Everything to do with boat ownership and cruising has a price and a budget is required from your first planning session through to enjoying your cruise.

   What type of cruising do you have in mind?  Occasional weekends and annual holidays; long term or full time cruising? The answer to this question will have a great bearing on your budget requirements. If you are planning the former your biggest expense will be the boat itself, whereas if you are considering long term voyaging your budget considerations are more complex.

   Once you have clearly defined your cruising objectives then your budget can take shape. The last thing you will want is to end up with a mountain of debt when you come back ashore.

You should budget for all aspects of your future lifestyle. Most people tend to ignore the last part of the exercise; they either think they will never return to a shore side life, or they just ignore the subject altogether. You can plan and budget for all main stages of your cruising adventure including the end, and still not detract from the overall excitement. Choosing the right boat will go a long way towards the planning for the end of the cruise; a well chosen boat capable of holding or enhancing its value, will help to provide you with a re-establishment fund when you move ashore. Lifetime partnerships often start when couples meet in foreign ports, children are born, and other factors may require a change to your plans during a cruise.

You have a fixed amount of money available and you have caught the cruising bug. As yet you do not have a vessel or perhaps the boat you currently own is unsuitable for the type of cruising you have in mind. For those planning a long distance cruise (as opposed to local weekend cruising) you will need to divide your available funds into at least two, main plus several smaller components. The first sizeable chunk of your budget will be for the acquisition of the boat. You will have several options including having a boat designed and built to your requirements, building your own from a suitable design, or finding a suitable second-hand craft. The latter always involves varying amounts of boatbuilding in re-fitting the boat to meet your needs.

   The second main budgetary consideration for those who plan either to cruise full time or continuously for several months each year, will be the expenses associated with day to day living. Items such as food and clothing, boat maintenance, mooring and haul out fees will have to be allowed for. Add to this, visas and other associated paperwork, which can often be more expensive than expected. There will be the cost of additional gear and equipment such as replacement of lost or worn out items, plus new charts, pilot books and the like.

If you are shopping for a boat away from your home territory you will need to be very careful about the ownership rights of the person selling the boat. You would be wise to deal through a local broker with a good reputation; better still would be a broker who has affiliations in your home country. To buy a boat dockside from some unknown owner would be the height of folly as many have discovered to their cost.

   If you plan extensive European cruising there is a good argument for either building or buying in Europe. You will need to explore the VAT ( European sales tax ).  From January 1 1993 when the EU single fiscal area came into being, boats can be transferred and sold freely between residents of EU countries without duty being levied provided that evidence is produced hat VAT has been paid on the particular vessel. The best proof of VAT paid status is the ‘green flimsy’ the EU standard document that is issued when VAT is paid on a new boat. When building in Europe there are several ways to keep the VAT to a minimum.

   There is a quirk in the VAT laws the rule being that if you purchase a VAT paid boat outside the EU and then bring it back into EU waters then you will have to pay the VAT. If you are considering buying a VAT paid boat that is currently located outside EU waters, make sure it is returned to an EU country and check the VAT status before you make the purchase.

For those USA, Australian, New Zealand and other non European residents who want to cruise the Mediterranean, and perhaps cruise through the French, Dutch and Belgian Canals (highly recommended), the idea of obtaining a boat in Europe has its attractions. For one thing the long ocean crossing can be avoided. There is also the possibility of having the boat built in the low cost labour countries of the former Eastern block. The very reasonable building and labour costs of the UK (compared with Germany and certain other EU countries) make acquiring a suitable boat in this area worth serious consideration.

   The recently enacted European Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) and the requirement to pay VAT on boats remaining in EU waters for over 6 months, make it a sensible alternative for non EU residents to buy their boat within the EU. Non EU residents who bring their boats into EU waters will need to pay the VAT or limit their stay to less than 6 months. Currently one 6 month extension is usually granted thus making a one year stay a practical consideration.

On reviewing my expenses for the past three boats I have owned, I note that the equipment added totalled some thousands of dollars. These boats built to my own design did come well equipped but obviously not totally equipped, as my records revealed. The above examples illustrate the need for extra funds to be put aside for unexpected expenses including taxes and additional items of equipment that you may have overlooked but will require for one reason or another.

   This brings us to the KISS factor, the initials being an acronym for ‘keep it simple sailor’ or less politely 'keep it simple stupid'. This saying which I am told originated in the engineering industry, it is well worth remembering when considering all things boating.

