• dingus@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    I had no idea about the yacht price. Do you have an example listing? Because if it’s something as small and as cheap as you say then I have a hard time classifying a little boat with a motor as a yacht.

    Wikipedia indicates that while not a standard definition, a yacht is generally classified as me having an overnight sleeping cabin and is at least 10 meters/33 feet long. I can’t imagine something like that being as cheap as you describe, even if it’s not a multi million dollar vessel.

    • ebc@lemmy.ca
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      2 years ago

      Going from this random 2016 Harley for ~$18k, there are a lot of good boats that are cheaper and would qualify as a yacht per your definition (sleeping cabin, 33+ feet)

      Overall, there are ~3 price ranges for used sailboats: Under $10k, you’ll have small-ish boats (under 27 ft) in pretty good condition or medium-ish boats (25-35 ft) that need a little work. Around $50k you’ll get older (1980’s), medium-large boats (35-45ft) in good condition, or smaller ones in very good condition. And at $100k-$200k you’ll get much newer medium-large boats (2005+).

      For reference, my first sailboat cost me $2k.

    • lad@programming.dev
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      2 years ago

      To add to the excellent answer by @ebc@lemmy.ca, sailboats don’t require a motor, you may as well maneuver tight spots with a paddle and use sails on (relatively) open water

    • enbyecho@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      I can’t imagine something like that being as cheap as you describe, even if it’s not a multi million dollar vessel.

      To add to some of the excellent answers: There is a whole category of folks who do van life, but it’s sailboat life. They live on the boat full time and go extremely low-budget – few of them are wealthy at all. People get hung up on “yacht” and all the baggage that word brings. Many purchased a boat in lieu of a van or a house. So even if you spent $100k it’s a cheaper life than on land in most cases.

      Examples of low budget sailors you can check out:

      Sam Holmes - I don’t know what he paid for his current boat but he’s super frugal. I’d be shocked if he paid more than $15k and it was probably a LOT less, knowing him. While back in the US he was sailing a boat (Bayfield 29) he got for free.

      Sailing Uma - While this couple are now doing much better financially (thanks to their Youtube content) they originally paid $3k for their boat, put as I recall about another $3-5k into it and have been sailing ever since, including across the Atlantic and up to Svalbard, Norway, Iceland, etc.

      Wind Hippie Sailing - Holly, who is pretty damned poor, sails a Grinde 27 which was a real fixer upper when she bought it. Not sure of the price but probably under $20k.

      There are of course a ton of sailers out there who are not visible. I know of a couple of people who got their boat for free and have sailed at least from the US West coast to Hawaii or around the Carribean living on practically nothing.