Whether it's the three rivers or the seven seas, nothing beats sailing in style. Three manufacturers that cater to sailors who need more than a vinyl bench and running lights to float their boat are the New Jersey-based Silverton and Bluewater Yachts and Searay.

All three offer sleek exteriors coupled with sophisticated interior design. With top-of-the-line galleys, first-class cabins and plenty of lounging space, these crafts are as comfortable and luxurious as a mini Queen Mary.

"The larger boats use a lot of the finer materials that you'd expect in high-end homes," says Jay Sharer, marketing manager at Fox Chapel Marine, the largest boat dealer in the Tri-State area. This kind of floating fun will cost from $350,000 to $2 million, according to Mr. Sharer. Of course, that price tag depends on what the boat is outfitted with.

"Teak and holly wood floors, suede headliners, leather seating surfaces, granite and Corian countertops, as well as flat-screen TVs, tracking and stabilized satellite dishes, and Bose home theater surround sound are common on these models," he says.

For many, these are their summer homes, and other than the sound of lapping water or a gentle rocking motion once inside, it's easy to forget you are on a boat. Fox Chapel Marine, next to the Fox Chapel Yacht Club off Old Freeport Road, sells about three or four in the $500,000-and-up price range each year, and many of the buyers are local business owners who use the boat to entertain clients as well as personal use. Once you buy the boat (especially in Pittsburgh) you have to think about annual winterization costs, dockage fees, regular maintenance and filling up. "A 40-foot boat, for example, would hold about 350 gallons of fuel, so at $5 a gallon it would cost $1,750 to fill up," explains Mr. Sharer. You know you can't afford it if you have to sell the house and cash out that 401(k) just to push off dock. But dreaming is free.

SOURCES

www.silverton.com

www.searay.com

www.bluewateryacht.com

www.foxchapelmarine.com