Anchor Yachts

We've all done it before. A friend introduces you to a new hobby, and all of a sudden we ABSOLUTELY HAVE to go out and buy the latest and greatest equipment that hobby has to offer. Nine times out of ten, our spouses roll their eyes and say "go ahead and put it in the garage (attic, backyard, etc...) just like all of your other hairbrained ideas!! " I'll admit, I've been guilty of that very crime more times than not. Here's what I've learned over the years.

It pays to NOT jump in with both feet when it comes to boating or yachting! I feel comfortable in saying that you can get away with buying a "larger" power boat initially. They are very controllable, as long as you maintain strict throttle discipline!! (I know it's hard to do with all that power there!) Compared to a sailboat, they require little "work" to have fun. Push the throttle forward, turn the wheel right and left, turn up the music and you have an instant party. For those avid sailors, however, the "work" of raising and adjusting sails IS the fun! Sailors like the challenge and skill required to maneuver their craft through the water, achieving the highest speed with only wind power. If you are the "instant gratification" type of person, then sailing PROBABLY isn't for you. Nothing wrong with that, we're all just wired a little differently.

So, before you go out and buy that brand new $20,000 sailboat, it would be very beneficial to take a good hard look at who you are deep down. Are you really going to commit to the maintenance and expenses? Take slip fees for instance... (Sailboats have large keels that make trailering a real pain.) Many new owners fail to realize these fees are recurring every month, and even if the boat is paid off you are still paying a few hundred bucks each month for a "parking spot." (Not to mention paying for insurance all marinas require.) You probably won't have this expense with a power boat, assuming you can park it at your residence. (The insurance will probably be a wash...no pun intended.)

Are you one who is "about the journey?" Or are you "about the destination?" If you answered "journey", then you're a good candidate for the wind option. Remember we are on the water to relax, not be all stressed out and yelling at our family!! Speaking of family...

YOU may have the right personality for sailing, but does your family share your characteristics? Would your kids be bored cruising at 6 knots while water skiers are buzzing by? Again, only you can answer that question and is definitely something you need to talk to family members about.

Your best option is to enroll in some sailing lessons. Either private or in a group setting, you'll learn what it really takes to have an enjoyable time on the water. My local college offers beginning sailing lessons at a very reasonable price. For less than one hundred dollars I can take a two weekend course that teaches the basics of sailing safety. I would rather spend $100 on a course to find out I can't sailing than buying a boat I'm now stuck with!! Involve your family in the lessons. Enroll with your spouse and involve him/her. Not only is it helpful to have somebody along who knows what to do, but it makes the outing that much safer should something happen to you.

If you live near water, call around and see if there are any boats available for charter. For a reasonable rate, you can take the entire family out for a short cruise to see if it is something they would enjoy. The kids might like cranking the sails up and down, steering the boat, dropping an anchor, or any of the number of other skills required. Or, they all might get sea sick and never want to see another boat in their life! Better to find out now than when you're 2 payments into a 60 page payment book!

Of course, all this advice means absolutely nothing if your so stinking rich you can't burn your money fast enough. In that case, buy the biggest boat you can find, hire a crew that will either do it all for you or tell you what to do so you can feel important, and set sail for Australia. For the rest of us though, following the above steps will save not only a lot of heartache, but also a lot of green.

The author is an avid sailor living in the great state of California. Visit [http://www.yacht-talk.com] and join the new forum discussing the great sport of yachting!