Hello Scurvy-yard-dog.
Yes, your budget can be as tight as $1k a month and have a good life at anchor, IF you have the infrastructure in place.
Definition of infrastructure: Ways to generate power and storage for said power. Think solar panels, a wind generator, plus a generator. AND batteries to store said power.
I think all of us have had those dreams of sailing off the horizon, visiting fabulous places, all for Free!!! Then the reality. The wind comes in three varieties: too much, too little or from the wrong direction. Thus the engine is running to get where you're going.
And those sails have bits that break, wear out, need tightening, replacement, etc. Sailing requires a physical stamina that for me went with the first round of chemo. I'm better now however life after the half century mark begins to slow.
My boat is my forever home. Seaweed was bought with the future in mind -- what would it take to make her better, more comfortable, safer, etc. not just today but in ten years. I'm eight years into the plan and have mostly covered all the critical items.
I have sufficient solar that it matters not if I am tied to a dock or at anchor. My life does not change. Were I to want to run the air conditioner, (I have a 5000 btu wall-banger) I'd have to install the already bought 55 amp alternator.
That's something I intend to do before summertime.
It was 7.5 years into this journey before I was self-sufficient with a level of decadence regarding power. On a budget things take time. The final solar panels were a gift! You have no idea what that meant to me. There is a level of joy now because I've achieved the goal of comfort off the grid with a reefer!
For literally years except when in a windy anchorage I was without a refrigerator. Hauling ice is just beneath hauling water as a not-fun part of life out here. It is physically demanding and when you (er, I!) need ice, it's so stinking hot I don't feel like going for it.
Without a refrigerator you're going to be either grocery shopping more frequently or making adjustments. A way to store leftovers is awesome, and have I mentioned ice? I love that I have ice cubes at will. Cold tangerines are so refreshing too. And my little chicken sausages too are tucked in the reefer.
Unfortunately at Christmastime so too did those wonderful NY cheesecakes fit in there. And now they are in me and nothing fits. Gosh they were good though!
Eventually I'd like an autopilot. And a tuna-door. Those are the next two Big items and prior to either happening I'll be replacing my anchor chain. That's $500 for 150' of G4 1/4"
Remember that the larger/heavier the boat, the larger, bigger, sturdier the anchor tackle, lines, more bottom paint, etc. Smaller is less costly though few would be happy on a boat as small as mine.
Power boats have just one propulsion system to deal with. Sailboats have two, the sails and the engine. On this coast (Gulf of Mexico) and the east coast it is seldom enough that I see a sailboat actually sailing (without the engine in gear) that I write it down in my Log Book.
Quite often I see boats sailing with the engine running too.
Small diesels don't burn a lot of fuel. Fuel consumption is affected by weight of boat, waterline of boat, speed through water, currents (with or against you) and windage, hull shape, etc. All those things factor in.
The largest detriments to fuel economy are men and schedules. Oh, you may think not, however many men have this thing whereby they believe the throttle has one position -- all the way forward. Back off, take your boat at hull speed and you're going to be burning far less fuel.
Women like to get there early too. Being willing to forget the schedule is CRITICAL for safety too.
For instance, this weekend is an SSCA (Seven Seas Cruising Association) get-together at Gulfport. It starts tomorrow afternoon with dinner ashore and then a potluck on Saturday. Seaweed will NOT be at the Friday anchor out -- it won't work for my life.
Gulfport:
However Saturday I fully intend to bring the boat over to Gulfport provided the weather continues as is forecast. I'll spend the night anchored and then return to the dock on Sunday. To meet the schedule of being there Friday would put too much pressure on me. I won't do that.
Saturday is fine. And if I don't make it on Saturday there is always Sunday. This retirement thing is awesome. In the meantime I'll be installing my fuel polishing system tomorrow and will run it for several hours before leaving this dock. I want to make sure I've got all the water out of the diesel tank.
Also, be sure to remember that you spend most of your time sitting still. Can you see out while seated? If not, I would not be happy. Picture yourself stuck inside your boat in the middle of a thunder-boomer. Can you see to check on the world outside?
As for me, I love that I can sit down in my galley and watch the world. Dolphins, sheepshead, anhingas and more are right outside my window. I can see and hear it all. Just the other week I had a couple of visitors:
AT FIRST I would suggest you find a pier/dock and pay for the privilege of having that electric cord, a convenient way ashore and to get the feel of this life. Fellows on the dock will be able to help out with issues that come up and offer advice.
Life on the hook is solitary. I like the peace and tranquility however I missed the social interaction. That's why I pay $80 per month for 10 gigs of internet on my computer.
There's lots more however you'll need to read a bit too. Check out my website (blatant plug:
Janice aboard Seaweed, trawler cruising on a nickel budget... ) and wander around. If any of the articles strike you or you've got questions, just make a comment at the bottom of that page. I do respond though it might take a day or two.
Tonight (well, tomorrow) I'll put up a new article. The Archives would be where I'd suggest you start. Each article or vignette is listed, with the first paragraph and topics touched upon. Those that interest, click the title and voila: you're there.
2013 Archive (article synopsis page) on janice142
2014 Archive (article synopsis page) on janice142
Janice142 Archive (article synopsis page)
2016 Archive (article synopsis page) on janice142
Life is great afloat. I love it.
With your mechanical skills you're in a good place. Make sure ABSOLUTELY that you have good access to the bits and pieces of your engine and batteries. If getting to stuff is difficult you will not do routine maintenance. Neither will any previous owner have done it either.
Just last week I was told "nobody" checks their batts once a month. Since I've been doing so since I bought Seaweed (Pi Day, 2008) I can only surmise his batteries are in a difficult to reach area and that is why HE doesn't check his.
Enough advice from me. Good luck selling your house and have fun on the journey.
Most important of all is to remember the boat you buy doesn't necessarily have to have "everything" you require. She does have to be a good base to work with. Much like a house, you can make improvements and spiffy her up. Nearly eight years ago I bought an inadequate boat with one battery, zero solar, no wind generator, a pretend 11 pound Danforth knock-off anchor, plastic coated chain of indeterminate age, half- rotted dock lines and the ugliest curtains this side of a house of ill repute. She did have structure and since then, well, I love my home scurvy and am so fortunate to have her. She's nearly perfect except for the stuff that is broken, needs upgrading, fixing or changing.