A sailboat costs $500+ on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace.

We had one when my mom was cleaning a convalescent home as her job, and commuting 35 miles one way to do it.

My dad worked 55+ hours a week, and commuted 60 miles one way to do it.

So unless you think my dad let my mom clean hospital floors and bathrooms while we weren't low income, I'd argue you can.

Are you talking about a real sailboat, or one of those tiny things that boy scouts use in small lakes that one person can easily pick up and carry?

You can buy 14' fly J sailboats with trailer for $500 once in a while, or all the time for $1000.

Obviously it's not some keeled ocean going vessel you keep at the marina.

But let's use your version.. a tiny boy scout dingy you can lift by yourself and put in the water. Should it cost $40 to put that in the water?

No, I agree: a boy scout dingy should not cost $40 to put in the water. A more serious boat, however, I can understand needing higher fees to pay for whatever services are used there.

Who the heck would launch a "real sailboat" on a reservoir?