Huh, I went with white gold for her engagement ring. It wasn't very pricy at all, and I still get compliments on my taste and choice. I'm actually quite proud of that, sinc eI don't usually do well at buying things for taste(just look at my clothes). I'm really only good at gettign things that serve functionality.

Surely you mean platinum

Yeah, we're talking about the same girl Jake.

I've always got the keelboat to sail on, and friends with cats to sail on when I need the speed fix.

(Oh and I got her a nice PFD for her bday, not a trap harness)

The sailors in Australia have a saying, "If your a TRUE sailor, it's always easier to get a new wife than it is to get a new boat" A good boat is always ready for you when your ready, a good boat will never talk back, a good boat will sit quietly in your garage without complaint and be ready to "go" when you want to, a good boat never wants to watch the "chick shows" on TV, and a good boat never complains about the curtains, the furniture, the car, its clothes, your drinking, and your looking at other women.
All a man really needs in life is a boat, a shed, a bed, a toilet (without fluffy covers or a lid) a shower, a car, a TV, and maybe a good dog. Its the wife that wants the mortgage, the new furniture (every time the fashions change) new clothes, and all the other masive amounts of "anchoring" life time debt incurring "things" that go with a "home" (and she wants you to pay for them). A true sailor likes it kept simple and satisfying.
Darryl

Josh - good luck in repairing your new ride!

Maughan - DO NOT SELL YOUR BOAT! And she if ever says something like "if you really loved me, you'd sell your boat to get me the ring" - RUN LIKE HELL! Don't accept a keelboat substitute!

Darryl - your list for a man's needs is extravagent! All a man really needs is a boat (or two or three) and a good dog! A cat will do, car is next on list, rest is optional or can be borrowed!

I'll drink to that! (then again I'll drink to anything)

While I have seen a lot of platinum rings and such - I've recently seen titanium rings...something about 'forever'?

All the above may be right for some people, but there is no substitute for a good wife. And if you've got one of those the boats, the dogs etc. are that much more enjoyable. Unfortunatelly, only time can tell if you've got one of those. In between you work your tail off to make a good relationship.
It's not until Later that you realize that it's not about the price of the ring or its material.
Our wedding bands were given to us as a gift from a close friend. Just a simple gold band. I can't immagine that they cost more than a couple of houndred for both. But we've been married for 9 years now and it just keeps getting better.
Of course if you buy yourself a brand new shiny boat at the same time that you give your fiancee a twine ring the message youre giving may not be the right one.

Anyway, Doesn't anyone out there have a cheap (or free) comptip for Maugan?

What a silly thread, but I just can't help myself. My GREAT wife and I did something that makes good sense--and it was HER idea.

She said the size of the rock should be directly proportional to the success of the marriage. Therefore, she wanted only the smallest diamond engagement ring--can't remember how much it cost but it was less than 200 smackeroos (which is what I could afford [do NOT go in debt]). Then, after five years of mariage, she got a bigger diamond. Same thing at 10 years. 15 will be here this spring. Pretty cool huh?

And, by the way, the deal is reciprocal--she gets me something that is about the same value, that suits my needs/wants--which was a used Hobie 17 at the five year point--which was because she didn't want to sail much anymore; the 17 would allow me to sail when I wanted on a uni rig (well, OK, the boat was a combo christmas/birthday/anniversary gift).

Eat yer hearts out guys!

RickO

Eh, Kate would slaughter me if I sold my boat. She likes it just as much as I do probably. Fact of the matter is I wont be able to afford her what she deserves unless I ditch the boat. Plus, I've got the tornado bug. I've tasted the faster, sleeker, more fun (read: spinnaker) version of cat sailing, and it aint gonna happen while I've still got the 17 around.

On another note, I need to sell the 17 so I can get something that BOTH of us can sail on without her having to be a contortionist to get under the boom :P

Well, not only did I get a spiffy Titanium and Carbon Fiber wedding ring,which is probably the only Ti/CF object I'll ever own, we got 2 trapeze harnesses for wedding presents!

k, thats kinda cool. I wanna see pictures of the ring, does it have that awesome carbon weave look? i'm in the market for a wedding ring, i've never heard of this type. lol congrats!