BOATING WITHOUT GOING BROKE

Cheap? Sheldon is so tight you have to oil the binding to turn the pages of his yachtsman's buying guide -- he uses old tires for fenders, old bleach bottles for buoys, does all his own maintenance and repair, and even believes that the best time to buy a second-hand boat is when the owner is in a tremendous financial crisis (as many are likely to be during this fuel shortage) and has to settle for your puniest offer. Sheldon has charts with comparative prices of absolutely everything you will need (and no frills). The ultimate shorthand reduction for quick figuring is his Steak/Boat Index -- both cost about the same per pound these days. Other corner- corner-cutters: donate your yacht to a charity or tax-free foundation; buy into a partnership or syndicate; or just hitchhike and leave the spending to your friends. Among the many useful appendices is a bibliography of free pamphlets and a national table of gas tax refunds. Whaddya expect from a guy who christens his dinghy with domestic champagne?