How about owning a boat if you're tired of land?

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There is only so much money. It is impossible to get rich. It is impossible to get rich in this life. So is it possible to own a boat?

I was chatting with a friend a few days ago, and the topic came up: "Can the middle class in the United States afford yachts?" I am usually very interested in all kinds of cars, boats, and airplanes. After coming to the United States, I am also paying attention to the sailboat and yacht market in the United States. My first reaction is no. Although the per capita income in the United States is higher than that in China, it is more convenient and cheaper to buy and use a yacht in the United States than in China. In fact, yachts in the United States are still associated with the wealthy class. Although they are not as exaggerated as those reserved for the "rich" class in China, they are not ordinary. The middle class dares to hope.

However, after careful study, this problem is actually not that simple. This article will briefly explore what kind of boats ordinary Americans can afford and use. Of course, the content of this article all comes from "Keyboard Research". Although I am very interested in ships, I have lived and traveled on sailing ships, and rented several speedboats, but the actual experience I have is 0. The following content For reference only.

The first question to answer when it comes to owning a boat is, what kind of boat are we talking about?

If the one in the picture above is considered a boat, it would be too easy. You can buy one for $100. I have one now, sitting in a storage cabinet in my garage. Rigid kayaks are cheap and only cost a few hundred dollars. If you really like kayaking, they are not a burden at all.

However, calling a kayak a boat probably has the same meaning as "The guy told someone I had a car, but the girl came out and pointed to the back seat of the 28-inch bar."

If it’s just for leverage, then the following one might be better, Meiya’s price is $12. For $12, you can’t suffer a loss or be fooled.

Of course, there are many options for small boats under 1,000 US dollars, and there are even powered ones, such as the one in the picture below. The total price of an inflatable boat + battery + electric motor is more than 400 US dollars.

Although strictly speaking, the above are all boats, but in general, the boat we understand should at least look like the following:

This kind of aluminum hull is equipped with a gasoline engine. , a small boat that can take 3 people, the cheapest one is probably less than 3,000 US dollars, and the better one is several thousand US dollars more. This kind of boat is enough for fishing in small rivers and lakes for a short period of time without any pursuit of speed. Sitting on it is much more comfortable and stable than plastic or rubber inflatable boats. It’s also easy to decorate fish baskets and backpacks.

Or if you just pursue speed and enjoy towing and water skiing, then a motorboat with a size of several thousand can also meet your needs.

The Sea Doo Spark in the picture below has an official price of US$5,499, a top speed of 67.6 kilometers per hour, a fuel consumption of 11 liters per 100 kilometers at top speed, and a deadweight of 184 kilograms, which is similar to an ordinary 250cc motorcycle: < /p>

All of the above can be afforded by the most ordinary Americans. Whether it is an aluminum boat or a motorboat, the price of several thousand dollars is affordable to the American working class, and the fuel consumption is not high (motorboats are about the same For cars that consume more fuel). The weight of the body is not large, just a few hundred pounds, and it can be towed by any vehicle. Even a motorboat can be placed directly in the back of a pickup truck. Maintenance and maintenance are also cheaper.

But if you want to talk about "enjoyment", then obviously these ships are not enough.

There are probably two types of cheaper boats that can be said to be enjoyable.

One type is the so-called Pontoon Boat, which is a flat-bottomed boat with 2-3 pontoons underneath. The advantage is that the internal space is large and the water depth requirements are very low. The disadvantage is that It's not driving fast. Depending on the engine horsepower, the top speed ranges from 20-50 km/h.

The target customers of this kind of boat are those who like water leisure but do not pursue excitement. When the weather is nice, it is very pleasant to drive a boat like this and eat, drink tea, drink beer, chat, and even fish with the family.

The other is various speedboats.

For example, the most common bowrider is a wide-sided open-top speedboat. It gets its name from the fact that when traveling at high speed, the bow of the boat will be raised high, as if it is riding on the waves. This speedboat is also the most common type of speedboat in the United States. It is roughly equivalent to a sports car among cars, with a top speed generally between 50-90 km/h.

This kind of boat, like a motorboat, is often used as a tow boat for water skiing:

In between the two is the so-called deck boat. The bow of the boat is wider than that of the Bowrider, resulting in more space inside the boat, making it more spacious for family leisure use. Compared with the Pontoon Boat, its speed is higher and can reach 50-65 kilometers per hour, which can also meet the needs of water riding and towing and water skiing.

With the above types of boats, it should be said that you can enjoy water leisure more comfortably. Consumers can choose the boat type that suits them based on whether they prefer movement or quietness.

