There’s no doubt about it. Cruising on your boat is expensive. While expensive is relative depending on your economic situation, everyone can benefit from saving a few dollars here and there.
In this article, we offer 20 ways to save money while cruising. I’ve gathered these from our experiences and ideas shared by other boaters.
1. Keep up with regular maintenance
Keeping up with regular maintenance is an important way to save money in the long run. Regular oil changes, maintenance on pumps, belts, and hoses, and changing your zincs and engine anodes will all help to keep your boat from developing more significant, and expensive problems down the road.
Also, with good maintenance, you are preserving the long-term value of your boat on that sad (happy) day when you finally sell it. Reddit user gettylee shared, “There is a saying in boating, ‘If you can’t afford to buy two, you shouldn’t own one.'”
2. Do your own maintenance
While most of us can’t rebuild our engines or strip and paint our hulls, smaller jobs like oil changes, swapping impellers, fuel filters, and changing belts are all within the realm of the casual DIYer.
A diesel mechanic averages $150/hr and frequently charges for travel time to and from your boat. Also, mechanics mark up parts by as much as 50%, so buying your supplies and doing small jobs yourself can save thousands of dollars.
Also, the more time you spend with your boat and its systems, the more you will understand how they work and how to take care of things when they go wrong. By spending time in your engine room and bilge, you’ll notice things that need attention before they break and become a real problem.
3. Always buy good quality
Always buy good quality parts and gear, even if it’s more expensive. Cheap stuff breaks and doesn’t last. It can cost a lot more on the water when parts fail, than just buying quality in the first place.
I bought inexpensive “stainless steel” hose clamps. I was checking my hoses and noticed that the tightening screws had pretty much rusted away in just a few months. Now I have to replace them with quality ones—wasted money. I should have sprung for the best quality in the first place.
As the old saying goes… “Buy Once, Cry Once!”
4. Ask for price matching at West Marine
West Marine will most often match any online price. They are arguably the biggest marine company in the USA. While you pay a premium for the “get-it-now” convenience in-store, doing some research and getting a price match on larger items can save you a lot.
Also, in most cases, if you have the item shipped to a store to pick up, shipping is free, and West Marine stands behind the products it sells, so if it breaks, you can return it to the store.
BoatUS members can earn points toward $10 discount certificates.
5. Sign up for BOTH SeaTow and TowBoat US
If you cruise a lot, having both a SeaTow and TowBoat US membership can save you time and money in the long run. Neither company has 100% coverage, and in some areas, you may have to wait up to 24 hours for a boat to show up.
Having both memberships allows you to maximize your chances of a quick response. Also, if you get stuck and need a tow or callout, if you don’t have both, and there is only one franchise in the area, you can be looking at thousands of dollars. Hint: Even if there is no coverage for your plan in an area, call them anyway. Both companies offer reciprocal or extended coverage in some areas.
Another benefit of a TowBoat US and SeaTow membership is that they offer discounts. The TowBoat US discounts at marinas and fuel docks are pretty common. Always ask if they offer a TowBoat US, SeaTow, or AGLCA Looper discount when booking a slip or fueling up.
6. Slow down
It’s no secret that the fuel curve on boats favors lower RPMs for the best fuel economy. If you have a planing hull, you will find that those mid RPMs are usually the worst at fuel economy. When you are between displacement and planing speeds, you plow water, creating huge resistance and burning fuel needlessly. Fuel burn is not a linear curve. If you double your speed, you will more than double your fuel consumption.
Every boat has its sweet spot. If you have a fuel management system that shows fuel burn rate, it’s easy to find your best cruise speed. If not, check the fuel curve graphs for your boat or experiment on longer trips.
