New to Yachting - Fuel Level

Typically, you should figure about 10% of the cost for annual maintenance. I've found fuel is such a small percentage of my costs it's irrelevant. Many owners have been saying insurance has become a problem and since this sounds to be your first boat you should speak to a couple ins. agents as they may not offer coverage if over certain sizes.

Since my last purchase about 2 yrs back I'm sure I've spent a LOT more when upgrades are included and based on the 42 years of ownership of previous boat, those things typically only end when you sell. For example currently contemplating a Water Maker & Starlink. I also fully agree with the post above by Pascal. Also.... if you're able to find an HONEST buyers broker ( word of mouth the best) he/she could be a big help and as in the case with my last purchase, save you dollars and certainly help with the buying process.

Never did a rebuild but in previous spt. fish did a repower from her 270 hp. to a pair of 400 hp. diesels. Due to the change in the ratio of the new transmissions had no need to change props or even change pitch of the existing ones so in hindsight got away cheap after selling the take out's. After the purchase of the current toy I had all of the electronics replaced except two of the three VHF's and the auto pilot. Even at that the final was in the $25,000 plus range and just last week replaced both tachometers since the existing digital ones had a "growing" loss of brightness. They were the only two gauges not previously changed. Prior to purchase the seller replaced one of the three AC units, leaving me to deal with replacing the other two. In speaking with two mechanics I would be looking at around $250,000. to rebuild each of the current Man's but they did well in survey and oil analysis so not expecting that need. It NEVER ends till you sell, which I did, but then wound up buying again & starting all over. LOL

Yeah it's insane. That was also the "ball park" replacement cost I got at the Man booth at the Ft. Laud. boat show 2 yrs back. One of my diesel mechanics said if not in a rush Man parts can be purchased via a 3rd country, knocking off around 30% of those costs.

What size, type and vintage of boats are you considering? @SplashFi gives you a good rule of thumb at 10%. However, that can go up dramatically depending on the vintage and condition of the boat you buy. Same issue with insurance. Older boats are getting harder and more expensive to insure. And if you have no operating experience in a similar sized boat you likely won't get insurance without hiring a Captain until you have enough hours that insurance companies get comfortable you know what you are doing.

You can buy a lot of water for the price and maintenance of a water maker on your size boat. I'm an FCI authorized service. Starlink however is absolutely worth it however.

Seems odd. Our MAN guy said he thought we could replace our current 900-CRMs with new I6-850s (including gears) for about $200K. ~$85K each for the engines/gears, wild stab at labor. Reduce propulsion weight by a couple thousand pounds. Then hope for decent return selling the take-outs.

No way that would make any sense at all, of course, assuming no catastrophic failure... so it was mostly a blue sky discussion...

(Maybe your guys were meaning ~$250K replacement for both? Not rebuild, not each?)

For OP, that 10% figure is often only about the best WAG folks can offer... and it can vary lots depending on boat, systems, etc.... and even then, expenditures can swing wildly from year to year. Especially in "upgrade" years, or when replacing major systems (ACs, water heater, etc.) and often also depending on labor costs -- yours ("free" -- but not really) or hired ($85-175/hour, depending).

When we were shopping, it looked like Cats the same size as what we ended up with would cost about the same to maintain. Periodic aftercooler replacement, stuff like that.

Our previous boat had the same Cummins 6CTAs you repowered with. I liked 'em, relatively inexpensive, as you say. OTOH, they were also 8.3L vs 14.6, 450-hp versus 900... and I guess size matters. Looked to me like most of the electronic engines in the 14-15L range, any brand (without me having any actual experience on others), would cost about the same to maintain: lots. Or at least more than 6CTAs.

-Chris

Despite things mostly costing more down here seems like too large a difference for both prices to be correct but rather not even think about a repower at this time.

The electronics company that did all my upgrades said I would have to purchase Starlink but they could then do the install. For the time being business is keeping me near home so until another time, it will have to wait.

I spent the money on a watermaker and I never use it. It has been been pickled for two years now. I installed the watermaker then upgraded my heads to the Raritan macerator units and opted for the freshwater/seawater selectable option. I just switch over to seawater for the heads when we leave the dock. We go out for 3-4 days without any issues on water now. I also switch my fish box ice to seawater. I'm really only using freshwater for dishes, coffee and showers. We usually only use about 1/2 tank now. I do like the piece of mind knowing I can make water if I need to. I suspect my watermaker will get used next time both of my adult daughters are aboard though

Yeah, my daughter loves LONG hot showers and she's used to unlimited water. The heads are on fresh. In previous boat I had a set up to run off salt when away from the canal but had to always rinse with fresh when done with the trip or the stink took over.
Used to have a small hand operated water maker in the ditch bag but despite it being pickled wound up trashing it after learning the membrane was probably shot due to too many years since being pickled. Will probably not go for a new installed one since extremely rare to ever be on the hook but I do need to hook up the drinking water hose and make sure the boats pressure reducing inlet is good.