Of course, apart from these purely leisure boats, there are also boats with more outstanding functionality in this price range. Because fishing enthusiasts are still an important consumer group of recreational boats in the United States - after all, for those who want to fish deep in lakes or far away from the coast, a powered boat is also a necessity. Therefore, there are many ship types specially designed for them.

A boat designed entirely for fishing is called Center Console. It gets its name from the fact that the console is located in the center of the boat. There are not many people on this boat, but it is generally well-equipped. It is mainly used in relatively large bays and lakes. Fishing crowd. In order to free up the most space to place fishing rods - because the more fishing rods are placed at the same time, the frequency of fish taking the bait will be greater - there is no leisure area arranged, except for the driver's seat. There aren't any seats or only 1-2 small benches. As a family leisure, you don’t have to think about it. The length of this type of boat is also mainly between 15-23 feet.

Most fishing enthusiasts with families have to ask their families to approve the budget, so they choose a cross-border boat model-Dual Console. It can be seen as a cross-border boat type between Center Console and Bowrider. It has two left and right countertops to provide wind protection for the seats behind it, and it also has more, larger and more comfortable seats. However, this type of boat is relatively expensive, generally selling for more than $50,000.

The price of the above-mentioned small boats without enclosed cabins for common brands is about US$14,000-50,000. The price range is very close to that of ordinary brand cars. And it also targets the vast middle class in the United States.

The length of these affordable brand boats, Center Console and Bowrider are all in the range of 15-23 feet, Deck Boat is generally 16-26 feet, and Pontoon Boat is in the range of 17-28 feet.

Of course, there are bigger ones too. In addition to the Dual Console mentioned earlier, the world's largest yacht brand, Sea Ray, which is positioned in the Premium market, also has Bowrider and Deck Boats, ranging in length from 22 feet to 32 feet, and the prices are naturally much more expensive. But for consumers of open boats, boats under 20 feet are the mainstream choice.

The picture below shows the Sea Ray SLX310, which sells for more than 200,000 US dollars:

Such a boat less than 20 feet can often be placed in an ordinary home garage, and a boat larger than 20 feet can often be placed in an ordinary home garage. You can also park in the driveway in front of the garage. Their weight is not large, generally 600-2000 kilograms. Generally, they can be towed by medium-sized or medium-sized household SUVs, and there is no need to buy an additional pickup truck.

The maintenance costs of such ships are also relatively low. Generally, fuel consumption is a few gallons per hour. If you drive 70-80 hours a year, the fuel cost will be about US$1,000. Including insurance, daily engine maintenance, etc., it can generally be controlled at US$2,000-3,000. If maintenance is done by yourself, it may only cost more than $1,000.

This cost level is similar to that of an ordinary car. For the middle class with a relatively high income, the "Upper Middle Class" whose social status is more equivalent to the Chinese meaning of "middle class", they can actually buy better boats.

The Cuddy Cabin, which has a small enclosed cabin but no bathroom facilities (at most, a portable toilet), is designed for this group of people.

Beneteau Antares 21 (referring to 21 feet long), the official US price starts at $83,320, adopts Coupe shape:

The small inner cabin under its bow is the so-called Cuddy Cabin. Cuddy probably means that this place is relatively cramped, with only enough room for two people to "cuddle" together.

Of course there are other forms, such as Bayliner's VR5 Cuddy, which is based on the traditional Bowrider shape. This model is priced at 54,000 euros in Europe:

Jeanneau NC695 (695 (meaning more than 6 meters) Sport, developed on the basis of Center Console, is mainly aimed at fishing enthusiasts and provides them with a small cabin for a lunch break:

Jeanneau Leader 7.5 is a combination of Center Console and Bowrider A hybrid of:

It even comes with a small toilet, but it can only be used for toileting, not bathing:

However, these boats are still not yachts.

The general definition of a yacht is almost a "RV" in the boat, with a bedroom, bathroom, indoor sofa, and kitchen. This is not only "comfortable", but also somewhat "luxurious". In addition to showing off your status, it can also be used for multi-night stays and some short intercity trips.

The above Cuddy Cabin, which is 20-25 feet long and sells for US$50,000-90,000, is probably like a Camper Van/bed truck. The positioning is a bit awkward. The cabin is too small and you will suffer more in it. Enjoy, it is not realistic to stay on the boat for more than one night, but the maintenance cost and selling price are 1-2 times higher than ordinary speedboats, so it is not very popular in fact. Especially in the relatively affluent United States, many manufacturers such as Bayliner no longer sell ships of this level in the United States.

