Greg, Everything you say is true, but you're overlooking one fact - buying and owning a boat is not a rational decision for most people. It's all about the fantasy. But we have to do something with our time and money. My cousin has spent tens of thousands on decorating himself with tattoos. My uncle collects and restores antique tractors and steam engines. Other people do even stranger things in the pursuit of happiness. So if it makes you happy and you have the money (or don't), go for that $600K boat. And if you want it to have lots of swoopy curves and paint flames on the bow and plant a ferris wheel on top...hey, it's YOUR fantasy! Bob Deering Juneau Alaska

I don't think boating has to be irrational, though. For us, we think of it as a vacation that we can write off (2nd home deduction). Also, we spend overnights on transient docks at various locales instead of hotels. We eat Happy Hour menus or often cook for ourselves. Bottom line for a nice weekend, including gas, is $150 tops. There are plenty of folks who extend the same principles and boat all year round. However, you are right of course about the fantasy aspect. If you have the money for a 600k boat...fine. But if you don't, boating still quite doable and affordable for 30k. BTW....we hope to cruise to Juneau in 5 years, but it will not be in a 25 footer. Hopefully a 30+ foot Cat. -Greg ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Deering" <deering@ak.net> To: "'Power Catamaran List'" <power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com> Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2006 4:54 PM Subject: Re: [PCW] PDQ 41 article in Power Cruising > Greg, > > Everything you say is true, but you're overlooking one fact - buying and > owning a boat is not a rational decision for most people. It's all about > the fantasy. > > But we have to do something with our time and money. My cousin has spent > tens of thousands on decorating himself with tattoos. My uncle collects and > restores antique tractors and steam engines. Other people do even stranger > things in the pursuit of happiness. So if it makes you happy and you have > the money (or don't), go for that $600K boat. And if you want it to have > lots of swoopy curves and paint flames on the bow and plant a ferris wheel > on top...hey, it's YOUR fantasy! > > Bob Deering > Juneau Alaska > _______________________________________________ > Power-Catamaran Mailing List

Miami boat show veterans: I am going to the Miami boat show next month for the first time. I would appreciate information that a first timer would not even think about, but should know going in. Can I expect the power catamarans to be grouped together? Thanks, Chuck ________________________________________________________________________ Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more.