Total Cost of Ownership for US Boat Owners

The sticker price is the cover charge. Slip, insurance, fuel, bottom paint, and the thing that breaks in July are the tab. Run these numbers before you make an offer.

One-time / year-one costs

• Purchase price + negotiated credits
• Sales/use tax (state-specific)
• Registration/title/documentation fees
• Survey + haul-out
• Transport / delivery
• Initial safety gear & dock kit
• Trailer or tow-vehicle upgrades
• Name/graphics, first detailing

Recurring annual costs

Category	Notes
Slip / dry stack / storage	Often the largest recurring line
Insurance	Agreed value, liability, extras
Registration renewal	State cadence
Preventive maintenance	Engines, lower units, anodes
Bottom paint / haul	Saltwater especially
Fuel & oil	Hours × burn rate
Club / towing membership	Optional but popular
Depreciation	Paper loss; real at sale

Tools on Boat Day

• Cost of ownership calculator — price paid, hold period, loan, hours, storage (and model-based defaults)
• Shop a quote — upload an invoice/quote and match directory suppliers for competing bids
• Per-model Estimated TCO cards on /models (demo bands; customize from the card)
• Log actuals under /my/{hin}/costs to calibrate against your waterway

Knowing the real numbers isn't about guilt. It's so July's surprise is a line item, not a fight at the kitchen table.

Rule-of-thumb reserves

Many advisors suggest budgeting ~5–10% of boat value per year for maintenance on aging used boats—more if systems are complex or neglected. New boats may be lower under warranty, then rise.

Regional multipliers

• Freeze belt: winterize + indoor/shrinkwrap storage
• Tropics/Gulf: growth, UV, storm haul plans
• High-cost coastal metros: dockage can dwarf the loan payment

FAQs

What do owners underestimate most? Dockage, haul labor rates, and electronics replacement cycles.
Does trailering always save money? It can, until you factor vehicle costs, storage, and time to launch ramps with waits.