T&T: Calculating the cost of ownership

[TK Allen]

>So you can perhaps see why coming up with an accurate advance estimate of
ownership costs can be so difficult.<



I fully understand that it is impossible to develop a cost of ownership
model with a high degree of accuracy.  I have enough experience with
maintenance and repairs on cars and houses to appreciate that the unknown
(and unknowable) is always lurking out there and will, sooner or later,
sneak up and take a bite out of my behind.  And, when I do get my ass bit, I
never know just how big a chuck of flesh I will sacrifice.  I know it's
coming, I just never know when but it always seems to be at just the wrong
time (as if there was ever a "right" time!).



That being said, there are a lot of cost of ownership variables that ARE
predictable or can at least be estimated with reasonable precision.  Here is
a preliminary list of such variables:



- Purchase price

- Interest rate on the purchase loan

- Type of boat (full displacement, semi-displacement, etc.)

- Length of boat

- Number of engines

- Insurance premium

- Slip rental fees

- Marina utilities (electricity, water, tank pump outs, etc.)

- Cruising speed

- Type of fuel (gasoline, diesel)

- Fuel consumption rate

- Fuel cost (per gallon)

- Miles to be traveled in the coming year

- Routine maintenance (haul out, bottom painting, etc.)



Does anybody know of any other significant items that should be included in
the list above?



It would be VERY useful to me to have a spreadsheet where I could plug
numbers in for various sizes and styles of boats, different home docks, and
varying amounts of cruising and see what the bottom line is.   Of course, I
can (and will) also plug in some "fudge factor" to estimate the
unknown.  Whether
this "fudge factor" is a percentage of something (purchase price? sum of
other costs?) or just a lump sum dollar amount can be determined later.



Also, I am not looking to build a complete budget for my whole life (no
food, car costs, medical insurance, etc., etc.).  I am only interested in
the boating budget.



So, if anybody knows of such a spreadsheet, I'd love to see it.  I may do my
own anyway just because I find working with the numbers interesting and
informative.



BTW, thanks to one list member for sending me something similar that they
use.



TK Allen