[gatotom]

I am pushing 6 yrs now since buying a boat, a 36' C&C sailboat, it was a happy day and you know what, still is. At my age 62, all my children are gone, boating is cheap.

Last yr my total diesel fuel bill was 40 gal and I motored alot last yr. I guess that is why alot of new boat owners get a boat after the kids are gone and not sucking the nipple anymore.

Have you looked at catamarans, tons of space, go anywhere and if you moor it on a ball, it doesn't matter. The slip fee might kill you, its usually double cuz of the width. The modern sailboat is alot of fun, you might not be going as fast as a power boat but you have more fun and you don't mind the fuel dock experience.

It is a buyers market right now, you can get alot of boat for your money and if you buy right, you won't lose. I would argue the fact that I could rent a simular sailboat for 2 wks and have more money in renting than what I spend a yr owning my boat.

I will admit, I got a screaming deal on mine, I bought it before Bush took away the donation writeoff deal. I paid less than half the appraised value, I was happy the donation co. was happy and the heart Doctor was happy with his writeoff and cash he got. The doc took very good care of the boat and was happy that I was happy with it, he put in a new oven and stove and washdown pump before I picked it up.

Yes, it is a good thing I work on it myself with the help of my slip neighbor, who are very dear friends, we do alot of rafting up, the women get along, makes me very happy.