How To Lower The Cost Of Boat Ownership In Arizona
Buying and maintaining a boat can be expensive but the cost to boat can be lowered once you understand where the costs come from. Boating registration, maintenance, insurance, mooring fees, and the cost of fuel, plus buying the boat, make up the average cost of boating.
This article explains the costs associated with boating and how to reduce them.
How Much Does It Cost To Boat?
The cost to boat includes a few factors. In Arizona, registration fees and the average cost of boating insurance are fairly well defined, but the other expenses can change based on your specific boat and needs.
The average cost to boat is $3000 per year. This does not include the boat or fuel. Fuel for bi-monthly boating averages $1000 per month at current prices. Mooring fees, maintenance, insurance, and registration are the remaining costs to boat. In Arizona, boat insurance is not required by the State.
Boating Registration Cost in Arizona
The cost to register a motorized watercraft in Arizona for 12 months is $20 - $66 for residents, depending on the size of the watercraft. For non-residents, the cost is $100 - $495. An additional $20 fee is required for dealers.
In Arizona, the fee schedule is updated when the costs change. First time registration is valid for 12 months and the second year it’s valid for 7-18 months depending on where your boat fits into the “staggered registration system” which is determined by the last two digits of the “AZ” number.
Boat Maintenance Cost
Annual boat maintenance cost averages $1200 for DIY and $1,500 to hire help. Plus, annual required and recommended maintenance every 1-3 years which averages $1000 for DIY and $1580 to hire help. Making the total average $2200 or $3080 per year for boat maintenance on a 20 foot powerboat.
Boat maintenance Cost Breakdown
Cost Of Boat Insurance in Arizona
The cost of boat insurance in Arizona is $200-$500 per year however Arizona does not require boat insurance. And for more expensive boats, such as yachts or racing boats, the cost will be higher. Homeowner’s insurance should cover boats as ‘personal property’ but they are usually required to be stored at the home.
Arizona does not require boat insurance, however the marina or your lender might. Speak to your homeowner's insurance and find out if they cover boats and whether you are required to store it at home. If they do, you may be able to save on mooring fees, too.
Mooring Fees
The average mooring fees for an annual lease in Arizona’s Marinas are $200 per month. Covered and uncovered wet slips and dry storage are available at most marinas. This often includes membership benefits and access to professionals to assist with boat maintenance.
Arizona’s Most Popular Marinas
Lake Roosevelt Marina offers your own private boat slip in a gated marina with covered and uncovered wet slips and dry storage. Wet slip fees range by slip size from $270 - $935 per month plus monthly utility fees of $25 - 65 for a 1 year lease.
Bartlett Lake Marina offers wet slips and dry storage which includes a discount on fuel and free park entry, plus unlimited launch and retrievals for dry storage. Annual wet slip fees range from $295 - $895 for uncovered and $635 - $995 for covered slips. Dry storage is $220 - $295.
Canyon Lake,which is about an hour outside of Phoenix, offers a campground for overnight RV or tent camping, a beach area, and there are 2 restaurants on-site. They have both wet and dry slips. Wet slip fees range from $280 - $860 per month for a year lease. Dry storage ranges from $170 to $225 per month for a 1 year lease. They do require liability boat insurance.
Lake Powell Marina actually has 4 marinas, but only 1 in Arizona. The Wahweap Marina charges per foot ranging from $11.48 to $16.02 per foot. A 20 foot boat would cost $229.60 per month for a 1 year lease.
Lake Pleasant Marina offers uncovered wet slips for $12.25 - $15.00 per foot and a covered wet slip for $17.50 to 18.75 per foot. A 20 foot boat in an uncovered wet slip would cost $245 per month for a 1 year lease.
Lake Havasu and Saguaro Lake do not have their prices listed online.
Cost of Boat Fuel
Boats take either diesel fuel or petroleum-based gasoline, which are the same types of gas you can find at the gas station. Any marina should have a fuel pump, but they usually charge more than the gas station.
Current gas prices in Arizona are $4.596/gallon for regular gasoline and $5.417/gallon for diesel, which are well above average. Boats get about 3 miles per gallon, on average. Making a 100 gallon fuel tank cost $459 or $541 last about 33 miles.
For example, with today’s current gas prices, if you’re using 1 full tank of fuel every time you take the boat out, and you go twice a month, the fuel cost would be $918 or $1,082 per month.
How To Reduce the Cost To Boat
To reduce the cost to boat, focus on lowering fuel costs and mooring fees. Taking the boat out less often or driving shorter distance lowers fuel costs. Storing the boat at home reduces mooring fees. Doing boat maintenance yourself, instead of hiring help, will reduce costs.
The largest monthly cost to boat is fuel. Fuel costs can’t be changed, but how long and how far you travel across the lake can. Driving the boat shorter distances, driving to conserve fuel, using cruise control, and taking the boat out less often will help reduce fuel costs. With current gas prices making a 100-gallon tank fill up $459 (gasoline) or $541 (diesel), cutting down on fuel consumption can really save some money.
The second largest monthly cost is the mooring fee. If you opt for dry storage instead of a wet slip or just store the boat at home, this will save you $200 per month on average.
Skimping on boat maintenance, except to do it yourself instead of hiring a professional, is not recommended because it can actually hurt your boat’s overall value. Plus, you don’t want to get stuck floating on the water without oil in your motor because you didn’t want to spend the money to maintain the engine.
In Arizona, boat insurance is not required by the State, so if the marina and the lender (if there is one) don’t require it, then this cost can be eliminated, too.
How Much Do Boats Cost
The cost of a boat depends on whether the boat is new, used, or a project boat, how old it is, its condition, type of boat, brand, motor, and other factors. Bow Rider and Pontoon boats start at $15,000 and are a good beginner boat for Arizona lakes.
A great beginner boat for Arizona lakes are pontoons and ski boats, like a Bow Rider. Pontoon boats are great for families and entertaining, but you can find pontoons or tri-toons that will also work for watersports. A ski boat, like a Bow Rider, Deck Boat, or Wake Boat, are made more for watersports and can be purchased for an affordable price.
Check our inventory to find out exactly what to budget.