Its true I've not met you, and I was not into boating on my own until 2004 either, yet I was well aware. Maybe I read a bit more, I dont know.

also, it waont cost 20% more year on year, next year is a big hike, after that it is down to the cost of oil. I cant say which way that will go, there are masses of untapped reserves that up till now have been uneconomical to extract. With crude over $100 a barrel these become economic prospects, so crude should stabalise or even fall back a bit.

I guess my point was, if you are boating on the limit of your earnings now, sooner or later inflation would make it uneconomic for you anyway. Have you considered reducing your costs in other areas? I had my 9m mobo on a swinging mooring in my first year to save costs - Ł1600/year against Ł3900 in a marina. Perhaps less eating out and more BBQ's on the beach is an option, or an overnight in Newtown Creek rather than on a pontoon at Lymington?

Maybe you do all this already - I dont know. But for anyone to be soo close to the break point seems a little fool hardy in the first instance...