After all, most people don’t buy a yacht just to have a place to stay overnight and go on a long trip. Enjoyment and face are the most important things, and Cuddy Cabin obviously cannot provide these two things.

So how much does a real yacht cost?

The world’s largest yacht brand, Sea Ray, has the cheapest yacht model in the United States, the Sundance 320, with an official starting price of US$295,000. Although American yacht brands often have huge discounts at terminals, at the same time, the actual boat models that can be purchased at terminal dealers often have various options added - people who can afford yachts at this price generally cannot If you really buy a "beggar's", it will cost at least tens of thousands of dollars for a few options, so the final transaction price will probably be more than 300,000 US dollars.

Lower interior cabin layout:

Of course, Sea Ray, as the most well-known brand, has a high brand premium, and its products are not the most cost-effective. Therefore, at similar price points, many other brands of yachts tend to be more luxurious.

For example, the Carver C34 Coupe adopts a Coupe design. The upper cabin is also closed, and only the rear half is open. In this way, the living room and kitchen are completely arranged on the upper floor, and the lower cabin is only used as a bedroom. The living and sleeping spaces are much wider. Of course, the price of this yacht is also more expensive, with the official starting price being US$372,000.

Carver C34 Coupe:

The two largest sailing/yacht brands in Europe - Beneteau and Jeanneau (now actually part of the same French group), their yachts are generally more expensive lower, while having better space design and interior craftsmanship. However, their discounts are generally smaller, and the basic models are also more "vegetarian".

For example, Beneteau's Swift Trawler 30 is a Recreational Trawler. This type of boat is developed from the Fishing Trawler used for offshore fishing, but modified for leisure cruising. The top speed of this hull is not high, much lower than the 70 km/h of the Sundancer 320 and 64 km/h of the C34 Coupe, but only 42 km/h. Of course, for yacht buyers who are not looking for excitement, this speed is completely sufficient. After all, 42 kilometers per hour on the water already feels very fast. And its internal space is very advantageous.

This yacht also adopts the design of Commanding Bridge, that is, there is a deck above the main cabin for leisure, and the upper and middle floors each have a driving station, both of which can control the boat.

The official starting price of this yacht is US$306,000:

The most cost-effective one may be Jeanneau’s NC 1095. It is only 10.5 meters long (34.5 feet), but it has 3 bedrooms, and separate wet and dry bathrooms. Together with the sofa bed in the living room upstairs, it can sleep 6-8 people.

Jeanneau’s NC 1095:

Of course, because the discounts for European brands are small, and the beggar’s edition is more expensive, the actual price, plus taxes and shipping fees, will probably be close to it. $250,000.

It should be said that if you have a budget of more than 300,000 US dollars, you can already buy many entry-level yachts with a certain sense of luxury.

The upper middle class in the United States, which is composed of lawyers, finance, and technology industry employees, has an annual pre-tax income that is almost at this level. At a better rate, the after-tax income may reach more than 300,000, so can the middle class in the United States afford such an entry-level yacht?

No.

Even for this entry-level yacht, which is 30-35 feet long, the cost of maintenance is very expensive. On The Hull Truth, the largest yacht forum in the United States—and probably the largest yacht forum in the world—a netizen posted his annual cost of using the entry-level yacht Monterey 335 SY in 2018, which was ***$12,800: < /p>

It should be noted that this netizen uses his yacht to tow it with his F-250 heavy-duty pickup truck.

Although it is true that many 30-35-foot yachts can be towed, this is definitely not the main use method of this class of yachts, because:

1. This class of yachts Width, all exceed the maximum width of conventional trailers allowed by U.S. law (8 and a half feet, or 2.6 meters).

If it exceeds this width, you need to purchase a license on a per-time or annual basis, which not only costs a lot of money (this netizen spent about 1,000 US dollars), but travel will be severely restricted (travel during peak hours on weekdays) ), also need to be purchased in advance each time.

2. To tow such an over-sized trailer, you also need to obtain a special driver's license. It is not just an ordinary light vehicle driver's license that can drive on the road.

3. Because these yachts are very heavy, often reaching 12,000-15,000 pounds (5,400-7,000 kilograms), they cannot be towed by ordinary household pickup trucks. You need to purchase an F-250 or F-350. This kind of pickup truck is generally used for commercial use. The price after options is generally around US$60,000 or more, which requires a lot of additional costs.

4. Most American residences in coastal areas and around cities are far from having enough yards, garages, or walkways to store such a large boat. If you want to park it in a long-term storage parking lot for RVs or yachts, If so, you will lose the cost advantage of your own towing.

