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Boat Show Dreams ~ Time to go green with the original hybrids. With the boat shows in Seattle, Portland and Vancouver, B.C. coming up, it’s dream time for boaters. Thankfully, all those gleaming hulls and booths full of goodies take us all to a different mind set, away from snow and ice and weather forecasters’ predictions of doom. Some show-goers picture gliding gracefully across the waters at one with nature, anchoring in their “secret cove.” For others it’s battling the elements and their sailing brethren to see who can fair the fastest. Whatever your preference, it’s all there for us at these yearly dream-fests. Unfortunately, there’s no ignoring the current economic climate. For many the shows will be a “look but don’t touch” event. The beautiful boats or neat new stuff will have to wait for another time... or do they? Buying a sailboat usually isn’t an impulse buy, so sailors have already figured out how they can afford a boat, and, with interest rates low, this could be the time it all comes together. I know dreams aren’t supposed to be tainted by reality, but isn’t the idea to turn your dream into your reality? For sailors it truly can be a case of having your cake and eating it too. Want to save thousands of dollars, look at a boat two feet shorter. Are you really going to be sailing with all your friends, all the time? No. Of course it’s fun to take guests sailing aboard the yacht, but, unless your dream is to be Gopher on the Love Boat, it’s probably just going to be you, the spouse and a kid or two most of the time, so expansive accommodations for innumerable guests aren’t necessary. When the time comes that you do want to share a sailing day or longer adventure with your friends, you’ll find they’ll be just as happy. Friends and guests, there’s a difference. None of this counts for racers, of course, as they never let their friends go below anyhow and there’s always plenty of room on the rail. But no matter what size boat is your dream, from 15-50, go for it. After all, sailboats are the original hybrids. You’re just going GREEN! You’ll be tapping into wind power immediately and going off the grid, in more ways than one. You’re helping to save the earth. So, make yours a real dream come true, go to the boat shows, go green — go sailing. |
