In article WmmCg.4039$Pp1.1839@trndny04,
"Thomas Wentworth" wrote:

Jere,,, it just occured to me ... if less people are using their boat, and
the boat market gets really soft due to fuel costs ... then the component
suppliers will start to hurt as well..

By this I mean: the diesel re-power people. The equipment people. The ...
you can see where this is going.

Do you think that eventually the market will actually start to change the
way the marina's charge? I think that one of the huge problems up here in
the Northeast is the availble space for moorings, dockage, and the overall
rippoffs that the marina's have become.

I don't know any rich sailors. Yet, the marina's act as if all sailboat
owners are rich. Go figure.

If boating as a market gets soft, I wonder if we will start to see a change
in the way us peons are treated.

I believe that the laws of supply and demand will prevail. Unluckily, I
see it going the way of FL. Waterfront property will become too valuable
to clutter with marinas if things keep up and boaters cut back on that
discretionary spending. That will make the remaining marinas more
expensive, driving more people away. Eventually, it'll become a rich
owners' sport again, but for the dropouts living aboard the boats that
no one else wants.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/