As some dear readers may recall, our cruising expenses for November 2008 looked pretty sweet, thanks to having anchored out the whole month. For some contrast, here's what the following month looked like when we spent the first half of December 2008 anchored out in the islands of the lower Sea of Cortez, then put in to La Paz and docked at the very plush Marina Costa Baja through the holidays. As before, all expenses have been converted to US dollars where they weren't already US dollars.
December 2008 out of pocket expenses:
Moorage at Marina Costa Baja, La Paz (port fees & tax included), 12/15-12/31: $430.30
Fuel: Diesel for The Fox, propane for the stove: $95.16
Grocery and liquor (such hedonists we be): $552.05
Restaurant meals all but one were lunches): $146.37
Transportation (bus, taxi): $15.77
Laundry (included large atypical items such as mattress covers & curtains): $63.31
Fax from Mexico to US (annual Coast Guard registration renewal): $2.30
Boat maintenance/supplies: $10.92
Entertainment (flamenco performance): $18.46
Books: $68.29
Souvenirs: $12.31
Clothing/sports equipment (2 custom Lycra dive skins, our Christmas presents to each other): $66.15
Haircut for GB: $5.38
Medical (back brace for MS): $27.69
Monthly fee for storage pod in US: $48.98
Skymate satellite email/weather charts (varies from month to month): $34.99
Subtotal out of pocket expenses for the month = $1598.43
Now, we add the lump-sum annual fees we paid for various items, prorated for December 2008:
US boat insurance: $221.33
MX boat insurance: $16.25
FM-III visas (2): $28.25
MX fishing license: $4.00
MX National Park passes (2): $4.00
US mail forwarder: $12.00
Subtotal prorated annual expenses = $285.83
Total expenses for December 2008 = $1,884.26
If every month could be December 2008, we're still talking being able to live large on $22,611.12 per year. However, the comparison of November's expenses to December's shows how quickly marina fees can break a budget – as can dining out, or even eating your meals aboard your own boat when you often invite other folks over for dinner like The Propane Chef does. (Now, GB wouldn't be The Propane Chef if food and good times weren't a big part of our lifestyle, so the grocery/liquor bill is one I'm happy to keep on paying. And after all, it was Christmas, man, and friends were around. Boy howdy, we had fun.) I'm just glad neither of us smokes – I bet that really adds a new dimension to a budget.
As expensive as marinas are, though, they serve a purpose. It's a rare cruiser who can avoid marinas altogether. Sometimes the expense of a marina is justified, for example to have shore power for a while to top off batteries, and potable water in large quantities for filling the tanks and cleaning. Many boat chores – doing laundry, changing fluids, using power tools, repairing sails – are much more convenient to do dockside. Sometimes a boat needs a marina slip to establish an address for mail delivery or visa renewal, and sometimes those tasks take more time to accomplish than you'd expect. In high latitudes, wintertime weather can drive a boat in to port for months, the same way hurricane season keeps boats in port in the tropics. Marina expenses can really climb if you're delayed with a haulout, waiting for an essential boat part to be shipped to you; or if there are medical problems; unavoidable trips back home; etc. A related danger is that your mere presence in a marina stimulates you to meet people, make friends, go places with them, and buy things you may find useful but could actually do without.* Given all these factors, I'd say a sensible cruising budget should anticipate a certain amount of marina fees – perhaps more than you think you'd need. Or want.
* Take me, for example: I am now the proud owner of 5 fish identification books. But each one is cooler than the others. And they're all necessary to remain fully ichthyologically informed. Honest.
So what's a budget-minded cruiser to do? The obvious, I guess. If you find yourself needing to pay for a slip somewhere, use that expensive marina time wisely. Prepare a surgical strike. Order mail and start any other time-consuming administrative processes first. Then, quickly finish the essential projects that absolutely require a dock, shore power, lots of fresh water, whatever. Save the entertainment for later and leave the dock while there's still some less-consequential stuff to do. And if the marina of your choice has a gym, pool, showers, and other amenities? Use them early, and often. Free towel service at the pool? Hell yeah.
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