I don’t really know why I’m responding at this point other than out of respect for anyone else who feels like you don’t have to spend 100 grand to fish offshore.
My invitations NEVER put any emphasis on gas money, prep or cleanup, or anything really other than catching lots of fish. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.
The few times I asked for $ from people have been after abnormally great expenses were incurred. The way my “20 footer” works is that if I have low fishing funds, then people are told up front what may need to happen to make it work. If someone rides and doesn’t help out with prep, maintenance or cleanup and doesn’t offer any gas money, they rarely get asked back. That’s just common sense.
I don’t have to cancel trips because of insufficient crew, i.e. gas money, going. What is the point of going fishing? When the emphasis becomes either covering the full costs or killing lots of fish every trip then something is backwards, is it not?
When I was in law school I did what I could to get onto others’ boats by bringing something to the table. I obviously did not have much cash, so I tried to work for it. I got to go, and that always means learning more. That includes when I went on smaller boats.
I don’t think you will find anyone who will say that they went on my boat and regreted it. That’s what’s so interesting about you talking down on going with us. Folks always seem to appreciate it if not for the good time then learning something. Clearly, you are a great friend or else I would quit asking you, right?
I still go on others’ boats to have a good time and learn. If the emphasis during the invite is anything other than that, then I have less desire to go on the other boat. I don’t get to go much this time of year. When I do go, it’s nice to get a good bit of satisfaction and recreation out of it.
P.S.
You owe a big debt of gratitude to the other folks who help put you in your 31 footer. As I have repeatedly explained to you, we used to have bigger boats. One had to
