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Funny thing about yachting is it's not even cost-prohibitive for the middle-class anymore. Not since fiberglass became ubiquitous in the 70s. It's comparable
by newnewpdro 8y ago
Funny thing about yachting is it's not even cost-prohibitive for the middle-class anymore. Not since fiberglass became ubiquitous in the 70s. It's comparable to owning an RV/camper van - something I would not associate with the upper bourgeoisie.
- eat_veggies 8y agoA boat costs about as much as a nice car, except boats are purely recreational. I can justify the cost of a $10k car because it'd be taking me to work every day, but $10k + upkeep for fun is ridiculous. Additionally, you need enough space to store the boat, which already puts you into bourgeoisie territory.
- twblalock 8y agoPlus you need a vehicle that can tow the boat.
- ethbro 8y agoOr a storage slip.
- newnewpdro 8y agoMoxie (of Signal fame) described the transformation in accessibility made by the introduction of plastic boats better than I could ever hope to in his documentary Hold Fast 2007: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lwbHYOFD-4&t=2m30s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lwbHYOFD-4&t=2m30s
- justinator 8y agoNot to be a downer, 'cause I think the movie is great but, how much was he worth then (and how much now?). Was there a financial safety net tied into Moxie's life then? Was he just playing crust punk tourist?
- newnewpdro 8y agoI can't speak to Moxie's socio-economic background, but how is this relevant?
- justinator 8y agoIt would kinda ruin the authenticity of a coupla scrappy people putting a boat together on the cheap to sail it around. More fantasy than documentary.
- newnewpdro 8y agoHis factual description of the impact Pearson and fiberglass had on the accessibility of sailing to the middle class stands either way.