Here is an interesting side note. Our 2006 Beneteau Swift Trawler 42 has two Yanmar 370hp diesel engines. I keep very good mileage records, average speeds, time, and fuel purchases. Since we purchased the boat, we’ve traveled 22,000 miles, averaging 9 knots (10.4 mph). We can do up to 23 knots (26.5 mph) if we open it up. We usually cruise at 9 knots for our slow and 16 knots for our fast cruise. Our overall average is about 60% slow and 40% fast. Over the 22,000 miles, we have averaged 0.9 gallons/nautical mile or approximately 9.2 gallons per hour.
7. Go with the flow
By doing a little research ahead of time on the waterways you’re cruising, you can optimize your boat speed and save money. By learning how to harness tides and currents to your advantage, you can turn a 1.5-2 knot current from a disadvantage into an advantage simply by timing your cruising. This can yield free speed boosts without extra fuel!
The strongest flood and ebb currents typically occur just before or around the times of high and low tides. The weakest currents appear between the flood and ebb currents and are referred to as “slack water” or “slack current.” By timing your travel to take advantage of a push when going with the current or waiting until Slack Water when fighting the current, you can maximize both your travel time and fuel savings.
We’ve seen slower boats and sailboats actually go backward trying to fight strong currents in some of the cuts and high tidal areas like Georgia and parts of South Carolina.
8. Take advantage of Boat Insurance discounts
In some parts of the country (Florida), the options for insuring your boat are somewhat limited. However, in most of the country, many insurers are competing for your insurance business. When your insurance comes up for renewal every few years, shop around and see if you can get a better deal. Make sure that you let insurers know your cruising habits. Some things that can get you a discount are:
- Taking a boater education course or training class.
- Detailing your experience. (I got a discount when I sent in my trip log showing that I had over 1,000 hours of experience)
- Not being in a hurricane-prone area during hurricane season.
- Docking your boat at a certified “Hurricane Hole” marina.
- Having a written “storm/hurricane plan” that you provide to your insurer. (Make sure to follow it if there is a storm!)
- Provide your insurer with a recent Insurance Survey showing the boat is in good condition. (My insurance dropped 10% with a fresh survey)
- Not getting speeding tickets or other moving violations on your regular driving record. Yes, boat insurance judges you on your driving habits (and credit score.)
- Bundling your home/condo/auto and boat coverage with the same company.
Not every insurance company will offer all the above discounts, but it’s worth asking your agent!
9. Price shop for parts
West Marine and many walk-in retail stores are expensive. You pay for the convenience of getting it now. One way to save is to price shop online.
Don’t assume that Amazon has the best price. Many online retailers, such as Defender, Marine Parts Source, Discount Marine Source, etc., offer pricing better than Amazon. Just be sure to factor in shipping charges.
eBay can also be a great place to find excellent prices on parts. Just be sure that you have the correct part number, that the part is new (not used), that it is the brand name part, not a knockoff (if that’s important), and that the seller has a good rating.
I looked up the Yanmar OEM oil filter for my engines and found:
– My local Yanmar Dealer: $40.30 (as long as they install it!)
– Amazon: $39.97, free shipping. = $39.97
– Palmer Power: $21.48, shipping $36.62! = $58.10
– eBay: $28.00, free shipping. (reputable seller) = $28.00
– Discount Marine Source: $21.27, shipping $10.95 = $32.22
– Marine Engine Parts: $26.79, free shipping. = $26.79 <- Best Overall Price
10. Prioritize anchoring over marinas
Marinas for a 45 ft cruiser class boat can run from $50 to $300 per night plus the cost of electricity. Anchoring, especially if you have solar or a large battery bank and don’t need to run your generator, is basically free!
Even if you have to run your generator for a few hours to cool the boat down or cook dinner, it’s still less expensive than a marina. Plus, when you stay on your boat, you will cook aboard and save money on that expensive (yet enticing) restaurant at the marina.
Ensure you are correctly set up for anchoring by having good house batteries and solar panels to provide sufficient power for longer stays on the hook. Having the correct ground tackle (anchor and rode) is also essential.
