Community Forums

Muddypaws · 02-26-2013, 05:59 PM

I've been shopping for a sailboat as it's getting harder and harder to jam my old bones into a wetsuit to go windsurfing. I've been kinda gravitating towards a trailerable sailboat because I don't want to have to scrape the hull every few weeks.

I'm curious: Other than dockage what were the big expenses?

catonine · 02-26-2013, 06:10 PM

Yes these things are very expensive toys at times. I made up my mind a long time ago that I would not dwell on cost, but rather the enjoyment I get from rving. As long as I have my health and the money to do this rv thing, I will continue. Most of us worked hard all our lives and we have well earned the toys we have. Heck, if you die and leave it to your children, they will just spend it on whatever suits their fancy.

ARTWERKE · 02-26-2013, 06:17 PM

I owned a sailboat for many years,38' (same as DSDP) so it's a little big for a trailer. You think $400 for shocks is steep, spend $500 on lines (ropes) . MO HO s dont tend to cost too much when you aren't using them, but rust never sleeps. And stainless steel will rust. It's stainless, not stainfree. You thing fuel is high at Flying J, buy it at a marina. Then there's a 300 mi trip at 7 Kts.

flaggship1 · 02-26-2013, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catonine

....Most of us worked hard all our lives and we have well earned the toys we have. Heck, if you die and leave it to your children, they will just spend it on whatever suits their fancy.

X2 on the hard work. And if ya raised em right what suits the kids fancy may well be a motorhome. And - they will know what they're getting in to. It's always easier when there's a legacy. Like the others have said, once you have your baseline - the maintenance isn't that bad for the return. In fact - I'm not sure how you put a value on this lifestyle. Probably adds years to your life for starters. Can't wait to make it permanent.

beachboy27 · 02-26-2013, 06:43 PM

Why did reading about all your expenses make me feel a little better. right now my coach is in Florida waiting for the radiator replacement. When they said two to three weeks to get a new rad I decided to bring Sam and me home as there wasn't much I wanted to do there if I wasn't in the coach. When it is finished I will drive back to bring it home so it can sit in storage again for three months. Oh, guesstimate for the rad - $7000. Thanks Lazy Days.

beachboy27 · 02-26-2013, 06:55 PM

Oh yes, did I neglect to mention that on the morning I was taking the coach to the shop for the rad, one of those airplane sized birds that hang around on all the bridges in Florida decided to do a suicide flight lifting off the rail about five feet in front of me catching the passenger windshield and shattering it. I was so sick when I saw all the crack lines in the windshield that I just had to laugh. At that poingt I almost prayed for a refrigerator or engine fire to finish the job. LOL.

Caveman CBB · 02-26-2013, 07:00 PM

7000 dollars for a radiator????

I don't know much about motor homes but, on the farm we have straight trucks, semi trucks, and tractors. A radiator on them would be expensive but, not nearly that much.

RVNeophytes2 · 02-26-2013, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muddypaws

The only thing more expensive is an airplane.

I'm down to two planes; I think they pale, compared to maintaining a motorhome. If you do everything the chassis and house manufacturers call for, a DP seems equal to two Cessna180/182s.

elgarc · 02-26-2013, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachboy27

Oh, guesstimate for the rad - $7000. Thanks Lazy Days.

Decided to get my leaking radiator fixed last week. Took it to Freightliner in Chandler, AZ. Three days and $2600. They fixed the old one...(new radiator would have been 3k alone). I was thinking I got taken for a ride, but maybe I got a deal! Times like these I wish for my old '95 gasser back. I could do all the maint/repair myself. But then when I get behind the wheel of the DP, wow! Priceless!

Caveman CBB · 02-27-2013, 06:11 AM

The windshield should be covered by your insurance. You should check into that. I've heard that in some states windshields are required by law to be covered by insurance. But, I don't know if that's true.

ahicks · 02-27-2013, 06:19 AM

All this talk about expensive maintenance. It's amazing what you can save by doing what you can yourself - even on airplane annuals.

But salt water operation of a boat? Now that sounds expensive....

monkey · 02-27-2013, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caveman CBB

7000 dollars for a radiator????

I don't know much about motor homes but, on the farm we have straight trucks, semi trucks, and tractors. A radiator on them would be expensive but, not nearly that much.

Is what I was thinking... That's a LOT of $$ for a radiator, labor included...
A friend of mine works on big trucks on the side, he couldn't believe it... And yes he has worked on a DP with 400 Cummins.. They are quite labor intensive,,,,, but.... wow....
I must add, Beachboy, not trying to make you feel bad at all,,, I'd love to have a DP,,, but guess we'll keep our little gasser...

mel s · 02-27-2013, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gajd33

Thats a big bill but once you get it done you should be good except for the oil changes.

That MIGHT be true but only IF you NEVER USE IT!

If you USE IT, something ALWAYS needs to be fixed, adjusted or replaced.

BTW, even if you seldom use it, the tires should be replaced every 6 years because they "age out" and become unsafe....(that alone can amount to an average cost of $600+ per year).

Been there......done that.....(for 12 years, 103k miles, with this coach).

Mel
'96 Safari

Bruce H · 02-27-2013, 11:52 AM

I have been RVing for over 20 years and it can be expensive. I usually budget $2000 a year for maintenance and miscellaneous, however if you keep it for several years you will have tires, shocks etc. Like several have said, it's a hobby you can experience with your family and you can't beat that. If you can afford it, enjoy the experience.