Running a boat: the annual cost broken down
The annual maintenance of a recreational boat is built around the lift out with hull cleaning, the engine service and anode replacement, and on a ten metre boat it usually totals between two thousand five hundred and five thousand euros excluding berth and insurance.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- Lift out with antifouling costs 800 € to 3,500 € by length.
- Sacrificial anodes are inspected at least once a year.
- An engine service with oil and filters runs 250 € to 700 €.
- In warm water the hull needs cleaning every 2 or 3 months in summer.
A boat does not deteriorate from being used. It deteriorates from sitting still while nobody looks at what is happening below the waterline.
The annual calendar
One lift out a year with cleaning of the underwater hull, inspection of skin fittings and seacocks, checking of the shaft and propeller, replacement of anodes and application of antifouling. An engine service with oil, filter and impeller changes. A safety equipment check covering flare and liferaft expiry dates. And an electrical and battery inspection before the season starts.
| Item | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Lift out, hull clean and antifouling | 1,200 to 2,500 € | annual |
| Sacrificial anodes | 80 to 250 € | annual |
| Engine service | 250 to 700 € | annual |
| Hull cleaning between lift outs | 80 to 180 € per visit | 2 to 4 a year |
| Liferaft servicing | 200 to 450 € | by expiry |
| Batteries | 200 to 600 € | every 4 to 6 years |
| Electronics | 1,500 to 6,000 € | every 8 to 10 years |
| Annual total excluding berth and insurance | 2,500 to 5,000 € |
Why anodes matter so much
They are pieces of less noble metal that corrode instead of the shaft, the propeller and the other submerged metal fittings. Once they are consumed and nobody replaces them, corrosion moves on to components costing hundreds or thousands of euros. Checking them once a year and replacing them when they have lost around half their mass is the cheapest and most valuable operation in the whole maintenance schedule.
Fouling in warm water
In the Mediterranean, with high water temperatures from June to October, growth attaches to the hull quickly. A fouled underwater hull increases resistance and with it fuel consumption noticeably, as well as loading the engine. A diver clean every 2 or 3 months in season, at 80 € to 180 €, pays for itself in the fuel saved.
Antifouling loses effectiveness in its second year, which is why the annual lift out remains the reference despite its cost.
What gets forgotten
Fresh water rinsing after each outing over fittings, lines and deck, which removes salt before it crystallises. Ventilating the interior, because trapped humidity produces mould on upholstery and cushions within weeks. And the expiry dates on safety equipment, which give no warning: flares, extinguishers and liferaft all carry dates, and in an inspection or after an incident those dates are checked.
Frequently asked
+What does it cost to maintain a 10 metre boat?
Between 2,500 € and 5,000 € a year excluding berth and insurance.
+How often should the boat be lifted out?
Once a year, because antifouling loses effectiveness in its second season.
+What are anodes for?
They corrode instead of the shaft and propeller. Check yearly and replace at about half their mass.
+Does the hull need cleaning between lift outs?
In summer yes, every 2 or 3 months, because fouling raises fuel consumption.
+What gets forgotten most?
Fresh water rinsing after each outing, interior ventilation and safety equipment expiry dates.
Sources
- 1Boletín Oficial del Estado, BOE (August 2026)
- 2Govern de les Illes Balears, Govern de les Illes Balears (August 2026)