So for starters, I had no idea what it cost to insure a vessel like this, no idea how much it was to moor one, haul one, paint one, etc. So, for ME this thread has been a great source of information. All I knew were asking prices online. So, thanks to all who opined, particularly those who gave me actual numbers.
I am pleasantly surprised at how much boat one can get per 100K spent. While I am not hell-bent to spend a ton of money, I sure as hell don't want to spend too little and wind up with a vessel that I don't really enjoy operating, owning, and most importantly, living on. Then a year or two later having to try and sell it so I can upgrade to something nicer. I already have an idea of what size galley I want, and that size def pushes the price of the boat UP. Might as well get it right the first time.
I saved a fair amount of money and made a little more on the side just so I could splurge a bit during my retirement. I spent a lot of years away from home to get to this point and I invested a lot over those years. I don't need or want a Rolls but I sure don't want an old beater either. I'm 61, Soon I'll be too damn old to spend my days with a palm sander, scraped knuckles, and a bad back.
I fully get it that costs vary wildly between boats and between their owners, particularly when stuff breaks. Especially diesel stuff, turbocharger stuff, refrigeration stuff, and electronic stuff. Most of the maintenance I'll try and do myself. And when I need a pro, I'll call one. I don't want to deal with brightwork, not unless I win the lotto between now and official retirement which is two years off.
So, if I know up front that a boat is going to cost me 15K per year for moorage, bottom paint, and insurance, and average another 15K or so for "expensive unknowns", well that's a number I believe that I can plan for and I can live with.
Thank you again.