Number crunching...

[sostarn]

This should maybe be in the general section but since i have a RX1 it should apply here as well.

I'm just curious of people opinions on the hobby. I must admit it's not cheap. I bought a '03 RX1 for $4500 (CAN). Taxes, licensing, insurance etc i ended up around $5200 before even riding it. Spent another $300 replacing hyfax, CR10EK's, bearings, wheels, oil, odds and ends etc. Then put a stud through the heat exchanger because the previous owner installed studs too close to the outside edge of the track so it pulled through - $150 later, replaced a few more bearings, coolant, CRAP load of rivets etc... I still don't have proper snowmobile gear (using my ski stuff). Didn't foul one plug over 1600 km of trail riding although my buddies with 2-smokes were changing every ride. That said, I'm not accouting for fuel, food, room and board - i would guesstimate around $500 - $600 for the season. Keep in mind the sled is still COMPLETELY stock running original track. So 1600km later my numbers add upto about $6200... eek!! Now i'm looking at spending another $1000 on new 136" predator, rail extensions, tunnel extension, 13 mm bar, straight rate springs, riser and MAYBE a jacket for Christmas lol.

I had a daughter this year so with my wife on maternity it hasn't been easy. I dare not add these numbers up for my wife to see otherwise there might be another RX1 for sale All in all I love it but wow these go fast hobbies are not cheap. My b-law called my sled a rich-man's sled but then again he rides a ZR so anything seems like a rich-man's sled to him lol.

 

[kinger]

I started this when I sold my viper to upgrade to the RX....I quit counting probably could have paid for the cars in the driveway.

I love it too much and they are worth more in parts then whole so I hold on to that tight to help justify it in my head LOL

 

[SLEDSTART]

I started this when I sold my viper to upgrade to the RX....I quit counting probably could have paid for the cars in the driveway.

I love it too much and they are worth more in parts then whole so I hold on to that tight to help justify it in my head LOL

Got that right...just parted out my 05 since it was worth next to nothing as a whole sled. (well compared to what it was new anyhow)

No..this is not a cheap sport...and anyone who thinks it is is fooling themselves. I don't even count anymore. I just pack the truck, turn the key and go. Screw it!

 

[Turk]

Try the numbers with 2 sleds worth over 10k each(canadian) plus insurance at $700 each plus gas & maintenance.

 

[SnoWarrior]

Yes, add up 2 sleds and a boat, big game fishing, amateur radio, and hand guns.

You only go around once in life. If you can afford it, enjoy your hobbies.

If it comes between my toys and family, then the toys go.

 

[Yamadog]

You guys did you ever do the accounting on the cost of having a girlfriend, wife or (life partner) if I didn't have mine I would have about 30K more a year to spend on my sleds. Oh and yes i can sleep with my sleds as a matter of fact I would prefer a 4 bay garage with a cot, fridge and porta potty outside

 

[SLEDSTART]

Yes, add up 2 sleds and a boat, big game fishing, amateur radio, and hand guns.

You only go around once in life. If you can afford it, enjoy your hobbies.

If it comes between my toys and family, then the toys go.

Yep..or 2 sleds 2 vettes a Camaro ...one supercharged and the other 2 over 400 ponies as well. A 110 horse Harley, a little Rebel for the wife to buzz around on.
Sold the damn boat. That thing was pointless after I used it like once the last season I had it. But I owned it for 13 years and was just tired of it I think because now I'm getting the itch after going to the boat show and seeing the Yamaha boats with the 2 Apex motors and jet drives in them!

Yeah my insurance guy and the gas company's love me...

 

[RX1Jim]

One day many years ago while riding alone I started thinking about how much this sport cost on a per mile basis. It was very depressing. I then realized that I sled for enjoyment, not for financial gain. There are a lot of other things that people do with their money that don't bring a fraction of the enjoyment of sledding. Yes, it is expensive, but what isn't? Look at the cost of a trip to Disney World: daily passes to the park, hotel, sky high food prices, airfare.....several thousand dollars for a 5 day trip. I enjoy sledding, even as the cost of gas goes up, I'll keep sledding, maybe not as much, maybe 2 trips a year (I have to trailer 6 hours to my favorite spot) instead of 4. Maybe I'll do some side-work to bank some money for sledding season.

Life is way too short, you better enjoy it as much as you can.

 

[SLEDSTART]

You got that right brother!!!!
Enjoy it well you can. A good riding buddy just had a stroke at 44. Talk about a shock! He is doing well and thank God his wife knew something was up with him and got him to the hospital...but that's damn scary. I'm just glad we were not in the middle of the woods in the UP when it happened!!!!

 

[Rockmeister]

Hhahahha Yamadog! I love it!

 

[Sled Dog]

When I add up the enjoyment factor, new friends, fresh air and exercise. All I can say is it is worth every penny.

 

[RaWarrior]

Don't buy a jet boat...they're pricey and unreliable, I know that from experience dealing with them at a marina. A good half of our boats for service are jet, even though they're in the extreme minority compared to prop boats. It could have the best ever sled motor, but it turns to crap when adapted for marine use. Rotax powered jet boats were unreliable at best, particularly the twin-motor ones. Good luck keeping them in sync.

Skip the boat and buy a FXCruiser SHO. Same performance, less money, and a lot more fun. Or better yet, find yourself an old GP series. The 760's had a big porpoising issue, but the 12/1300's were a blast. They did 70+ out of the box, and a few mods got them over 80.

My parents have a 17' boat, it has a weak-#*$&@ Merc 3 liter I/O and gets used maybe once a month to go water skiing. I have an old '99 Sea-doo GTI and it gets used 20x more often. It always seems so slow after sledding all winter! It tops out at about 45 and doesn't get there any too quick. That's 80hp I guess.

 

[SLEDSTART]

I doubt I'll do the boating thing again. if I really want to go I have a bunch of friends with boats. Much easier just to hop on theirs like everyone did on mine and just go home after I get off it. No screwing around putting it away every time...
Besides, I took up flying last fall and went in on a Cessna 150 with 2 other guys and it's dirt cheap this way.Once I get my private pilots license I'll sell my portion. For the cost of a nice boat, I can by a decent plane and go to the Bahamas for 4 days...
I like that idea.
Done enough boating....Time for something new.

 

[HEAVYD]

NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER add up what you spend
on your sleds, dirt bikes, street bikes ect. especially
in front of your wife!!!!! if she dont kill you, you
might just do it your self!!!ha ha ha ha ha arrrggg!

 

[4Fighter]

Don't buy a jet boat...they're pricey and unreliable, I know that from experience dealing with them at a marina. A good half of our boats for service are jet, even though they're in the extreme minority compared to prop boats. It could have the best ever sled motor, but it turns to crap when adapted for marine use. Rotax powered jet boats were unreliable at best, particularly the twin-motor ones. Good luck keeping them in sync.

Skip the boat and buy a FXCruiser SHO. Same performance, less money, and a lot more fun. Or better yet, find yourself an old GP series. The 760's had a big porpoising issue, but the 12/1300's were a blast. They did 70+ out of the box, and a few mods got them over 80.

My parents have a 17' boat, it has a weak-#*$&@ Merc 3 liter I/O and gets used maybe once a month to go water skiing. I have an old '99 Sea-doo GTI and it gets used 20x more often. It always seems so slow after sledding all winter! It tops out at about 45 and doesn't get there any too quick. That's 80hp I guess.

Don't buy a boat period.

Yep! It's expensive when you really think about it. The trick is to NOT think about it. But I won't say what I've got into it because I'll start thinking about it again :exc: