"Denis Marier" wrote
Beside the bigger boat social climber the other status symbol is the
inflatable dinghies......... It would be
interesting to learn what is the situation at other clubs and marinas.


I don't know any social climbers. We have a large group who love to sail and
party. They'll take off for an overnight or two, anchor off a secluded
beach and dinghy in to party ashore. Or they may sail to a nearby town,
anchor out and dinghy in to a popular resturant. They usually sail 2 or 3
weekends a month, some more some less, and spend weekend nights aboard (Most
work during the week). Fun folks but sadly I'm too old to keep up with
them.

Others are planning (hoping) to go full-time. They can't afford to retire
for years but meanwhile they are paying off a bigger bluewater boat they
can't really use right now. They too spend alot of weekends aboard but do
not go out often. Many (most?) won't make it but I'll not slam them for
having the dream.

A few who have gone full time stop by occasionally to favor us with tales of
long passages and far places, but never stay long.

Then there are a few who have health, personal or financial problems or have
simply lost interest. Their boats come in all sizes from 18 to 45 ft. We
don't see them much. There's a CAL 30 next to me that hasn't seen its owner
for over a year but then I was absent most of last winter fighting cancer
and won't get out til fall so I'm not about to criticize.

Last marina we stayed was associated with a new boat dealer. We saw a lot of
folks who'd awoke one morning to find their mortgage and kid tuitions paid
off right in the middle of their peak earning years. Most weren't rich but
had new-found discretionary income and could easily afford to get a $200K
home equity loan and buy a new yacht rather than P it away in taxes. They
tended to sail like hell for a month or so then taper off and loose
interest, eventually selling the boat. I wouldnt knock them either, they
assure a steady supply of lower priced near-new boats for us poor folk g.

Last but hardly least the marina here on base is home to a bunch of racers
who are out every weekend and many week nights. The marina can only
accomodate smaller 22' or less boats so they don't sail far but they sure
sail often. I'm too old to keep up with them either. They prolly think
everybody else is a social climber. After all, how much boat can you race
on a creek?