Talkin' Shit About A Pretty Sunset

It's an unfair cliché to say that owning a sailboat is expensive. It's not, unless you have the personality to make it so.

Unless you're a stink pot driver, you can save $200 in gas per day right off. Next, there's no reason to believe that only rich people can own sailboats; that's just common because rich guys tend to have the good taste to desire the finer things in life --- plus there's a history of high class and sailboating that probably began with the first America's Cup in 1851. Also, think of the number of famous paintings including sailboats (a lot) vs. motor boats (very few). Yea, you get it.

I got my first sailboat when I was teaching part-time at an English language school and making less than $20k/year. Never regretted the purchase.

Recently, I read a sailing forum where sailors described what boat equipment they spent most money on. Their items were hardly an issue for me because I don't obsess over the fastest sails, the shiniest chrome trim or replacing bulkheads when they get a tad crusty. We're out there to sail, are we not? Who cares about pretty.

My main fees are for the slip which is WELL worth it. I sail about once every 1.5 weeks during the warmer months (March thru November). The boat has been in the water most of its life (Cal 27, 1971) and I clean the bottom when the boat's anchored and the ladies are off swimming or sunbathing --- just strap on the goggles and flippers and tie a lanyard from the rusty paint scraper to my wrist.

I feel happy about 99% of the things I've spent on my boat because I truly LOVE the salt water and all things nautical and sailboaty. If you don't truly love it, you'll constantly be thinking about the money you spent, and in that case, you should just stay on dry land and take up golf.