I'm going to weigh in on the other side.
Having just sold my Eveyln 32-2, a few months ago, I can say that I'm
happy to be banking
the extra >200 bux a month AND I go sailing at least twice a week. I
dont know what it's like
in your neck of the woods, but down here it is a target-rich area for
people looking to crew
on other people's boats (okay, mainly racing, but the same is true for
me for cruising ops, too).
In 6 - 7 years, there will be no shortage of affordable plastic boats.
You (theoretically) could
put the $$$ you now spend on the boat into a dedicated fund that would
net you 15-20K
to put into a new ride, circa 2014.
While I usually enjoyed having my kids on the boat, it also added a low
level of what I
would call "worry background noise." In other words, sailing was seldom
relaxing...is
that weather-maker in the distance going to slam us with a 60 kn
micro-burst? is that
powerboat doing 40 kn going to veer off? Is the motor going to pack it
in? what if I
fall overboard?..these are all continguencies with which I'm used to
being comforatable,
when competent crew is aboard, but with just the wife and 2 kids I
seldom was.
So, anyway, the idea of sailing with the family contentedly on a
gorgeous day with
a gentle 12 kn southerly wicking up the bay was a theoretical concept,
reality was
a different story...your experience may certainly vary.
tf
