I think "Sail" is bowing to merchandizing trends. How many boats can the very wealthy buy every year? Besides all the points mentioned by George. I know in my case my "last" boat was a 36footer and it disabused me of the stick and rag lifestyle until I happened to take a ride in a friend's homebuilt 14footer some years later. Now I have another Montgomery 17 sitting in the driveway. Tom B