Episode #217 "Out To Launch"

 Hilton inherits a boat from Mr. Phipps, whose life Hilton saved when he grabbed his wheelchair before it hurtled headlong down an escalator. Hilton is elated – he’s always wanted to own a boat. But when the vessel, "My Summer Home," is parked in front of the Lucas home, Ruth’s first thought is that the upkeep (including parking tickets) will be very expensive. Ruth forcefully tells Hilton they should sell the boat, but Hilton won’t hear of it, and instead drags Griffin with him as he goes off to join a yacht club. There they’re expected to buy several rounds of Champagne for the membership, and begin to worry about just how expensive owning a boat could be. Ruth reminds Hilton that there’s also registration, insurance, and maintenance to consider. Ruth also reminds him that boats aren’t very spacious, and since Hilton needs his space, he wouldn’t be able to live on a boat for even three days. Hilton rises to the challenge and declares that he’ll live on the boat, on the street for three days and if he can’t, he’ll go along with Ruth and sell it. Hilton then enlists Griffin, who is less than thrilled, to be his "crew" during this experiment. The neighbors are fascinated, the parking tickets keep on coming, and Hilton and Griffin are "afloat." Soon they are cramped, cold and bored, while Ruth and Pauline, cozy in the living room and eating snacks, watch them from the window. Things start to look grim for the ‘sailors’ when Griffin confesses he’s eaten their entire supply of food and has taken a half-hour shower, depleting their water supply. The end comes when the boat is towed away, and Hilton sells it to the cop at the impound lot.