Sailors Are Cheap

[RedBellies]

I sail ergo I am frugal. And the benefits to me are priceless.

I am a sailor and I am cheap. But not easy. And the benefits are marginal.

Like everything else it's a toss of the dice.

[capt_douglas]

I'm not cheap. I'm not frugal. I can't afford to buy cheap twice.

I simply want good value for my hard earned, shallow pocketed, funds.

I work both sides of the marina and know power boaters who take as much pride in doing it themselves as sailors. I know sailors with deep pockets who want me to do all the work and are willing to pay for it. It may be that the wealthy make far more per hour than I cost or they simply want a turnkey operation.

I used to think ill of those with far more money (and probably success) than I have, but in the end I decided that I was happier doing the work myself than having it done. I seem to see far fewer power boats in those fantastic anchorages and remote places than power boaters. And since that's where I dream of being, and I have thin pockets and a healthy dose of insecurity, doing it myself makes it possible.

Don't get me started on dumpster diving!

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by mintyspilot

OK - quick version. Preventative maintenance costs money, but post-accident maintenance will cost you more.

Right.

Done by the "cheap" sailor after learning/research or by some "professional".

Skinning cats.

[s/v Beth]

After restoring my boat over the past year, I have developed some opinions on this. I have found good boatwrights that could do things I could never dream of- such as putting a new deck on or Awlgrip my finish, but that is the exception rather than the rule. Anything I can do I will do secondary to the reasons stated above.