Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/12/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]A commercial pilot friend (married owner of a boat and a plane) once told me: "If it flies, floats, or f**ks; rent it." ric On Dec 8, 2008, at 10:51 AM, Lawrence Zeitlin wrote: > > On Dec 7, 2008, at 4:08 PM, lug-request@leica-users.org wrote: > >> Ken Lassiter wrote: "A Leica is a bit like a boat." >> >> Truer words couldn't have been said. >> Boats cost a ton of money up front and the upkeep may bankrupt a >> person, >> but they are indeed wonderful to sail. Nothing else like it. > > > I wish that boats were as cheap to use and maintain as cameras. I > own both and I can tell you without hesitation that Commodore > Vanderbilt was right. "If you have to ask how much a boat costs (to > own and maintain), you can't afford it." > > My modest sized motorsailer needed a new propeller shaft this year - > cheap at only $5000. Winter storage is $1500. Summer marina fees > about $2000. Bottom paint at $150 per gallon. Insurance over $2000. > Diesel fuel at $4 a gallon - and on and on. Boat owners estimate > that yearly operating and maintenance costs average 20% of the > original boat price. For an M8 that would be about $1000 in CLA fees > per year. > > In contrast I have a M3, bought new in 1954. In the 54 years I have > owned it and used it hard, the only maintenance it received was a > $200 tune up by Sherry Krauter. Not because it needed it but because > I felt it was about time and wanted to give it a treat. My CL has > cost $0 since I bought it in the 70s, except for exposure meter > batteries. > Film cost excepted , of course. > > The moral - if you are strapped for money, buy the most expensive > Leica you can and enjoy the fact that you are not one of those > stupid and profligate boat owners. > > Larry Z > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information