Fiberglass ain't cheap either brother. You need to fix a water tank? Just looking at fiberglass makes your wallet lighter $500, and costs rise exponentially.

Problem with your inverter? Batteries? Generator? 3k a piece, and that's if you're shopping around.

Don't get me wrong, I live off-grid and after doing it for a few years we decided a while back that if it's not rated marine we just aren't interested in it. Everything rusts. Every bullshit thing in the market is designed to fail after 200 cycles, just past the 180day warranty. But marine ratings are actually enforced. So everything we own has steadily become aluminum or stainless steel. Redoing finishes and waterproofing, oiling. Protecting shit from the weather is almost a full time job.

And then the canvas. And the rigging. And the ropes. Rope is without question my favorite tool. I know a solid 50+ knots I can do blindfolded, upside down and behind my back hanging in a tree. Bro, I love sailing, and rigging for that matter, and I won't even do what your doing and I'm in my early 40s, childless, no debt, own two businesses, have no rent or mortgage payment - and I can't afford a boat.

Godspeed my man.