



     Can't Sell It? Trade It!

                                              By Gary Bryant

            We all like to think we lead enviable  lifestyles.  So we
     are sometimes surprised when no one  wants to buy our favorite set
     of rare Norwegian  hole-free salt and pepper shakers.  
       
            We are mystified, as  we sit by a ringless phone, pondering
     the absence of  interest in our Molakian ringwormed warthog,
     cherished  pet that only now has become too large for the front 
     lawn.  Is there no one willing to invest the small sum  it would
     require to assume ownership of these priceless  pawnings? 
       
            There is an alternative.  After placing your ad  for your 
     neglected possession, after you painfully  discover the general
     lack of interest in your 1963  Grandfather-in-Law clock, sit back
     and wait.  Now, maybe two weeks later, you place the ad again, this
     time  including the words "or will trade for ?" at the end of  your
     description.    
    
            With the pressure of a cash transaction taken away,  you'll
     find many new and interesting offers coming your  way.  Your prized
     collection of Larry Karubie's Arctic  Polka records could find a
     new home with someone who  has brought you your first bronzed box
     of Raison Bran.
      
            Trading, or bartering can also work the other way  around. 
     You might want something that you don't have  the cash for, but
     take stock of the situation.   
      
            Idle items may be sitting all around you.  What if  you don't
     have a nickel plated Balkan hunting knife  with an inscription from
     the King of Prussia? Don't  despair!  Try trading services. Most of
     us need lawns  mowed and houses cleaned or painted.  You may have
     a  special skill that could be in high demand.  
            Get on that  phone and negotiate!  And who knows, Larry
     Karubie could  make it big one day.  
     Good Deals On Old Boats

            If you thought you had to be wealthy and own a sea front
     condominium to enjoy the experience of owning  a boat, think again. 
     If you thought parading up and  down the harbor with your colorful
     Christmas light  display during the annual Christmas sailpast was 
     for  those who spent hundreds of thousands on their Yuletide 
     yachts, think again.  
            
            Of course your first boat may not be one that  floats, but
     buying a used boat can have its rewards.  In  my own case, I had
     convinced myself that owning a water  born form of transportation
     was an absolute necessity.
      
            It was obvious to me that roads were not readily  available
     everywhere and some kind of buoyant craft would be a handy
     accessory when attempting to cross  large bodies of water.  So I
     went boat hunting.   
     
            There are boats you want to own and there are  some you don't. 
     Regardless of make, model and year, the  value of a boat is tied as
     much to the quality of its  past maintenance as much as the other
     factors  mentioned above.  The cleanliness,  upkeep and extra 
     equipment added to the original vessel will often  indicate the
     commitment of the previous owner and  consequently the current
     condition of the vessel.  
       
            Bigger is not always better.  If you're dreaming of a 
     fifty-five foot ketch with a glistening teak deck, you  might as
     well keep dreaming of the gallons of expensive  teak oil, stain,
     cleaners and varnish you'll have to  buy every year to keep it that
     way.  Never mind the  hundreds of hours of labor you have to kick
     in to maintain it.  Now think of the hull coatings and extra  yards
     of sail, think of the miles of line and tie  downs, the boat
     fenders and moorage cost,  the  haulout$...  
      
            Of course you might be the kind of person that  enjoys
     working on projects.  You might be handy with  tools and a paint
     brush.  Maybe you're the kind of  person who loves the water but
     doesn't swim and still  feels the need to be near the sea.  Maybe
     your new  father-in-law owns the local marina and you'll be 
     getting free haul-outs and moorage.  Maybe you've just  got plenty
     of time.
   
               
