Keep the Crew Happy
Let’s start with the first part. Eating. No, living in general. Everyone’s life has cost, this is not to be confused with value. It does cost to live. There are expenses in the modern world associated with having a human body. Eating is one of those fundamental costs. Not much can be done to mitigate the expense of eating. One could eat humbly. One could skip meals. One could augment purchases with wild harvested foods or those bartered in open exchange. However food is required and must be acquired.
We have 3 mouths to feed, likely 5 times a day. One of the mouths will be moving from child to teenager during our cruise and I have it on good authority that a tween or teenager can consume a small pod of Orca. Aside from this unknown, I should be able to take the food items we like eating and find the price for those ingredients anywhere in the world. The idea is not 100% accuracy; but to give myself a daily allowance for food, including visits to local eateries where they exist. I hope to over estimate; not so much that I won’t go, but just enough to be pleasantly surprised at the end of each month.
Healthy
Next on my list and continuing with the theme of keeping the crew happy and healthy, is health care. We need to consider both routine health items like allergy medications or other recurring medications. I bet its hard to find a Walgreens in the middle of the ocean; although based on the frequency they pop up in the states, it would not surprise me. Aside from routine medications, and first aid, we need something to cover catastrophic events. This “something” is health insurance. There is a cost associated with having insurance, but we must have it; like boat insurance this protects the families assets, somewhat, from overwhelming health emergencies. However, the health company we chose must cover us where we will sail. Another consideration may be medical evacuation back to a country that can deal with certain medical emergencies. A cost effective way to cover this potential expense is the Divers Alert Network. You can check it out here. For the low cost of a yearly membership you can benefit from a large group of adventurers.
Now having insurance is great. One can just run down to the nearest emergency room… There aren’t any on the ocean. To take care of immediate medical needs we must prepare ourselves with proper medical training. I am not speaking of the basic first aid course the boy scouts teach; I’m talking wilderness survival. Lets face it, we aren’t going to need to deal with cancer on the high seas (hopefully), but broken bones and deep gashes snap a person back to reality. Knowing how to patch up the crew from band-aids to minor surgery protects it. To that end I will be budgeting for advanced training for two of the crew and the youngest member will at least have gone through Red Cross first aid course.
Safety and Security
First aid kits and courses are great, but what about keeping the crew from needing it? I think this might go in another category, like boat operations. But some items that might need to be considered are:
- To arm or not to arm
- Burglar Bars that allow hatches to stay open but prevent entry
- Good locks
- Lee cloths
- Storm sails
- Drogue
- Sea Anchor
- jack lines
- PFD/Harnesses
- Secure padeyes in cockpit
- adequate hand holds above and below deck
- ATN Mast climber – for going aloft
- Updated charts
- Life raft with adequate provisions.
This list could go on forever… Its hard to imagine all the scenarios that could impact a crew and then mitigating them. It would be great to hear from some veterans out there on this one.
Entertainment
So beyond eating, health and physical safety we need to concern ourselves with mental well being. I know, I know. What else does a soul need for entertainment than the act of sailing? We need a way to interact with others besides the vhf. So planning on using the internet when we can, which is not often free will help. But how about videos or books. While, I like e-readers I am not sure they will survive in a marine environment. Also, in most marina’s I have seen a book swap; its really hard to leave the ereader laying there or getting a book on it. I have to keep in mind that I am also going to have a young person with me. So part of this budgeting exercise consists of home schooling and the expenses it entails.
I truly doubt that he will consider that entertainment; I might though. So I will need some games and other activities around that keep a boy busy. This should be easier in port, but mid ocean fun will take some research and networking with other parents.
With the crew satiated and healthy we can move on to other line items.