When budgeting for additional items to complete the fitting out of your cruising boat, always consider buying the best. Perhaps that will be the best you can afford, but nevertheless this should be the best. Most experienced cruising people can relate stories of their own regrets at cutting corners, when purchasing a particular item of boating gear. Naturally you will be looking for the best price; you had better be, or your cruising experience will be shortened due to over-extending your budget. If you allow a known price for a particular item and then are able to obtain it at a better price, then you will be able to offset the cost overruns that will certainly occur.

In my opinion one of the greatest British marine institutions is the ‘Boat Jumble.’ This wonderful source of inexpensive, often top quality equipment and boating gear is unparalleled in most other countries. After attending the Beaulieu Jumble, the grand daddy of all boating jumbles, I am sold. Unless you have considerable boating experience, you should attend these Flea  Markets & Jumbles accompanied by a knowledgeable boating friend. Know what you are looking for and only part with your money if you are absolutely sure of the suitability of the item for your boat. Make sure you are confident of the quality and you should have checked the best prices available from more conventional sources. Assure yourself that the item was legally obtained by the vendor! When it comes to price, haggle like your life depended on it. Under no circumstances buy something ‘that you think may come in handy’, but for which you have no specific need; most boat owners homes and boats have a collection of such items; the smart ones sell them at the next available Jumble.

So far we have only discussed the budgetary outgoings; many of you will have plans for replenishing your coffers during your cruising.  If you are planning weekend and annual holiday cruises only then you will most likely have a regular shore-side income and the next few paragraphs may not apply to you.

   For those of you who are planning to retire or take an extended break from your normal employment; you should consider how you can replenish your coffers as you cruise. Consider your skills and those of your partner. Does either or both of you have skills that can be utilised for earning extra income during your cruise?

   One of the more obvious earners is chartering; although this is so obvious as to be over worked when it comes to expectations, it is surprising just how many cruising people make a success of part time charter. If you have the right boat and perhaps just as importantly, the right disposition to deal with charter parties or individuals, this possible money earner is worth your consideration. Referring to part time charter; this can mean a couple of weeks per year for some expense sharing friends or several short charters by strangers who come recommended to you in one way or another. Unless you are running a full time professional charter operation, you should choose carefully when deciding who will spend time as a paying guest aboard your boat.

Consider you and your partner’s personal skills. Again the obvious ones include boatbuilding experience in any material. You may have obtained your boatbuilding experience by building and or fitting out your own boat. This is a factor worth considering when you are deciding how you will acquire your boat. The actual building and fitting out of a reasonable sized cruising boat will certainly add to your marketable skills. Most useful when you are cruising.

   Most tradesmen have marketable skills, welders, metal workers, carpenters, plumbers and electricians will find part time employment not only ashore but among their less handy cruising contemporaries. If you have some experience with the maintenance and repair of electronic equipment you will be very much in demand.

   Dentists, Doctors Chiropractors and other professionals can often earn worthwhile fees both ashore and among the cruising population. Some licensing requirements may interfere with your activities ashore but it is worth investigating in advance where you can legally practice. You may be able to obtain a licence in those areas you plan to visit.  Language skills can be turned into cash as can secretarial experience. Computer literacy is a definite skill and one that will always find a ready market. Writing articles and perhaps a book on your experiences is another possibility; be aware that these latter activities are in a crowded market and are not that well paid.

In the planning stage is when you should decide if the boat itself will play a part in earning income as you cruise.  The prospect of chartering may cause you to select a certain type of layout to allow some separation between the hosts and guests. If you are planning to earn income from a trade or profession then you may wish to include a workshop or work space in the accommodation layout. You will have your own ideas of how important the work space is to your future cruising needs. Do not become carried away with this element; you will be better advised to make the work area fit the boat rather than choose the boat to fit the work area!

   What is all this talk of working when you are cruising? You may be fortunate enough to have a reliable income to cover your costs. Perhaps you can lease out your house while you are away, you may even acquire a property with that eventual purpose in mind.

   It is a wise cruising person who covers many sheets of paper with figures before starting to look for a suitable vessel. After you have what looks like a workable budget you can start to consider acquiring a suitable boat to be your cruising home for the future weeks, months or perhaps years ahead.

This term will mean different things to different people. When I think of gunk holing it brings to mind lazy sailing and exploring in protected bays and estuaries and rivers. For this type of sailing your cruising boat can be as small as you wish; a considerable amount of this type of activity is undertaken in open boats. When it is time to anchor at night, a boom cover often serves as a shelter. Portable gas or primus stove and a bucket may be all of the 'appliances' carried on this cruising boat.

