locker, car or van to store junk in or make payments on,
maintain or insure. Except for some suits etc. that I need for business
trips to the mainland and that I keep at the office and Laura's racing
gear (She's into motorcycle road racing so there is a race bike,
leathers, helmets etc.) that she keeps at work, everything we own is on
the boat or in the dock box.
I would like to point out that I feel I have been lavish in my spending
on the care and maintenance of my boat. I would also like to point out
that many of the expenditures listed were purely discretionary, that is,
not strictly necessary to the maintenance of the vessel. The figure
could have been kept lower if I had had a mind to be frugal. The
interior remodeling and paint job for examples were not necessary and I
could have saved several thousand dollars had I not chosen to replace
my old engine with a brand new Yanmar installed by the yard. Also the
new North sails were not, strictly speaking, "Necessary". They were
just things we wanted to do.
Major items still on the "Wish list" include EPIRB, Yachtsaver flotation
system and watermaker. Also a rework of the electrical system and a
tillerpilot. We will not have HAM, SSB, weatherfax, radar or any more
electronics than we already have.
Compared with the $1100 per month that I had been paying for rent in a
one bedroom apartment across the street from the marina (Ten years ago
remember) I think I've come out well ahead of the game.
Aloha,
Chuck & Laura Rose
SV Lealea
Honolulu
David Smalley
Chuck Rose wrote:
>
> Reading recent posts in the "How are Liveaboards Treated" thread got me
> thinking about how much it has cost me to live aboard my boat. Since
> this question comes up from time to time, I thought this might be of
> some interest, especially to the newcomers to the group.
>
> As of April 1st 2000 I will have lived aboard Lealea, an Albin Vega 27,
> for ten years. As of March 5th, Laura and I will have lived aboard
> together for four years. This has cost, broken down into a monthly
> figure, $334.59US. This figure is accurate as of today, Dec. 27th 1999
> and includes every nickel I've spent on the boat since I bought her in
> 1990.
> The only thing not included is the monthly slip rent which has varied
> from a low of $92.00 to a high of $477. per month. The current slip
> rent is $266.45
> Compared with the $1100 per month that I had been paying for rent in a
> one bedroom apartment across the street from the marina (Ten years ago
> remember) I think I've come out well ahead of the game.
Thanks a ton Chuck & Laura.
There's nothing like quality information like you posted above to clear
one's mind properly.
--
DAVe
captk...@webtv.net
Thanks for your post.
One thing caught my eye and I was hoping you might explain it in more
detail if available, You mention "liveaboard permit fee" being included
in slip rent.
is this a set fee per vessel, per foot of vessel, per occupant, per
week; per month ??
is fee uniform throughout the state or unique to each island ??
does revenue collected defray pumpout service
expense, earmarked for something specific; or general revenue ??
any websites you might recommend for those of us interested in learning
about how Hawaii manages its transient and liveaboard populations??
(free anchorages, managed mooring fields etc)?
Thanks, Robert
Chuck Rose
captk...@webtv.net wrote:
> Chuck,
>
> Thanks for your post.
>
> One thing caught my eye and I was hoping you might explain it in more
> detail if available, You mention "liveaboard permit fee" being included
> in slip rent.
>
> is this a set fee per vessel, per foot of vessel, per occupant, per
> week; per month ??
