A couple of days ago, there was a comment that there were no passagemakers available for less than $300,000. A quick look around on Yachtworld.com revealed 93 power boats asking price less than $300,000, which were suitable for doing 90% of what those on this list are doing in "passage making". Prices started at less than $50,000 for a Defever Passagemaker 40, and at the higher end was a Cheoy Lee 55 which had already done two circumnavigations, and had a range of 6,000 miles. Most of the boats needed updating of electronics, and probably some of the systems. But "asking price" is not where boats are selling in todays world As far as do it yourself. I have to disagree there also. Yes, if you act as a contractor and hire workers at shipyard rates, you will spend more than for a prebuilt boat. But if you do the work yourself, the cost is dramatically less than a factory built boat. We have finished out 3 boats; cruised them from several thousand to over 40,000 miles each, and sold them for two to three times what we had in material and parts costs. A tidy profit, but not a lot per hour of work. In each case the boat sold for more than a comperable factory built boat. A plus on DIY is that you know the systems on the boat better than anyone. Yes, it takes skills, but these are relitatively easy to acquire. Bottom line, even in power cruising boats, cost is not a barrier to taking the "plunge". If you are motivated, you can do it. Costs of cruising can be considerably less than staying at home. This is excluding motor sailors--which are a whole different class--and open up many boat boats in this price range. Bob Austin