Finances..

The biggest concern for potential cruisers is 'how much is it going to cost me?'  and it is probably the most important issue. The answer unfortunately becomes difficult to answer in terms of dollars, and from what I have learned 'All you have' is the most accurate answer. If you have a Hallberg-Rassy 62, chances are you will be spending thousands a month. If on the other hand you have a well cared for Albin Vega, you might get more than a month out a $500.

The reason for this discrepancy is manifold not the least of which are:

• Someone who can afford a Hallberg Rassy 62, is probably used to gourmet food, someone who owns a Albin Vega has probably eaten Top Ramen.
• The cost to replace a jib on a Hallberg Rassy 62 is likely more than the entire cost of the Albin Vega.
• Moorage is expensive and becomes exponentially so the larger the boat, also the owner of the Albin Vega is more likely to live on the hook.
• With more boat, you have more to insure.
• The Albin Vega owner is more likely to live like the locals, and in my opinion have a more fulfilling experience.

So I think the best way to really evaluate how much, is to move aboard, and see how cheap you can live just at the marina. I have now gone three months spending between $350 and $500 (not including moorage expenses). I have always lived very spartan so this was not as difficult for me as some may find it.

My original goal was to have $30k in the cruising kitty, and with that I thought, with some careful investing and living cheap I could go years; and if I picked up some work along the way, I may even be able to sustain it. Well as I write this it is early 2009, my $30k investment is now barely worth $10k, and no one is predicting a quick turn around. So, I am going anyway! Go Cheap, Go Now! I don't know how it is all going to work out, but I have faith that it will.