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Random Quote: Never raise your hand to your kids....it leaves your groin unprotected
My friend and I were arguing about how much fish costs per pound. We went around and around so I ran some numbers. Here’s my take on the subject:
The proper way to calculate cost of fish is to consider the total lifecycle cost of boat ownership over time divided by the total fish that ends up in the freezer. Consider this scenario:
Prospective boat owner has a major woodrow to buy a boat and go tuna fishing off Southern California. The woody comes during the spring and he buys a boat at a local boat show. Boat is kept for three years until his wife gets really mad at him and makes him sell it (lets say three years). He wants to outfit it really cool, he deserves it. He’s a good fish man, lets say he boats an average of 4 fish per trip (average, ok?). Average weight - 12lbs. 15 trips per year? Lets say he buys a quality boat.
(I couldnt get my numbers to line up, just imagine this as a nice pretty spreadsheet)
Assumptions:
Investment related costs:
Purchase price of a 23 Parker pilothouse with a
Yam 225 four stroke trailer included $52,000?
Radio and antenna $400
Mapping GPS w/ antenna $700
Furuno Sounder $1100
Radar $1200
Autopilot $2200
Bait tank $700
Yam fuel management $800
Canvass $1100
Outriggers $600
Offshore life jackets $280
Backup hand held $180
Rigging (30 hrs x $60/hr) $1800
Total investment related costs $63,060
Operating and Maintenance Costs:
Fuel (15 trips x 16 hrs ea x 12.5gph? X 3 yrs x $1.55/gal) $13,950
Annual service (no problems) $400 x 3 yrs $1,200
Mistakes (broken stuff) $2,000
Fishing licenses (Mexican and Ca) x2 and boat permits (200/yr x 3 yrs) $600
Bait ($35/trip x 15 trips x 3 yrs) $1,575
Beer ($10/trip x 15 trips x 3 yrs) $450
Total Operating and Maintenance Costs $19,775
Total Cost $82,835
Ok, I’m sure I’ve missed some stuff but lets say his wife is
really mad and he has to dump the boat in January. Nice 3 year
old Parker, 720 hrs, been fished pretty hard $(35,000)
Total 3-year life cycle cost $47,835
Fish Caught:
4 fish per trip x 12lbs x 15 trips/year x 3 yrs - total
Lbs = 2,160 x 40% fillet weight 864 lbs
Total fish cost per pound $55.36
I admit that this is a high end scenario. If you buy a used boat, and you're a really talented fish man, you might even be able to cut that number in half!
Check my numbers please..
Blair on the HOMBRE
Gotta love those So Cal tuna!!!
When my son, wife and I caught our first king last year, a 15 pounder, I figured that I had invested just under $1000 dollars a pound at that point. Fortunately, we were able to reduce that cost greatly when we caught our second king about 1/2 hour later, 19 pounds. We've caught about 20 spanish, black bass and so. Going for some more kings this weekend. Fish per pound probably running at the low price of $200 a pound. What a deal. Time spent with my son planning all this, laughing at our mistakes, getting the crap scared out of us and stuff---priceless.
I don't think you can even put a price on going fishing with family. When my brother and I were young, my father owned and managed a restaurant. As a result, he worked nights, and we were in school, or some other organized activity, during the day. We only got to see him on Saturday, during the day, and all day Sunday. As I got older, I spent a lot of time during spring break and the summer fishing with my grandfather (paternal) in the Mississippi delta. Right before he passed away, he gave his boat to me and my brother. Now, since my dad has sold his restaurant, the time that I can spend with him out on my boat is priceless. It doesn't even matter if we come back empty-handed.
As I heard today on the VHF while fishing, "Using $5.00/lb bait to catch $2.99/lb Salmon" speaker unknown. It is sad but true when put in those terms but while fishing today we were entertained by seals chasing the boat, sea otters cracking clams on their belly and riding in a boat on Monterey Bay, priceless.
Thom, too funny. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
Running big, complicated machines costs lots of money, it is true. The more systems, the more money it costs both to buy and operate.
Still, aint that America, where the fairly average guy or gal can have a boat that can lead them to some unforgettable adventures?
Is it OK to use foreign technology? Absolutely. It is your responsibility to get the most out of your dollars. Buy what you think will get you the most satisfaction. It's the American way.
You guys bought your boats to catch fish!! Damn I wish I had thought of that. Never mind, the wife has seen me fish, she would never bought that either!
One day Ill get smart and just buy a working boat. If my wife knew how much money I put into "fixing up" the old boats I buy (that I never recoup) Id have some explaining to do.
ok, add this to yore formula-
Every hour spent on God's ocean blue adds at least a day to your life. I can't prove it but I still know it's true. Go ahead and put a price tag on that puppy. And feel free to buy a more affordable hull than a parker pilothouse if your only concern is a fish lbs. to $ ratio. Also- the good folks at parker will be more than a little pissed off at any senario that claims a "lifetime" of one of their hulls to be 3 years. Thatzagit-herdone hull! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]
Our discussion went to another level. How much is proper to charge you guests? (This was on a website that I follow in san diego; the best sandiegofishing.com . This was my response:
Having a boat is a decision we make knowing too well that its going to cost us a bundle. I charge my guests peanuts on my trips and just want everyone to have a good time. But if a crewmember thinks you are charging too much how about offering them another option:
“The skipper will cover all operating costs: fuel, bait, oil, food, ice, beer, fishing tackle, tow vehicle fuel, ring free, etc; The only thing the crew has to cover is the cost of ownership and maintenance. Good trade right?
Hmmm, annual cost; lets see….
Carrying cost of boat investment $50,000 x 8%/yr = $4,000
Depreciation $50,000 x 10%?/yr = $5,000
Insurance $600
Maintenance (no problems) $1,000
Property Tax $400
Vessel Assist $160
