Hope floats, so does my dinghy

It was once explained to me that a sail acts upon a boat the same way a wing acts upon a plane. Ever since, I've been fascinated with boats - particularly sailboats - and have wanted to master the seas and skies alike. Having served ten years as an Air Force pilot, my eyes were always turned skyward. When I learned that the Long Island boat show was at the Nassau Coliseum, I jumped in the car, curious to learn what the seagoing life was really about.

Driving to Long Island, I still wasn't sure why the convention was being held. "Who'd want to buy a boat in this economy?" I thought to myself. But, deep down inside, I was one of those people interested in ownership. Would it be feasible to buy a boat, plus rent the marina dock, and pay for maintenance? Or was playing with my rubber duckie the cheaper, though significantly less glamorous, option? Determined to find out if I'd be channeling my inner Ahab any time soon, I walked into the show .

The first boat I encountered was the mother of all boats, literally; it could have squeezed out every other waterbaby in the room. At a majestic 36-feet long, the Carver 36 Mariner featured cherry wood cabinets, a dinette set, and a queen-size bed. The only thing missing was a Batcave and butler.

Despite the marked down $350,000 price tag, I was unable to negotiate the 199-year loan I sought, and decided to hit the floor. Curious about the state of the industry, I asked various dealers if the economy was negatively impacting their businesses. Though most were taking a hit, it wasn't as bad I'd perceived. Enthusiasts who've invested tens of thousands of dollars and years of loving ownership aren't abandoning their pastimes overnight. They're either trading bigger boats in for smaller ones or making fewer upgrades to the craft they already own. Commercial sales are also balancing a lower recreational demand, according to John Wallace, a skiff boat salesman. Mr. Wallace said commercial demand for his custom built Carolina skiffs was holding steady. His customers include contractors maintaining the Throg's Neck Bridge and non-profit groups dedicated to cleaning up New York's bays.

As a more affordable option to a 36-foot yacht, I priced what a skiff would cost. A skiff is a flat-bottomed boat, primarily used for traversing shallow waters. For under $20,000 I could get a brand new 15-foot skiff with a bimini top and 25 horsepower engine. Unfortunately, the skiff is a nautical version of the bowtie. It's for those who value function over form, utility over sex appeal.

Ambling about the floor again, I came upon Freeport Marine Supply's booth, and spoke to "Kappy," a life-long sailor. Kappy helped put a financial crisis into perspective for a Reagan-era baby like myself. He witnessed a similar downturn during the gas crunch of the '70's and wasn't ready to panic just yet. He described to me some of the cost-cutting measures being implemented by the boating industry. For example, commercial fishermen are cutting back the distance they go out to sea. As a fuel-saving measure, boat captains who normally fish 40 miles from shore are now limiting their range to 25 miles. They're are also reducing weight by removing all non-essential equipment from their ships. Finally, many captains are introducing an additive called Startron into their ships' gas tanks, increasing fuel economy by 30 percent.

Still searching for the boat that defined me, I was coming up short. My criteria were simple: make it exciting, rugged and unique. Ready to give up, a boat finally caught my eye: the Porta-bote. In an origami-like fashion the Porta-bote folds open, folds shut, and can be hand-carried to the water. Fasten the safety pins in place and you've got a 10-foot-long, 58-lb. pleaseurecraft ready to go. It's big enough to take the kids fishing, yet tactical enough to surprise the VC along the Mekong Delta. Thanks to it's polypropylene exterior, the Porta-bote is salt water-resistant and virtually unsinkable. The seats can also be removed, providing sufficient room for a funeral pyre, and the Viking-style send off you've always craved. With such versatility, what's not to love?

Driving home that night, I felt relieved. Though I didn't come away with a boat, it was good to know that Americans aren't giving up what they love most. People are still smoking weed, having sex and sailing boats. Now, I just have to find out who they are, and if they'll do any of it with me.