I recently had my 42ft steel hull out of the water for a survey and anti foul. It cost me about $4200.

Once you find a yard that can handle the weight and length, I guess you would be paying around $6000 for slipping, anti foul, survey (the surveyors work on $ per foot).
Anodes will probably need replacing.
Sails could be anywhere around $20k - $30k mark.
Engine, electronics, power supplies etc etc.
Depending on if you are doing the work yourself - timeframe - standard you expect at the end etc etc you may be looking around $60k - probably more.

Too much is unknown about your prospective purchase - but I would do some serious homework before committing to anything.
If you think you want to investigate further (without committing at this stage), get it on the slip and have a survey done. A steel hull needs a thorough going over.

If you want to go sailing rather than spending your precious time (which will seem never ending sometimes) working on the boat, I would suggest you look at buying a yacht that has had all the work done. There's plenty of good quality yachts for sale on the web that just won't sell because there is an over supply of them. Look hard enough, be patient and you will find a good buy.

Good luck!

EZi said..


Although I sailed a a ot, I have never owned a boat before so I'm looking for some general guidance for the following costs:
1. get the boat out of the water for inspection.
2. a surveyor to go over the boat.
3. all new set of sails.
4. general overhaul of the exterior hull.
5. a refit inside the boat.
6. new rigging
7. other cost that may need consideration.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Rene

In this part of your question I can see from 1 to 7 being an exponential increase of expenditure.

For a "50 foot schooner" assuming we are going to get it right so that no lives are endangered, the yacht is capable of being taken to and presented for sale in any port in the world and achieve a sale, I am thinking the expenditure could amount to the best part of $1,000,000.

Another assumption here is that the yacht's design has a heritage. If it is a Roberts, Boden, Boro, Colvin, Hartley design, forget about it. People want sexy designs from the French, Germans, Dutch or Italins these days.

Back to you.

Scrap steel is about $80 a ton.

My advise from my experiences,

Purchace a good sized surveyed hull,deck ,engine and rig .......then add 20k to 30k on new battery's,solar,wind generators ,winches,toilets,TVs,stereos,anchor gear,Honda 2kva,outboard and tender,bilge pumps,wiring,safety gear, a cat and then go cruising and live your dream!