We carry three anchors with us. Our primary is a spade style that we upgraded to slightly oversized and increased our chain rode to 200ft. Our backup anchor is a Danforth-style that is better for soft mud conditions. It also makes a great stern anchor if we need to keep from spinning. Finally, we keep a small claw-type anchor primarily for the dinghy but have used it to toss to shore for a stern line in tight anchorages.
11. Ask for discounts at marinas
Many marinas offer discounts to members of TowBoatUS, SeaTow, MarinaLife, AGLCA, or MTOA. You just need to ask for the discount when booking.
If you use Dockwa or Snag-A-Slip, enter your membership numbers into the Apps, and they will automatically apply them in most cases.
Also, if you moor your boat at a marina operated by one of the major marina management companies (SafeHarbor, Oasis Marinas, Suntex, etc.), you may get reciprocal discounts at marinas managed by the same company. The same goes for some Yacht Clubs!
12. Shop around for marinas
Once you have picked your destination, check Waterway Guide to see what marinas are in the area. You will sometimes find that similar marinas have widely varying dockage rates. Look at the total price of dockage: the fee per foot + electric + water + tax + resort fees (if any). Sometimes, the addition of electricity or resort fees can make one location more expensive, even if its price per foot is less.
For a recent stay in Fort Pierce, the City Marina was $3.98/ft, whereas Safe Harbor Harbortown Marina was $4.94/ft for the same period. (price includes all slip fees, electricity, & taxes). For a 7-night stay, we saved almost $300!
If you are staying longer, ask about weekly or monthly discounts. We sometimes find that even if we stay just 3 days, paying for a week is cheaper because the weekly rate is highly discounted.
13. Invest in Solar Panels & Batteries if you anchor frequently
Most boat generators burn about 1 gallon per hour. At $4.50 per gallon, running your generator for 4 hours burns through $18 pretty quickly, not to count the wear and tear on the generator and associated maintenance and repair.
Investing in solar panels and lithium or deep-cycle batteries can save you in the long run. Also, if you can be comfortable anchoring because you have reasonable power reserves, you may find that you stay at marinas less frequently, and those savings can add up quickly!
A typical solar setup for a boat (2×330 ah lithium batteries and 350 watts of solar panels) will cost between $2,500 and $5,000, depending on your setup and how much DIY you can do for the installation. Solar systems also add to the eventual resale value of your boat.
If however, you are staying mostly in marinas (like we do), solar can be a waste of money. Make sure that you do a cost/benefit analysis before diving in.
14. Prepare your meals aboard
For most cruisers, Slip Fees and Fuel will be the top two expenses, followed closely by food. Restaurant meals, especially those at marinas, can add up quickly if you eat out frequently. We found that a meal for two at most restaurants along the Great Loop averaged between $70 and $100 with tip. If you eat out five nights a week, that’s a lot of bread!
Planning your meals and preparing them on board adds up quickly. Save eating out for “date night” and make it special.
15. Skip the overpriced restaurant drinks
Regardless of your alcohol drinking preferences, sundowners at docktails are integral to the cruising culture. With some budgeting, you can partake in happy hour with fellow boaters and cruisers without overspending. Rather than buying overpriced drinks at restaurants or bars, save the money and prepare your own beverages on your boat for docktails.
If wine is your thing, stock up when you are in larger cities with discount wine outlets. Good wine, if you can find it, will be expensive in smaller stores and wine shops. If you’re heading to Canada, consider buying alcohol in advance for personal use, as prices are generally higher there. Just ensure you don’t have too much and run afoul of Canadian Customs limits.
16. Pre-purchase Canadian Canal Passes
If your travel includes transiting the Rideau and/or Trent-Severn canals, you may want to look into a Parks Canada Season Lockage and Mooring pass. These passes give you a discount over paying at each lock or mooring.
