Envoy is currently at Lefkas Marina for the winter.
This is the last of a five part summary of Envoy’s six years Med cruising to date. The full article will shortly be published in Pacific Motor Yacht magazine.
How much does the live-aboard life cost?
Expect living costs such as food, beverages, household supplies and personal spending to be about the same when cruising as at home. Most other major costs including annual air travel to and from your boat, winter berthage, fuel, insurances and communications can be easily checked and budgeted for.
Many costs, such as winter storage, can be checked online and budgeted for
Over six years we have found repairs and maintenance to be our largest cost averaging about six per cent of the market value of our boat. This includes planned maintenance like oil changes and anti-fouling as well as the unexpected. The more you learn about your boat, the more you can do yourself to help reduce maintenance costs.
We have found repairs and maintenance to be the largest single cost
Have our early ideas and views changed and what would we do differently now?
We are very satisfied with our Nordhavn 46 and when we purchased Envoy we had thoughts about cruising home to use her in New Zealand, but we’ve since decided to eventually sell Envoy with all her equipment in the Med.
If doing the same again we’d look more closely at semi-displacement mono-hulls and displacement catamarans, and we’d bring a lot less with us from New Zealand as nearly everything is available in the Med.
Envoy has proven a great vessel for our Med adventures to date
Initially we were reluctant to leave Envoy unattended and explore inland. This was a mistake and we now readily do so, particularly to share this experience with guests.
Would we cruise the Med like this knowing what we know now?
Absolutely – this has been one of the most truly amazing episodes in our lives. Our great experiences will be remembered long after costs have been forgotten.
Advice for anyone planning to live aboard in the Med
If you think cruising and living aboard in the Med (or anywhere for that matter) is for you, make your plans now – life’s time clock is ticking! Your biggest decisions will probably revolve around work, finances, what to do with your house and buying your boat. Don’t let life’s minor issues (e.g. what to do with the cat) stop you.
However we need to mention one area of practicality – it’s rare to meet long term cruisers in their prime working years or with school-age children.
Do your research by reading, visiting cruiser’s blogs and talking with live aboard cruisers.
Buy a boat which is well equipped for long periods of comfortable living aboard. Have your boat professionally surveyed and ensure she is financially unencumbered before purchase. Spend some time with the boat’s previous owner to start developing a detailed knowledge of her operation, systems, maintenance and spare parts requirements.
Familiarise yourself with relevant regulations - the Schengen Treaty currently limits visits by New Zealand passport holders to three months in each country and Australians to three months in the total of all countries. If you buy a boat which is non-VAT paid you may wish to avoid the need to pay VAT; for example Envoy is New Zealand registered and can remain in EU waters up to 18 months at a time without paying VAT. Before the expiry of the 18 month period it is only necessary to leave EU waters for a few days, and the 18 month clock is re-set. These are complex issues and specialist advice should be sought for each set of circumstances.
Turkey, Croatia and Albania now require cruisers to use agents for clearing in and out. Even where not required it’s often a good idea to use agents as they offer excellent advice on how to extend your stay and to minimise your obligations as mentioned above.
Participate in repairs and maintenance to reduce costs and expand your knowledge.
Don’t rely solely on cruising guides but do your own exploring to find your own special places. Leave your boat to explore inland by bus, train or rental car.
Don’t plan to visit every stretch of coast and every bay, but be selective and spend quality time at the places you visit to enjoy them fully, not superficially.
Anchor as much as possible as Med casual marina prices are expensive, typically 60-130 Euros (NZ$97-210) per night.
Have full internet access onboard to stay in regular contact with friends and family, for weather forecasts and technical information, and use a system like Rebtel to minimise your ‘phone costs.
Enjoy times with guests while sticking to your own cruising plans and expect your guests to come to and leave from where you are located at that time.
Where to now?
We don’t yet know where to from here, except to say that we have no plans to cruise beyond the Med and sometime within the next few years we’ll again be regular cruisers back in New Zealand.
This is the last of a five part summary of Envoy’s six years Med cruising to date. The full article will shortly be published in Pacific Motor Yacht magazine.