For budget figuring purposes, I use $5 per foot of overall boat length for
the mooring permit, then double it if you live aboard. Actually, the
formula is rather convoluted but the end result comes out pretty close and
works for most of the boat owners I've talked to. My monthly slip rent
with a live aboard permit for a boat measured at 27 feet overall is $266.45
or $9.87 per foot per month. The fee is made up of a $110.70 mooring fee,
$3.00 for the dock box, $11.00 for electricity and $141.75 for the live
aboard fee. The mooring permit and the live aboard fee are based on vessel
length, the mooring fee being based on overall length and the live aboard
component on , I believe, LOD. Not all slips have dock boxes, not all
have electricity available and not all have finger piers (These are mostly
the transient berths). Fees do vary somewhat depending on the facilities
available. The charge for electricity is higher if you have an AC
refrigerator and/or air conditioning, lower if you are on the 800 row where
there are no finger piers. Most of the slips for boats up to about 48 feet
are on the floating docks though and have dock boxes, electricity, water
and phone hookups. Some have cable. The above applies to Ala Wai Boat
Harbor which is located at the west end of Waikiki on Oahu. Keehi Lagoon,
near Honolulu International Airport has a state run marina also and is the
only other place in the State of Hawaii where permanent live aboards are
legal. The fees are calculated the same way but the facilities are not as
good so the cost is a little less, i.e. you may not have the availability
of electricity or a finger pier. At Keehi there are mooring balls
available for about $60 per month but live aboards are not permitted except
in slips. I should mention that there is a limit to the number of live
aboard permits available, approximately 300 at Ala Wai and 40 at Keehi. I
have never heard of any problem getting the live aboard permit once you get
a slip.
There are also two private marinas in Keehi Lagoon that allow live
aboards. I was in one of them for two years. Being privately owned they
have more flexiblity in how they charge and who they accept but, again for
budgeting purposes, figure double what the State charges. The facilities
are a little better but you will be right under the end of the reef runway
of the Honolulu airport. It is not pleasant nor is it conveniently located
for bus routes, shopping (except for West Marine which is nearby) or
entertainment.
At both State and private marinas there is a security deposit, basically
one month's rent and an annual inspection fee of $25.00.
Cruisers can get up to 120 days mooring permit at State harbors and may
live aboard subject to availability of facilities. There are anchorages
and slips available to transients on most of the islands. There are also
guest berths at the yacht clubs that may be available for a limited time.
I have friends who have lived for years aboard thier boats in Hawaii as
transients spending a few months at one spot then moving on to another
harbor or another island. Two young couples I know with small children are
doing that. They might work on Oahu for a few months until thier 120 days
are used up then cruise for a while, anchoring in Hanalei for a few weeks,
moving to a transient slip in Nawiliwili, working a little then moving
south down the island chain and back to Oahu to work a little more then off
again, maybe to Fanning or Palmyra.
>
>
> is fee uniform throughout the state or unique to each island ??
Mooring fees are uniform. Live aboard permits (permanent) are only
available on Oahu.
>
>
> does revenue collected defray pumpout service
> expense, earmarked for something specific; or general revenue ??
Pump out service is handled by a private concession and is extra. Pump out
stations are located at the Fuel Dock at Ala Wai and at the State Harbor at
Keehi Lagoon. Harbor maintenance and operating costs are paid from slip
rent and other Harbors Division revenue.
>
>
> any websites you might recommend for those of us interested in learning
> about how Hawaii manages its transient and liveaboard populations??
> (free anchorages, managed mooring fields etc)?
Charlie's Charts of the Hawaiian Islands is a good source of information
for planning purposes if you want to cruise here but you should check with
DLNR/DBOR for up to date info on anchorages, permits required etc.
The Official web site for the State of Hawaii, Department of Land and
Natural Resources, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation is
http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dbor/dbor.html
Feel free to call Robert, the Harbor Master at Ala Wai if you have any
questions about that facility. I spoke with him this AM and he said he
would rather people call him with questions than have them show up with a
problem. The phone number is listed on the web site.
>
>
> Thanks, Robert
You're welcome.
Aloha,
Chuck Rose
SV Lealea
Honolulu
David A. Drushler
<vega1860*NOSPAM*@netscape.net> wrote:
>
>
>captk...@webtv.net wrote:
>
>> Chuck,
>>
>> Thanks for your post.
>>
>> One thing caught my eye and I was hoping you might explain it in more
>> detail if available, You mention "liveaboard permit fee" being included
>> in slip rent.
>>
>> is this a set fee per vessel, per foot of vessel, per occupant, per
>> week; per month ??
>
>For budget figuring purposes, I use $5 per foot of overall boat length for
>the mooring permit, then double it if you live aboard.
And triple if you race!
It's the only way I could afford my Express 37!
(maybe quadrupled if I take every bodies advice and get a shrink)
Florida Keyz
always wish for just a bit more.