Many people say catamaran living is expensive. What does it really cost to live on a catamaran? There are lots who say it’s cheap. Both are wrong. Lots has been said about how expensive or cheap it is living on a catamaran.
What does it really cost isn’t really the question to ask. The real questions is, “What is you lifestyle?” If you live a high lifestyle on land, you, you will probably want something similar on the water. If you are a minimalist on land, you will probably continue to live a minimalist life on the water. The cost to live on a catamaran is very similar to living on land.
If you rent, the biggest change will be the cost of the catamaran. If you own a large house, the biggest change will be downsizing.
Suppose You Own a Cabin
Suppose you own a tiny cabin off the grid. In this case, you are completely self-contained, must make your own water and haul all your necessities in and out once a month without a car. Your cabin is the size of an apartment but it costs as much as the apartment building.
I want to briefly weigh in on this subject and see if I can clear up some misconceptions. It seems like people are confusing two different issues. However, maybe this is because they assume a tiny house is living cheap or because you have to live a lavish lifestyle on an expensive boat. Both are possible. Neither is true.
In this article, I will try to sort out some of the confusion about living on the water. I will answer the questions you were asking as well as cover some of the questions you should ask. The lifestyle is extremely appealing. However, before you decide to change your life, you need to be aware of the changes involved.
Let’s dive right in.
Cost To Live on a Catamaran Dreaming
The Lifestyle
What does it really cost isn’t really the question to ask.
The real question is, what is your lifestyle? If you live a high lifestyle on land, you will probably want something similar on the water. If you are a minimalist on land, you will probably continue to live a minimalist life on the water.
Catamarans range from about 380 square feet to 580 square feet. That’s small! Catamarans have lots of exotic equipment for making their own water, power and transportation. New cats can cost a million dollars and up. That’s expensive! What most people don’t see is that the 400 square foot cabin costs $400,000.
What does it really cost to live on a catamaran? This is the size of a tiny apartment and it costs as much as the apartment building. When people compare lifestyles, they are comparing the minimalist cabin or the lavish resource. They compare one or the other, but not both together. Let’s take a closer look.
Compare Houses
A catamaran is a tiny cabin. Measure the size of the house or apartment you are currently living in and compare it with the size of your prospective catamaran. If your house is much bigger, then the biggest change will be less room. If your dwelling is an apartment then the biggest change will be the cost of your catamaran.
The next question is “what happens when something breaks?” If you are a renter, repairs are the responsibility of the landlord. As an owner, it will be your responsibility and you have two options: learn to fix it yourself, pay to have someone else fix it. That someone can be a fellow sailor or a professional. A professional will be expensive. To do this yourself, you will need manuals, spare parts and lots of elbow grease. And, it really helps if you are handy.
What Does it Really Cost to Live on a Catamaran?
There are a few differences between living on water and living on land. What does it really cost to live on a catamaran and what are the differences? Therefore, let’s take them one at a time.
The Neighborhood
Your location will affect your expenses just like any neighborhood. If you are at anchor, there are less additional costs. As a result, if you are docked in a marina, or travel to expensive neighborhoods like the South Pacific or the Mediterranean, your costs will be much higher for nearly everything. Sailing, traveling on wind power, is free.
Extravagance
We discussed lifestyle above. The amount you are currently spending on food will probably not change much. You can reduce your expenses by cooking and eating on your catamaran and only dining out occasionally. If you dine out or stay in hotels, your expenses can increase dramatically. However, this is no different on the water than it is on land. In short, eating out is expensive.
Air Conditioning
The air around water is very humid. Boats on the ocean are affected by high humidity with salt. Some people like this environment. Others do not. Fans will only move the air. If you want cool and dry, you will need an air conditioner. They are not automatically included on most boats and they are not cheap. Air conditioning uses lots of electric power. In other words, most solar panels will probably not be able to provide enough power.
Solar is changing rapidly. The newest catamarans have switched from wind power to solar power. They have solar panels that cover the entire floor plan of the boat. These, with the efficient ReLion lithium batteries, can power the electric motors. They can probably also power your air conditioner. Keep in mind, this is an upgrade, but it’s possible.
Marinas and Fees
Mentioned above, marinas charge for their services, where you can fill your fresh water tanks, pump out your black water tanks, connect to power to ensure your batteries are charged and do your laundry. Your average cost per night can be around $2.00 per foot and up. You can expect to pay about 50 percent more for a wider catamaran sized berth.
