What are your other high-dollar hobbies?

[RJP]

Watch collecting. You think split-fin threads are contentious? Visit a watch website and ask "Which is better - Lange or Patek?"

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Flying has probably topped the list. Training makes even GUE course fees look cheap. For example, an instrument rating cost me $9,000 in the early 1990's and aircraft rental is only exceeded by the cost of aircraft ownership. That's pretty much why it went on the back burner.

I also used to shoot in tactical rifle and pistol matches before moving here to VA. Shooting 2-3 times per week with 300-400 rounds per session was not unusual, but a Dillon progressive press and buying components in bulk helped keep costs down.

In comparison to either hobby, diving is cheap.

 

[Matt S.]

I used to shoot IPSC. Good times! I'll get back into one of the practical/tactical pistol leagues again someday.

 

[AevnsGrandpa]

Guess mine would be videography, been doing it for many years as a side business but don't think I have made back the $2k+ I invested in it 4 years ago.

Jeff

 

[shoturtle]

Watch collecting. You think split-fin threads are contentious? Visit a watch website and ask "Which is better - Lange or Patek?"

Lange und Sohne, IWC, then patek

 

[NE_Diver]

diving skiing and cycling.

may not seem like the big bucks but to a poor collage student...

 

[HIGHwing]

Flying has probably topped the list. Training makes even GUE course fees look cheap. For example, an instrument rating cost me $9,000 in the early 1990's and aircraft rental is only exceeded by the cost of aircraft ownership. That's pretty much why it went on the back burner.

$7,000 for the Private Pilot
$10,000 for the Instrument
Multiple check rides at $450 a crack, multi-engine training, etc...etc...
Charts, subscriptions, databases, recurrent training...
Then there was the rental fees, currently $340 an hour for a Cessna 400 Twin Turbo (Columbia 400).
Finally wised up and bought a Beech Baron.
Went to the shop once and came home with a $12,000 repair bill.
Plane is in the shop right now. :doh2:

 

[vam302]

$7,000 for the Private Pilot
$10,000 for the Instrument
Multiple check rides at $450 a crack, multi-engine training, etc...etc...
Charts, subscriptions, databases, recurrent training...
Then there was the rental fees, currently $340 an hour for a Cessna 400 Twin Turbo (Columbia 400).
Finally wised up and bought a Beech Baron.
Went to the shop once and came home with a $12,000 repair bill.
Plane is in the shop right now. :doh2:

A lot of you guys definately have me beat with the private pilot hobby. I've always wanted to learn to fly, too. I suppose flying helicopters is even more expensive, huh? Oh well...

 

[alexlakeman]

Watch collecting. You think split-fin threads are contentious? Visit a watch website and ask "Which is better - Lange or Patek?"

Hublot

I frequent timezone ... some snobs there, but good info

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Went to the shop once and came home with a $12,000 repair bill.
Plane is in the shop right now. :doh2:

Exactly - the only thing more expensive than renting is owning.

I have focused on keeping the "owning" a bit cheaper - half a PA-12, 1/4 of an RV-4 and all of a modified Moni over the years. I had a friendly mechanic who'd sign off my work on the PA-12 and you can do your own work on the Experimentals, so the bills are a lot lower, but you get to be on pretty good terms with Univair, etc.

Flat wing Pitt Specials (S-1C and S-1D) are pretty affordable and even the S-1Ss are good pretty deals lately, so I may go that direction some day or get something like a Steen Skybolt. I learned to fly in a PA-18 and have never quite shaken the rag wing tail dragger, lots of power thing.

My former dive buddy had a very nice Twin Commanche but even the annual inspection bill for his "cheap" twin ran $4000-$5000 per year. Nice flying airplane though - nicer handling than the Seneca's, 310's, B55's I trained in.