Skipper wrote in
:

Go to marinas. Ask another boat owner to walk through with you. Look
at the boats and think about what you want. Talk to people that own
boats and ask them what they like and don't like. You might be
surprised that glass boats have less maintenance than steel. learn
about zinc, bottom paint, marine heads, shorepower, knots, et c.
Go to boat shows. Walk onto sailboats as well as power boats. If I
were staying on Puget Sound, I would probably have a power boat. You
will get some ideas from every boat you see. There are lots and lots
of boats in your price range. Take a little time.


Excellent advise. You need to hang out with the boaters and find out what
it REALLY takes to buy and keep the thing afloat. B-O-A-T means Bring Out
Another Thousand. That $50K is a drop in the bucket as to what it really
costs.

Get acquainted with the guys at the docks. Crew on a few boats until you
learn how to handle them. Get the feel of being "at sea", even if it's
only in the harbor. Help them work on their boats to see what it's going
to be like working on yours. It's NOT the romantic, rosy, peaceful picture
of laying back most people think it is. Even if you hire everything done,
at amazing expense, you'll still be working very hard to keep it running
safely. It simply falls apart, piece by piece, just sitting at its dock.
Constant repairs are necessary, even if you don't use it much. Things grow
on its bottom that must be cleaned off by a diver. Filters constantly clog
from things pumped into it to cool it/heat it. Fuel decays just sitting
there, clogging their filters. Batteries need tending. It also helps if
you're a plumber, carpenter, electrician, engine mechanic.

You'll find all this out hanging with the guys on the docks. Befriend
them. Some are very friendly. Others are like hermits and the reason they
have a boat is to be isolated from other humans. Except for the hermits,
if the guys on the docks find out you are willing to HELP them work on
their boats, a great learning experience for you, even if you only hand
them tools while they are contorted into odd shapes in the bilge, demand
for your friendship goes way up. I have 4 boats belonging to out-of-town
owners to play with. I gave up the idea of owning one long ago. It's lots
more fun buying at 4X retail from West Marine on someone ELSE'S credit
cards...(c;

Well, gotta go to the marina. One of my dock buddies wants me to find out
why his lights don't work on his Jolly rib boat, this morning. During the
"Sea Trial", we'll probably end up at some waterfront bar for lunch. That
will take hours as we move from the restaurant into the bar....(c;

Life is GOOD...enjoy!

--
Larry
3rd Mate, Deck and Engineering
S/V "Lionheart"
(Why do they all call me "captain"? It's not MY fault!)