   The right boat and an inquisitive mind are two important qualifications when considering gunk holing. Shallow draft is a major benefit when considering this type of cruising. Once the water gets really thin you will no longer be able to rely on your depth sounder so you will literally have to feel you way in many of these areas. Detailed charts of the area you are exploring are essential, if none are available then it may be fun to make your own thus enhancing the enjoyment of the current trip plus adding to the enjoyment of future visitors to the area.

The size of your trailer sailer will be restricted by the width limits placed on road vehicles by the authorities in various countries or individual states. In general the width limit is 8 ft (2.43 m) however in some places it is a little more generous but usually never exceeding 9 ft ( 2.74 m) without special permits. As far as the length is concerned, a boat with 8 ft (2.43 m) beam should not exceed 28 ft (8.53 m) in overall length. Before you restrict yourself to the local legal trailer width, you may want to consider just how often you really intend to move the boat by road. Many people find it is easier to leave their 'trailer sailer' in the water all season and just bring it home for winter storage; if this is your situation then it may be more useful to exceed the trailerable width limit by owning what is a 'Pocket cruiser' and obtain a permit to move the boat to and from the water twice a year.

   If you intend to use your boat as a true cruising trailer sailer then you will need to check width limits and other requirements for the areas where you operate the boat. In the EU (European Union) these regulations are being harmonised so that you can trail your boat across borders using one set of rules. This agreement will make trailer sailing much more attractive; you can take your boat from the UK by ferry and trail it anywhere in Europe (using it as a camper or caravan along the way) and commence your cruising from some desirable location. You could even leave your boat and trailer safely tucked up in a boat yard ready for the following season. If you can not afford a large boat at this time or if you prefer some of the benefits of owning a smaller vessel including lower initial investment and less maintenance, then a trailer sailer or pocket cruiser may suit you best.

In this area your choices lie between buying new, having a boat custom built, purchasing second hand or building from a hull and deck package or perhaps from plans and patterns. These choices are all effected by your particular requirements. You and your partners present age, financial situation, family considerations and perhaps the desire to get on with it, can influence your choice in this matter. Many people who will be retiring in a few years plan well ahead and  have all the above options available. Those with foresight can have the boat ready for their retirement and enjoy uninterrupted cruising.

Custom building is an exciting way to acquire your cruising boat. This term usually refers to building yourself from plans or a kit or having the boat built and/or mostly completed by a professional builder. For those with some boating experience and a patient disposition, this can be the best way of obtaining the cruising boat of your dreams. You will have the opportunity of being involved from conception to completion of you boat. Many of you may not have the time or the inclination to become so intensely involved, however it is a worthwhile exercise if you can arrange it.

   If you can manage the project yourself, then there are considerable savings to be made. With some intelligent planning you can end up with a beautiful custom cruising boat for much less than the cost of an off the shelf equivalent. You can choose an existing design or have a designer prepare custom plans and patterns. If you are able to source your own engine, mast, rigging, sails, deck hardware, engine and interior fittings, you can save many thousands off the cost of the finished boat. Any large chandler or marine hardware store will offer worthwhile discounts in return for the size of order that you will have at your disposal. It may even be worthwhile setting yourself up as a ‘boatbuilding enterprise’, this will give you access to trade discounts.

Buying used is another option but the purchase of a second hand boat can be fraught with traps for the unwary. The term buyer beware is never more apt than with buying a used boat. If you are able to deal direct  with the owner you may avoid some of the pit falls associated with this type of purchase. There are many honest and trustworthy yacht brokers and boat salesmen handling used boats, however there are also many who have received their sales training selling used cars and the like. You must make sure you are absolutely satisfied BEFORE you hand over your money. ALWAYS hire a qualified surveyor to check out your boat purchase before you part with any substantial amounts of cash. Make sure you carefully check builder’s certificates, bills or sale and any other documentation that is offered to prove the current ownership.

You will often have to pay for the boat to be hauled out before it is in a position to allow for a full survey. To cut your potential costs, why not conduct a very detailed inspection of the interior, galley equipment, pumps, heating, batteries as well as mast(s), rigging, sails, dinghy and electronic equipment before you commit yourself to a full survey. Do not be rushed, do not be afraid of being a nuisance, take your time. If you have trusted and knowledgeable friends who have a proven knowledge of things boating, ask their help and advice at this early stage. Do not ignore advice because you have fallen in love with the boat. Assemble your facts and on no account part with your cash before you are in possession of all the information as to the boats condition.

Building from a hull and deck kit can be an economical way of acquiring a custom built boat. Many of the cruising boats you will see in far off and exotic locations were completed from a kit or ‘hull and deck.’ If following the footsteps of others is any indication then this is one of the most popular ways to obtain a genuine offshore cruising boat. Hull and deck packages are available built from fiberglass; steel unlimited selection, aluminium, treat with caution, and timber, becoming rarer.