Living at Anchor
Living at anchor is living off the grid. You do not have access to water, electricity or sewer. You can have electric power only with solar panels and you can store it only with efficient batteries. Generally, the more efficient solar panels are, the more expensive they they will be. However, once installed, they are free to use for decades. Alternatively, you can power a generator with fuel. This will mean consuming either gas or Diesel as you use it.
Alcohol
Drinking is expensive. Your costs may change when you buy locally. The type of alcohol will also depend upon your location. It’s fun to go out for an evening with friends. Drinking in a restaurant or bar is significantly different than drinking on your catamaran in almost any neighborhood. Catamarans are more than big enough to invite your sail boating friends over for socializing. These costs will probably not change much.
Maintenance and Repairs
One of your biggest expenses will be maintenance and repairs. Saltwater is corrosive and will affect nearly everything about your boat. Sailing your boat will add a lot of abuse. The more you sail, the higher your maintenance costs. Of course, things usually break when you are out at sea, not where they are convenient to repair. Estimate about 10 percent of your budget for repairs. In other words, maintenance is one of your biggest challenges to living on a catamaran.
Water Makers vs Water Tanks
Fresh drinking water is essential for living. You can fill up at a marina (included with your fee) or buy at a local store, or buy a water maker ($8,000 to $10,000). Your water maker will need electricity for the pump. Will you power it with a generator or solar power? If you intend to use fresh water tanks, you will need a way to capture the rain. This doesn’t have to me complicated. Besides, once this is finished, you are done.
Sewage Tank vs Composting Toilet
You need to give some thought to sewage. If you are far enough from land, your sewage can be dumped acceptably and safely due to the size of the ocean. It is illegal to dump sewage in many areas close to land.
Hobbies and Activities
Hobbies like snorkeling, scuba diving, free diving, hiking, surfing, exploring, touring, paddle boarding, fishing, kite boarding, writing or reading will still cost something, just like on land.
Sailing vs Motoring
Sailing is generally “free”. However, the wind isn’t always reliable and doesn’t always blow in the direction you are going. Motoring will require power, which will be an expense. If you have electric engines, the same may be true for cloudy days. Some catamarans have a combination of both wind sails and solar electric. The sails can shade the solar panels and reduce their efficiency. While this can be useful, most choose one or the other.
Rental and Touring Vehicles
Your self-contained cabin had a vehicle, at least we assumed it did. Now however, your dinghy is your vehicle on the water. After that, you will have to walk or pay for transportation. Anywhere you travel on land will cost you something. Getting transportation is usually easy from a marina or dock, but not always. Sometimes the dock is away from the city and you will need to make arrangements in advance. it’s a good idea to plan ahead. After a while you will know these things.
Type of Catamaran
New vs. older catamarans will affect your finances. Also, catamarans will be less expensive in other markets. Most catamarans are built outside the United States. It may be worth traveling to buy one and sail it “home.” If you purchase a catamaran in the Caribbean you will pay an average of 10 to 15 percent less than purchasing the same boat in the United States. Do some research and find some good deals. Besides, you can enjoy the trip!
Financing
Unless you have the full purchase price, you will need financing, just like with a car or home. The amount of your down payment and interest rate depend on numerous factors including your FICO score and the age of the boat. However, the interest rates are consistently changing.
Insurance
Generally the insurance is similar to home insurance and car insurance, with a few changes. Most policies will charge extra for dangerous areas, like hurricane seasonal risks and pirates. You probably don’t want to go there, anyway. There are also limits on your coverage, which you should pay careful attention to, since you are responsible for your boat and your safety.
Probably the biggest hidden risk for a catamaran is running aground in shallow water. Not because you have a short dagger board. There can be rocks hidden just below the surface. Cats can go fast and in the wrong area, you can slam into a hidden rock. There’s no danger of sinking because your catamaran is made of material that floats. However, you will have expensive repairs, and you will be a long way from someone who can help.
Cost To Live on a Catamaran
Conclusions
When people ask “what does it really cost to live on a catamaran?” what they’re really asking, in my opinion, is can I change lifestyles? That answer is “yes” but you don’t need to change where you are living to do that! In other words, you can do that without a cat.
Suppose you own a remote off-grid self-contained cabin that is 400 square feet but it costs about $400,000. You must make your own water and haul all your necessities in and out once a month. The cost to live on a catamaran is about the same as a similar lifestyle on land. The key concept is similar lifestyle.
My Advice
If you are reading this far, you have most likely dreamed about living on a catamaran. I hope I have given you some useful information. There will be some risks, and there will be some rewards. My advice? Make a beginning, then make it better. Ask for help. Besides, it can’t hurt.
Randy
Sources:
https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2018/07/living-on-a-sailboat.html