How much does the live-aboard life cost?
Expect living costs such as food, beverages, household supplies and personal spending to be about the same when cruising as at home. Most other major costs including annual air travel to and from your boat, winter berthage, fuel, insurances and communications can be easily checked and budgeted for.
Many costs, such as winter storage, can be checked online and budgeted for
Over six years we have found repairs and maintenance to be our largest cost averaging about six per cent of the market value of our boat. This includes planned maintenance like oil changes and anti-fouling as well as the unexpected. The more you learn about your boat, the more you can do yourself to help reduce maintenance costs.
We have found repairs and maintenance to be the largest single cost
Have our early ideas and views changed and what would we do differently now?
We are very satisfied with our Nordhavn 46 and when we purchased Envoy we had thoughts about cruising home to use her in New Zealand, but we’ve since decided to eventually sell Envoy with all her equipment in the Med.
Envoy has proven a great vessel for our Med adventures to date
Initially we were reluctant to leave Envoy unattended and explore inland. This was a mistake and we now readily do so, particularly to share this experience with guests.
Would we cruise the Med like this knowing what we know now?
Absolutely – this has been one of the most truly amazing episodes in our lives. Our great experiences will be remembered long after costs have been forgotten.
Advice for anyone planning to live aboard in the Med
If you think cruising and living aboard in the Med (or anywhere for that matter) is for you, make your plans now – life’s time clock is ticking! Your biggest decisions will probably revolve around work, finances, what to do with your house and buying your boat. Don’t let life’s minor issues (e.g. what to do with the cat) stop you.
However we need to mention one area of practicality – it’s rare to meet long term cruisers in their prime working years or with school-age children.
Do your research by reading, visiting cruiser’s blogs and talking with live aboard cruisers.
Buy a boat which is well equipped for long periods of comfortable living aboard. Have your boat professionally surveyed and ensure she is financially unencumbered before purchase. Spend some time with the boat’s previous owner to start developing a detailed knowledge of her operation, systems, maintenance and spare parts requirements.
Familiarise yourself with relevant regulations - the Schengen Treaty currently limits visits by New Zealand passport holders to three months in each country and Australians to three months in the total of all countries. If you buy a boat which is non-VAT paid you may wish to avoid the need to pay VAT; for example Envoy is New Zealand registered and can remain in EU waters up to 18 months at a time without paying VAT. Before the expiry of the 18 month period it is only necessary to leave EU waters for a few days, and the 18 month clock is re-set. These are complex issues and specialist advice should be sought for each set of circumstances.
Turkey, Croatia and Albania now require cruisers to use agents for clearing in and out. Even where not required it’s often a good idea to use agents as they offer excellent advice on how to extend your stay and to minimise your obligations as mentioned above.
Participate in repairs and maintenance to reduce costs and expand your knowledge.
Don’t rely solely on cruising guides but do your own exploring to find your own special places. Leave your boat to explore inland by bus, train or rental car.
Don’t plan to visit every stretch of coast and every bay, but be selective and spend quality time at the places you visit to enjoy them fully, not superficially.
Anchor as much as possible as Med casual marina prices are expensive, typically 60-130 Euros (NZ$97-210) per night.
Have full internet access onboard to stay in regular contact with friends and family, for weather forecasts and technical information, and use a system like Rebtel to minimise your ‘phone costs.
Enjoy times with guests while sticking to your own cruising plans and expect your guests to come to and leave from where you are located at that time.
Where to now?
We don’t yet know where to from here, except to say that we have no plans to cruise beyond the Med and sometime within the next few years we’ll again be regular cruisers back in New Zealand.
2 comments:
Another great blog and timely advice as we are about to set off, with children and animals... thank you for all your blogs I have really enjoyed reading them. Good luck in the future.
James
Thanks for your excellent blog, most appreciated! You mentioned you would look more closely at semi displacement mono hulls and displacement cats. Would love to know some of your high level reasons for this and examples of types you would investigate.
many thanks
John
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