Therefore, except for a few buyers in the central region who really have a lot of land, and because there are no seas and lakes around their residences, if they hope to drag the boat to different waters, basically this level of yacht They will all choose to store it in a small pier, such as the following:

The storage price of this kind of small pier, taking Coyote Point near my home as an example, is 232 US dollars per month for a 32-foot vessel, while the Monterey 335 SY requires a 36-foot berth, which is US$306. In this way, although the cost of a towing permit and the gas cost of towing the front car are saved, the cost of parking fees will increase by about $800.

In addition, this boat owner maintains it himself. If he pays for a shop mechanic, the cost will increase by US$2,000-3,000. And this does not include the fact that the engine needs to be replaced every 10-15 years on average, which translates to an annual cost of about US$2,000.

Therefore, the total annual cost of a 30-35-foot yacht is approximately US$15,000-20,000, which is quite astonishing.

You must know that the annual cost of raising an entry-level Ferrari sports car is almost at this level, and the cost of buying a car is also similar - and obviously, the middle class cannot afford to drive a Ferrari.

You must know that other common hobbies of the upper-middle class in the United States, such as RVs, sports cars (Porsche, Maserati brands and below), and horses, cost only about half to one-third of this entry-level yacht. .

So is it true that the middle class can no longer afford yachting?

No.

You must know that although the proportion of rich and wealthy people who can afford yachts is much higher than that of the middle class, the number of people in the middle class is much larger than that of the wealthy class. Therefore, even for the "high-end" yacht market, the middle class, especially the upper middle class, is still a consumer group that cannot be ignored.

So how can the middle class afford yachts? There are roughly three routes.

The first is to play with second-hand yachts.

Still taking Sea Ray as an example, the Sundancer 310, which is positioned similarly to the previously mentioned Sundancer 320, has a second-hand price of only US$60,000-100,000 after being used for 10-15 years. Although the maintenance cost of a second-hand yacht may be slightly higher than that of a new yacht, after all, the cost of purchasing a boat, even including depreciation, saves hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you add in the maintenance yourself, the cost is relatively acceptable. .

The second option is to go sailing instead.

Because the sailboat lacks a power mechanism, the cost of manufacturing it in the first place is much lower. (Strictly speaking, most sailboats are still equipped with 1-2 small engines for emergency use and entering and exiting berths, but their cost and maintenance difficulty are not the same as those of yachts)

The same is true In the 30-35-foot class, the official starting price of the Beneteau 30.1 sailboat is only US$122,300:

And the official starting price of the Beneteau 35.1 is only US$147,700:

Smart Cat S280, then It provides the option of a catamaran sailboat at the price of 150,000 US dollars. The space is much larger than that of a single-hull sailboat, which can probably be compared with entry-level yachts:

And because there is no engine, annual maintenance is also required. Can save 2000-3000 US dollars. Using wind power as a power source saves thousands of dollars in fuel costs.

Of course, a sailboat is no different than a motor yacht. To be able to successfully use the wind requires much more skills and physical strength, and not everyone enjoys the hull tilt that often occurs when a sailboat is sailing.

The third route is prepared for those who do not accept sailing but also hope to own a new boat - this is the subdivision of small yachts of 25-30 feet.

The price of these small yachts ranges from US$80,000 to US$150,000, which is relatively affordable for the upper and middle class.

At this price point, the yachts launched by American yacht manufacturers and European yacht manufacturers present two different genres.

The former is a boat-type boat launched in response to the situation that many American families own large vehicles such as pickup trucks and large SUVs. At the same time, the homes are larger and boats of this size can still be stored in front of the garages of most single-family homes. The body is relatively narrow, just within the upper limit of the conventional trailer width of 8 feet 6 inches. Therefore, there is no need to obtain an additional driver's license or purchase a license. It can be towed on the road like an ordinary RV, and it can usually be stored in your own yard, which saves you money every year. There is a dock parking fee of US$2,000-3,000, and it is also easy to maintain it yourself.

The representatives here are the four yachts launched by Regal. There are two lengths of 26 feet and 28 feet, and two styles: Express (built-in engine) and XO (external engine, slightly higher price).

The Regal 26 Express, with an official starting price of $82,270, weighs only 6,200 pounds, and can tow regular F-150-level large pickups, and even SUVs based on these large pickups:

< p>Ranger Tugs R-25 is a fishing tug yacht with an official starting price of $154,937:

Not only can the upper deck in the living room be turned into a bed, there is also a bunk below the deck:

The kitchen is also located on the upper floor:

Because there is a closed cabin on the upper floor, the main activities are on the upper floor, and the lower floor is just a V-shaped booth that can be converted into a bed, and a bathroom:

Sea Ray actually also has the Sundancer 260, which is exactly 8 and a half feet wide. However, perhaps out of fear of affecting the sales of its more advanced yachts, Sea Ray no longer sells the Sundancer 260 and 295 in the United States.

