Used that is-what most of us buy to go sailing. Compare it to other family recreation, say downhill skiing which remains popular, it's cost competitive. The skiing industry-ski areas, equipment- promotes to keep itself viable.

Compared to recreational sailing, it's grown by leaps and bounds. If anything, skiing has taken on a higher price tag for a family in the last couple decades. Has the cost for a young family to sail increased proportionally? The boats may be cheaper than ever right now but the cost to keep them may have more than made up for that.

Recreational sailing was never as popular as skiing or golf(in this era). Even sailing as a kid, 9 out of 10 on the water then were motor boaters. And as you say, sailing is also pretty regional and strongest on the coasts. When our kids say they sail to people away from this area of the coast, they get a similar surprised look. We're a rare set of recreators.