Until 2025, Parks Canada offered a 20% discount if you pre-purchased your pass before March 31st. In 2025, they reduced the discount to 10%. That still equates to an $84 (CAD) savings for a 40-foot boat. You can pre-purchase your pass on the Parks Canada website.
17. Walking & Bikes instead of Rideshare
Uber, Lyft, and similar rideshare services can be expensive, especially during peak periods or in rural areas with limited coverage. When you need to get around on shore, most boaters have about a 1-mile walking range from the marina. You can extend that range using public transportation and free ride services like FreeBee or marina courtesy cars and shuttles.
Another excellent way to extend your range is to use bicycles. On our first Great Loop trip, we had two folding pedal bikes, which expanded our comfort range to about 5 miles. We bought electric bikes for our second Loop trip, and now we regularly travel 10 or 20 miles, significantly increasing our travel range.
Rideshare may be your only option if you are provisioning and carrying heavy, bulky items like water. Consider walking or taking public transportation to the store, then using rideshare to return with your load. This will save you 50% on your costs. Another way to save is to chat with your boat neighbors to see who else might need to go shopping. By buddying up, each person pays one way, saving both of you!
18. Research fuel prices before you buy
Fuel prices vary significantly from region to region and marina to marina. By doing some price shopping ahead of time, you can plan your fuel stops at the most economical sources. We’ve seen fuel prices vary by as much as $1.75 per gallon at two marinas that were side by side. Sometimes, the marina where you stay is not the best place to fuel up. Check surrounding marinas. Traveling a few miles may save you several hundred dollars on a fill-up.
We use Waterway Guide and Cruisers Net to check fuel prices and will plan our fuel usage accordingly. Remember, you don’t always have to top off. We’ve taken on 50 gallons at a more expensive stop to get us somewhere with cheap fuel. When you check on fuel prices, make sure to note if tax is included in the advertised price. We’ve seen what seemed like a deal, only to find out there is another .25-.30¢ a gallon in added fuel costs.
Many fuel docks charge an extra fee if you use your credit card. This can add $40 to a 300-gallon purchase. If there is a fee, ask whether using a Debit Card will avoid the fee. If you have the cash on hand, and they don’t charge a credit card fee, ask if there is a cash discount!
19. Ask for Senior, AAA, or Military Discounts
Sightseeing is an everyday activity when cruising. Many museums and attractions offer discounts for Seniors, AAA members, and current or former military personnel. Watch for signs, or if in doubt, ask if they offer a discount.
We have found that at many venues, 60 is considered a “Senior Citizen.” While I’d like to give those young whipper-snappers a piece of my mind, I’ll take the discount instead.
If you are on active duty or a veteran, some military bases have anchorage or dockage facilities available for free or at a discount.
Whether you are a AAA member, “Old”, or a Veteran (Thank you for your service), you’ve earned your discounts, so take advantage of them!
20. Keep track of your expenses
Keeping track of your boating expenses will help you find ways to save in the long term. We keep a cruising log to record the miles traveled, average speed, engine hours, generator hours, travel time, fuel purchased (gallons & dollars), docking fees (slip fees & electric), pumpout fees, and tips. We also record where we stayed, notes on the weather, and the number of bridges opened & locks transited. It is a great way to look back at your trip, and if you pop the numbers in a spreadsheet, you can analyze your fuel burn and other statistics.
We also keep records of our day-to-day expenses, such as restaurants, groceries, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, maintenance, and repairs. It’s a handy way to figure out why that $200 you took out of the ATM this morning is down to just some loose change in your pocket!
A final thought:
Boats are expensive, but they are cheaper than therapy!
OverallElk7936 on Reddit probably summed up best with their comment:
Personally, the money I’ve spent on boats has been far outpaced by the joy I’ve had with friends and family making memories. Plus there’s nothing that clears my mind faster than running a boat on a pretty day with people I enjoy. It’s been a hell of a lot cheaper than therapy!!!
What is your best money-saving tip when cruising?
Let us know in the comments below! 
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