Cost to Cruise: June, 2017

Boilerplate disclaimer: this is not what it will cost you to go cruising.

View through the lock doors at Miraflores, from the bow of your own boat: priceless
View through the lock doors at Miraflores, from the bow of your own boat: priceless

People’s constant advice, discussing cruising finances, always seems to be: It’ll cost what you have. We did not find this helpful in our planning, however true it may be. What we’re trying to show is the cost to us, more or less, for one month to go cruising. We’re going for monthly expenses, because they’re easier for us to track; so you won’t see the boat insurance amortized, you’ll just see that expense when we pay it. It won’t be what you’ll spend, but it was the kind of information that helped us out when we were trying to wrap our heads around that magical number for our cruising kitty.

Happy to have one of our major expenses for this trip behind us, more or less—all of our other Canal costs are in our past. We even had our deposit back in our account by the end of the month! Numbers for June:

Marinas: $246.59
Grocery: $961.33
Restaurant: $88.62
Supplies: $207.44
Booze: $35.52
Laundry: $42
Communications: $150
Entertainment: $60
Fuel: $64.11 diesel; $24.21 stove fuel; $9.30 gas for the dinghy
Bank Fees: $17.50
Water: $2.50
Ice Cream: $13
Transportation: $74
Customs/Immigration: $25
Boat Parts: $140.10
Canal Fees: $190
Grand Total: $2351.22

A few notes on the above:

  • We spent a few nights at the Balboa Yacht Club, including the interrupted night of the big fire, but decided it made no sense to spend money for the painful rolliness
  • Ice cream makes it back on the list!
  • “Canal Fees” include renting lines and fenders ($100), and a cab back to Shelter Bay for our awesome line handlers (the remaining $90)
  • We paid $25 for a domestic zarpe to move around within the country of Panama. We are not really sure we should have paid this. Rules about visas and permits are constantly in flux in Panama, and you’ll get different answers about requirements depending on which official you ask. We were told it was required; we were told it was not required; we spent the time and money to get it; we are sure no one cares if we have it or not. Better safe than sorry, I guess.
  • First time buying gas for the dinghy since maybe the Bahamas. Love that new 4-stroke.
  • Transportation numbers are a bit high; we never figured out the bus system in Panama City in June, so we took a lot of taxis. We had quite a bit of provisioning to do, anyway, and it’s worth the extra taxi money to not haul $500 worth of groceries on a bus. Currently, we’re in Las Brisas, once again back in Panama City, and are getting around fine on the bus for a mere twenty-five cents a person.

3 Comments on “Cost to Cruise: June, 2017

  1. We have been out cruising in your home state in Door County for about a month now and I would say our expenses are similar. Except booze…that would be our downfall. S/V Sonalinn

    • Wish we could cruise Door County together! Yeah, we’ve been surprised how little we’ve spent on alcohol. I could go for a gin and tonic about now (maybe with that Death’s Door gin!), but sadly, no ice!

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