Cost of Running a Dragon

(Updated March 2008)

The table below sets out the annual costs of running a Dragon at four different levels and therefore boats of varying age and cost. All these figures are in £'s and should be regarded as indicative. More sails may be bought, more events entered, or more work done by the owner. The boats and assumptions are

• Boat 1: A brand-new all GRP boat, campaigned only at events, of which at least two are overseas. The capital cost would be higher for a wooden deck or cold-moulded construction. Normal extras have been included in the capital cost and VAT at the UK rate has been added.
• Boat 2: As above but the boat will have been used for about 3 seasons.
• Boat 3: An older( perhaps about 10 years old) but still competitive boat, which is being campaigned in major events, one of which is normally overseas, and also sailed regularly in club racing.
• Boat 4: An older GRP boat only raced in club events.

Note 1: The depreciation charge is that required to descend to the next level over the appropriate number of years.

Note 2: Boats 1 and 2 are assumed to buy one main. one spinnaker and two genoas per year. Boat 3 to buy one main, one genoa and one spinnaker and Boat 4 to buy two second-hand sails.

Note 3: This excludes any major collision damage.

Note 4: This doesn't include cranage or mooring at events, which is normally included in entry fees.

Note 5: Nobody’s experience will be exactly in line with these numbers. They can only be a guide.

Note 6: Boat 3’s sails may be either new or very little used secondhand.

Note 7: Antifouling is either DIY or professional. Dry-sailed boats do not have antifouling which reduces costs.

Note 8: Fuel and ferries is highly variable depending on the location of events. The numbers are therefore very approximate.

Note 9: No account has been taken of accommodation and food at events, the cost of professional crew (if any) or subsidy to student relative crews.

Note 10: The mooring, cranage, scrubbing etc costs vary so much because some boats are dry sailed (expensive) and others are on swinging moorings (inconvenient but cheaper) . Yard involvement also varies considerably.