The design of the bedroom in the middle of the cabin is obviously not as good as that of the Regal, which seems more depressing:

Yachts of this level of European brands do not pursue "Trailerable" and will make full use of it like ordinary yachts. Width increases usable space.

Beneteaul Barracuda 27, US official starting price is $140,840:

Jeanneau NC895, Coupe design, may be the most spacious option in this class, US official starting price is $138,570:

< p>Jeanneau Leader 9.0cc, Center Console design, US official starting price is $121,130:

Jeanneau Leader 30 ob, Bowrider design, US official starting price is $152,900:

Of course, these European small yachts If you can't drag it conveniently, you can only choose to park it at the small dock. But taking Coyote Point as an example, the monthly storage price for a yacht 24-28 feet is US$203, and that for a yacht 32-36 feet is US$306.

In addition, the fuel cost savings are also significant. Also a Regal brand yacht, the 32 Express has a fuel consumption of 164 liters per 100 kilometers at economical cruising speed, while the 26 XO has a fuel consumption of only 92 liters per 100 kilometers at economical cruising speed, which can save more than 3,000 US dollars in fuel costs every year.

So, how can you enjoy the yacht after you finally unlock it?

The most common leisure is, of course, driving a yacht to engage in various water sports.

For example, towing water skiing:

Or kayaking:

Or a small inflatable boat that can be paddled by hand or independently powered: < /p>

Of course, the above activities generally require relatively high water temperatures. This excludes the fact that due to the influence of ocean currents, the water temperature is low all year round. Even in the southernmost San Diego, the water temperature is difficult to reach 24 degrees. West Coast of the United States. On the contrary, the climate in the southeastern United States is much more suitable. Miami, which has a climate similar to that of Sanya, my country, has water temperatures above 25 degrees all year round, and yachts can also maximize their use. Other Gulf Coast cities, such as Houston and New Orleans, also have water temperatures above 25 degrees for half the year.

This is also the reason why the southeastern states account for more than 40% of the yacht sales in the United States.

So what will happen if you buy a yacht in other places?

You can’t go into the water, so it’s very pleasant to just lie on the deck and bask in the sun:

Go fishing:

You can grill and eat it directly on the boat. :

Of course you can also take a "Road Trip". The high fuel consumption of yachts determines that the cost of long-distance travel is not affordable for most people (a round trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles requires more than 1,000 U.S. dollars in fuel costs, not counting the cost of berthing at the dock), while using a sailboat for long-distance travel Traveling requires a lot of physical strength, skills, and even weather luck, and not most people can afford it. When driving an entry-level yacht for long-distance travel in the open sea, safety risks are not small.

But a short trip of one or two hundred miles is still completely feasible.

For example, starting from San Francisco, passing through the San Francisco Bay, and all the way along the Sacramento River to the capital of California - Sacramento:

Driving a yacht from Los Angeles to the resort - Catalina Island:

From Seattle to Vancouver via Elliott Bay:

For yacht owners in the central and eastern United States, there are even more choices.

Along the entire east coast of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico, there is a waterway called the Intracoastal Waterway, which literally means "intracoastal waterway", which is mainly composed of artificial canals and lagoons.

Texas part:

North Florida part:

This waterway is nearly 5,000 kilometers long, connected to the Great Lakes in the north through the IL Canal, and in Illinois It is connected to the Mississippi River through the canal, thus forming a large closed loop - the Great Loop:

This waterway almost never enters the open sea, so it is very suitable for small boats:

And even if The most water-scarce inland area of ​​the southwestern United States also has the Colorado River:

Although some parts of this river are too shallow for yachts and there are many dams, there are still quite a lot of navigable water sections. .

For example, Lake Powell near Antelope Canyon may be the place with the largest number of "houseboats" in the United States:

Or you can completely abandon the "boat" attribute of yachts and just use them as yachts. It serves as an overwater bungalow for a weekend getaway. Let's take Coyote Point, a small pier near my residence, as an example. If you have paid to dock here for a long time, you can live on the boat 3 days a week, and the berth is also connected to water and electricity, so you can maintain your life normally.

How about, should we start saving money quickly?

Text | Yufeiyu

Pictures | Internet

This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.