Budget for global oceanic adventures

How much money would you have to invest in total to buy a yacht, all the associated gear and cover other expenses (unknown to me, but sure there are many) to start sailing the world? What would be a reasonable monthly budget for ongoing costs? Maybe leasing a yacht for a couple of years is possible?

I am a surfer with only a small amount of sailing experience. However when I start to think about what to do in my retirement, I often wonder if I could afford to live on a yacht and check out the South Pacific.

I would be looking at doing it safely and sensibly and getting a lot of experience and training before attempting such an adventure.

I terms of vessel, I would not embark on a macho mission on a marginal yacht. Not looking at a super yacht either. Something that you could sail solo if you had to and would house 4 people and do open ocean cruising in comfort and safety.

I would worry about hitting stuff. Zipping past suddenly surfacing whales at high speed while a passenger on an inter island speed boat in Indonesia was quite sobering. Maybe steel mono hulls or cats are safer for this reason?

Just dreaming.

This all depends on what comforts etc you want to live with.



Based on a 80k mono hull yacht.

If you want to live simple With No fridge , tv , alcohol , cigarettes etc.... And have no time frames so you can sail rather than motor also keeping out of marinas.....I would say $100 a week... rice, market grown fruit and veg and dried foods.

For me I have most luxuries TV , fridge , honda genset , diesel engine, beer in fridge ......etc i spend about $200 per week on food, fuel and beer. $2000 per year for insurance and rego .

You will need to be able to do all your maintenance and repairs for yourself as any work evolving boat yards will cost big bucks!

It is really hard to put a figure on what your asking , but after 5 years of living and sailing round Australia I have maintained a a reasonable life on about $200-$250 a week but this figure does not
include marina fees , if I choose to visit a marina this can range from $70 to $250 per week on top of my living costs.

Hope this can be some help for you.

This site will give you a good idea about prices in the BVI on ex charter yachts. Not a bad place to spend some time honing the skills either.

http://www.tuimarinebrokerage.com/searchlistings.php?slim=pp278603&cit=true&sm=3&type=(Sail)?cyid=100

As an example. From those listings there is a 2005 Lagoon 41 in BVI $235k USD. Also listed a 2005 Lagoon 41 in Aus $331 USD.

From reading a little about it, with the huge numbers for sale, you can get them for up to 20% off the listed prices in BVI.

Prices in the Med are exceptionally good at the moment and as the European economy will continue to be stuffed for decades, it will likely always be a good place to buy. Again, could you think of a better place to spend some time choosing/learning a yacht? Then join a rally across the Atlantic building skills, down to the Caribbean, through the canal and all stops across the pacific. Yep, that's my retirement plan.

Oh, but if buying ex-charter, you might want to check out the history:

This one's going cheap and it's a new 2012 Lagoon 450.





Maybe a quick check below the waterline as well:

20 more pumps and they may have had a chance