How will sequstration effect your sailing?

[RobertLangdirect]

Seriously, sailors.

In Washington, DC, there is talk that the authorities may have to shut down the Potomac every Wednesday, because, with sequestration, the "First Responders" may not be available to help us if we have an incident on the river. (But on GOOD TRADE, I am a first responder, as is the rest of the crew, so I scoff at the very idea.)

But what about you?

Are you looking forward to a few more days (even if not paid) of freedom under the sail and in the wind?

Or are you thinking that with the reductions to the TSA and USDOT, the highways will be so bad that fuel deliveries will end? Are you thinking that you should conserve that half tank of diesel just in case you have to cut the ties to the land to avoid the coming apocalypse?

Weigh in, keep it clean, and no bad mouthing my President. You never know if the DHS is recording your keystrokes.

 

[kappykaplan]

I'm looking forward to every Fri on the water, WX permitting. And, there could well be some M-Th sails after my 8 hr days end.

 

[soldier1964]

as soon as the snow melts and I finish installing all the new toys I purchased over the winter months, I will be in sailing heaven. my boat only uses 6 gallons of gas anyway. I would have gotten the boat off the hard but another storm blew in. maybe by the end of the month...

 

[robertsapp]

As a Federal employee here in Pensacola, FL, I anticipate having one extra day a week from mid-April until late September to go sailing or do boat projects. Unfortunately, I will have 20% less income to buy boat parts. So maybe more teak maintenance and stainless polishing, and less replacing things that break. The frustrating thing is knowing that even with the sequester, the government will still spend more money than it did last year. But I have to take a 20% salary reduction.

 

[Rick D]

Well, I am retired and the GDP hit is supposed to be about a half a percent which will ultimately affect growth and my retirement portfolio. Plus, medicare cost will either rise or benefits reduced, so that will take its pound. In areas with heavy concentrations of public sector employment, I suspect new and used boat sales will be negatively affected incrementally. Having said that, this area is already undergoing 'an adjustment' long before this aspect, so I'm not sure how noticeable it will be. I just saw a note from a friend sailing in Santa Monica bay. He said two buoys have been removed due to budget cuts. However, there sure is a lot of pretty new hardware out there! I think a lot of tax supported agencies will cause as much visible pain as possible to 'prove' how critical they are (I would). But, IMHO, at the end of the day, it works out and geesh, something had to happen. I think everyone will have a bit of a haircut.

 

[rfrye1]

Yes Rick I agree. We need to get OUR house in order on both sides of the ledger and do it soon. I was reviewing some of Paul Ryan's proposed budget cuts, and I don't see anything about spending less quality time out on our boats.
God Bless America.

 

[shemandr]

I don't want anyone to suffer. My sympathies to those who are experiencing cutbacks. I don't know if it will make you feel better but I've had a 1/3 reduction in my income as a result of the poor economy. One way I've dealt with the situation is to spend more leisure time - a lot of it sailing. It's a bonus counteracting the fear of business hard times. Trips are more local so I can stay closer to my business. The best thing to do is to keep a positive mental attitude - something sailors excel at. The future is more uncertain than I planned for but I will sail and it will be OK.

 

[TomY]

No effect really. You'll often hear from businesses around my area, we're recession proof. That mostly means, we're used a different set of "business" numbers, than much of the country, so downturns aren't so dramatic,...we're already there. I don't think that's such a bad thing, I do pretty well here, business wise and the rest of it is, well, nirvana.

Sailing will remain pretty much the same on the coast of Maine, despite even our present gov'nah, hell bent on being the first non starting gov'nah in history....

 

[Rick D]

Didn't Take Long For This To Be Moved!

We had to know it was doomed from the beginning. Some folks just can't contain themselves. Well, it is a pretty raw topic.

 

[Cool Beans]

I thought Sequestration was BS and is being blown way out of proportion to what it is/actually does?



I live in Virginia Beach though, and this area thrives on gov't money. If Sequestration does end up having enough teeth and shrinks the military, this place could be in real trouble. . .and since I work at an engineering firm that does a lot of custom housing. . .there could be layoff's or pay cuts. . .but I think it is a long shot.

Now, how does this effect my sailing? It makes me want to finish getting her cruisable so I can sail away if it all goes to hell

 

[pogo2]

Maybe, Maybe Not

I've been retired 12 years now, and have seen all the political anttics fronm both sides, Last year DHS bought all neew Safe boats with 3 & 4 300 hp outboards in my area. On any givin Sunday there is atleast 12 govt agencies on the water, will these be reduced, maybe, maybe not. I'll still be sailing everyday, you now have to inform the Canadian Govt you will be in their waters, before you get there, or a $1000 fine or impoundment of your boat. Use to be you could sail in their waters as long as you didn't anchor, or make shore. Someone in washington must have pissed the Canadians for them to do this, maybe we'll sail to Canada, maybe we won't, hope those that are financially effected by this find some way to get along, Enjoy life and Sail Often.

 

[RobertLangdirect]

Thanks Everyone For Sharing!