With summer gas prices sure to rise to nearly $4.00 a gallon, maybe more motor boat people will try sailing. I used to work for a guy who was a big time powerboater/sport fisherman. He would easily spend $80-150 a day (and gas was less than a buck a gallon back then) on gasoline just to troll around at 3 knots. He asked me why didn't I buy a powerboat instead of that slow sailboat?

I said, "Because I can spend all day sailing at 5 knots (J-24 owner at the time) and drag a fishing line if I want to fish, but I don't spend $5 on gas for the entire SEASON, let alone $80 a DAY!"

That was 30 years ago. He now owns a 48 foot Hatteras, I have no idea what his fuel bill is but he almost never leaves the dock. He likes to sit on it, listen to the stereo while drinking Gin and Tonic, not that there's anything wrong with that!

I did invite him to go sailing with me many times but he's never set foot on a sailboat, in his entire life! Oh well... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />