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Wilbur Hubbard[_2_]

"Gogarty" wrote in message
...
In article s.com,
lid says...
"KLC Lewis" wrote in message
news:1POdndXlRP59vqnUnZ2dnUVZ_jWdnZ2d@centurytel .net...

"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message
anews.com...

Installing a refrigerator was very low on my list of things to do. I
only
did so after I had gotten all the important, more necessary things
attended to. After about ten years of ownership that is. The frivolous,
luxury items like a fridge should always come last. Never before
necessary sailing systems are in top-notch condition. It's all about
priorities. Cold beer is nice but not necessary. Same can be said for
hot
women.

Wilbur Hubbard

On a small cruising sailboat, I would agree that refrigeration is a
low-priority item. It takes up too much space and requires too much
energy
for the investment, IMO. On a live-aboard of any size, however, it is
pretty high on the priorities list.

"For the investment." You got that right, Karin. In my case, since I do
liveaboard and never in a marina I must also consider the cost of a
photovoltaic array large enough to supply the fridge with current. I have
two 100 watt panels and a charge controller and the cost of it (about
1,600
bucks) needs to be proportioned to the fridge. Let's say 1000 dollars
worth.
Add that to the cost of the fridge (1000 bucks) and the installation cost
of
you have to pay somebody (500 bucks) and don't forget a couple extra
batteries at about 200 bucks every four or so years you have a fridge that
costs 3,000 bucks or so. You can buy a helluva lot of ice for that but,
hey,
once you get all the other upgrades taken care of over the years and if
you
have money on hand you might as well use it to enjoy the finer things in
life. Hauling ice becomes a real pain in the ass. Cold beer and wine is so
fine.

Wilbur Hubbard

Well, Wilbur, you have just demonstrated how a gift boat can turn into a
$30,000 hole in the water. As I said, the gift that keeps on taking.

Clearly, spoken from a lubbers viewpoint!

Consider this: Since I live aboard and have lived aboard for over 20 years
let's look at rent alone.

Had I spent 500 bucks a month on rent living ashore over a twenty year
period the money spent would be 500 X 12 X 20 or $120 thousand dollars. This
is rent alone. It doesn't cover utilities, transport, etc. Buying a house is
even more costly especially now when houses have lost from 25 to 50 percent
of their previous worth on the market.

By virtue of the abovementioned sum, my fine, blue water yacht is a gift
that keeps on GIVING. It has enriched me. That's the difference between
being a real sailor who lives aboard and a lubber who sails and pretends to
be an authority. Now do you get it?

Wilbur Hubbard