Long for a yacht but on a beer budget? There's a way to fulfill your dream – boat sharing.

Fractional boat ownership has caught on in recent years, allowing those who can't afford a vessel on their own a way to take to the water.

Mad Mariner's Tom Tripp explained it all in a recent story on the trend.

He says that in a typical fractional program, a yacht is offered to a limited number of part-owners, anywhere from two to 10, depending on the size of the boat. A fixed investment, proportional to the owners' share in the boat, is the typical starting point.

But, as Tripp points out, there can be a lot of pitfalls to idea, especially for inexperienced boaters with unrealistic expectations.

Exploring boat clubs is one way for those looking to get their feet wet to try on the lifestyle before taking the dive into ownership. Some clubs allow members to rent from their fleet as part of membership.