Hi Tom,

I've never "wraped" a boat but I put on my own cover when I had a
smaller boat.Nothing wrong with that. It's just a matter of valuing
your time and having enough left over to sail. It's fine to try to sail
on the cheap but you seem to not be having any fun ("brought to the
point of absolute insanity" in your words).

Take my mast - the one I can't step for $400. This thing is 70 ft with
double spreaders, on a B&R rig. An in-mast furling main and two
headsail rollers (Solent rig). It takes most of the day for me and a
good rigger to assemble and tune this thing. Makes no economic or
practical sense but I love every minute. When I get older I'll go back
to something simpler. It will be cheaper but I'll sure miss having a
big boat.

I also never - absolutely never - calculate the cost per sailing day!

Carl

Thomas Wentworth wrote:
Shrink Wrap? No thanks,,

I have "wraped" every boat I ever owned by myself. And they were just as
well protected as "shrink wrap".

$400 to step a mast? Nope, no way. Takes me about 15 minutes. Ain't about
to pay $400 for 15 minutes.

Heck, the guy who operates the crane down at the ship loading place will
pull up the mast for $50.

And he is a heck of a lot better at operating the crane than the dope at the
overpriced marina.

Hey,, you can throw your money where you want.

Not me.