   Building from plans is the most time consuming option and one which will require some special skills. If you do not already possess the type of experience that would allow you to build your own boat then you may be able to acquire the skills you need as the work progresses. If you are already an experienced welder, woodworker or have some knowledge of fiberglass, then you are well on the way to assuring that you can build a seaworthy boat.

Below is a brief description of the boatbuilding materials you will need to consider before your make your choice as the most suitable method for you building your boat. Each material will be covered in detail in its own chapter.

FIBERGLASS.

You have all seen the thousands of fiberglass boats that grace our marinas and this could be your preferred boatbuilding method.  Building a one-off fiberglass sail or power boat is best considered if you intend to either build the boat yourself or set up you own building facility with hired labor.

   Having a custom fiberglass boat professionally built is an expensive option. There are very few suitably equipped builders who specialize in building custom fiberglass boats so they can and do charge what they feel is appropiate, that is appropiate for them and not for you. 

   If you are going to build the boat yourself or hire your own team of fiberglass laminators or if you are building a large planing hull powerboat, using the one-off  disposable mold technique may well be your best option.  See chapter XXX for more details.

STEEL.

In boatbuilding steel is the most commonly used metal. It has many advantages including great strength, low cost, and ease of fabrication. There are great numbers of experienced welders in all parts of the world. Add to this the ease of repair, and the availability of a wide selection of suitable plans designed especially for building in steel, and it’s easy to see why this material has become so popular with the cruising fraternity. Successful steel cruising boats can be small, too—as little as 25 feet (7.62 m) in length. The Dutch even build steel dinghies of around 15 feet (4.57 m) and use them as tenders on their barges and other commercial craft.

   Steel is heavier than other boatbuilding materials, but that hasn’t proved to be a disadvantage in cruising sailboats or power craft. Steel needs some care and attention, but modern coatings have greatly reduced the chances of rust forming. As the owner of several steel boats, I must confess I have found it hard to find any serious disadvantages in building, owning, and maintaining a steel boat.

ALUMINUM.

Now widely accepted as a boatbuilding material, aluminum has the advantage of being about one-third the weight of equal-size steel plate or profiles; this is partly offset by the fact that you need a thicker material for boatbuilding. Aluminum is easy to work with. In fact, you can use hand tools on aluminum, even some woodworking ones. It’s ideal for decks and superstructures where its light weight can be used to advantage. In some areas of the world, aluminum has become popular for building commercial craft and fishing boats; when the correct marine grades are used, the entire boat can be left unpainted.

   The disadvantages include greater cost and relatively greater susceptibility to galvanic corrosion. Aluminum requires expert fabricators and experienced welders who are used to handling it. When it comes to repairs, experience won’t be a problem if you have built your own aluminum boat. Aluminum should be used where its benefits can be exploited to the full. For instance if you are considering building a fast, planing, metal powerboat, then aluminum will be worth your consideration. Another instance is where a vessel has a high superstructure; then aluminum may be used for the construction of those areas where its light weight will add to the positive stability of the vessel. Seek your designer's advice on this matter. It is a waste of money to use aluminum to build moderate to heavy displacement boats; steel is preferable as a construction material for these heavier hulls.

WOOD EPOXY BOATBUILDING INCLUDING PLYWOOD.

This method of construction is for those who love timber and do not mind a bit of extra work when it comes to maintaining their boat. We have to admit that a well built and finished timber boat has considerable ‘Dock appeal’.

   The wood epoxy systems have been around for many years and are popular for building all types of hulls. In boat building, the process of wood epoxy construction is building a hull using laminated multi-diagonal layers of veneers or plywood over a temporary male mould, in the case of a frameless hull, or over a permanent frames and stringers depending on the design.

   After building the male mould, temporary or permanent, the first strip is nailed and glued or stapled in position and each subsequent strip has to be shaped to fit the previous one.  Similar methods are used to build modern strip plank hulls. Often a combination of strip planking is used and finished off with one of more layers of veneer.

   Another popular method is to build using the plywood and the multi chine or in the case of powerboats single chine hull form is usually the quickest method the build a hull. Some people including myself find the multi-chine hull form very attractive. Usually all wood epoxy hulls are sheathed in fiberglass material and fiberglass resin.

TRADITIONAL TIMBER BOATS.

This method of boatbuilding is best suited to those who have previous experience with timber boat construction and those are fortunate enough to live in an area where timber is both plentiful and reasonably priced.  A well built traditionally built boat is a beautiful thing!