[djodenda]

I was 18 when I bought my first boat. A Laser.. Got it for under $500 and gave it away later. It was still worth $500 when I gave it away.

I'm 46 now, and on my 6th boat (a Catalina 30). I paid $26,500 for it, and will probably sell it for the same amount eventually.

I do almost all of my own maintenance and figure it costs me around $5,000 a year to keep, including slip fees, parts, and upgrades.

I cruised my boat for 4 weeks last year, and had dozens of daysails.

Pretty good deal, if you ask me.

But there really is no need for an argument here. Boat ownership can be either cheap or expensive, depending how you do it.

The reality is that boat ownership isn't expensive or inexpensive, it's PRICELESS. I can't imagine being without one.

David