Boat prices

[Tranona]

People don't want sub 30ft boats anymore? Don't quite believe that. We've no need for a rear cabin or a rear heads - only the wife and I. To be honest I wouldn't choose to have a 30ft+ boat unless regularly cruising with company or had a family interested in sailing.

@SiteSurfer Nice boat, but probably verging on the too big for us

You may be surprised at how attractive a larger boat can be once you have tried one - and have the means to run it. Not unusual to start with a smaller boat then discover you like it and recognise the limitations. More things are possible with a larger boat. Despite the talk here of large "starter" boats, most people start small and move up - but often then downsize in later years.

Enjoy learning and exploring in your new boat, but would be surprised if you like it and then don't have the urge to expand your horizons.

 

[jonjo]

Despite the talk here of large "starter" boats, most people start small and move up - but often then downsize in later years.

Libby Purves wrote an article in her column on this phenomena a few years ago. Her claim is that everyone really wants a 35 ft yacht but it takes a sailing lifetime to realize this fact.

It just happened that she and her husband had downsized to a Biscay 36 at the time.

 

[Otter]

If this is the one I'm finding, it's already had a price drop from asking £25,000 to £17,500. Rather illustrates OP's point.

That one does look pretty clean and capable to me, though. Not sure if we're talking about the same boat.

A Contessa 32 isn't a 32 foot boat, it's a 28 foot boat that measures 32 foot long. It's cramped, dark, wet and slow but golly it's good looking and rock solid safe in any weather. Designed and built in the days when the quality yardstick was an ability to withstand a gale at sea. There are much better 32 footers these days - unless good looks and withstanding a gale at sea are what you're into.

 

[Tranona]

Libby Purves wrote an article in her column on this phenomena a few years ago. Her claim is that everyone really wants a 35 ft yacht but it takes a sailing lifetime to realize this fact.

It just happened that she and her husband had downsized to a Biscay 36 at the time.

The upsized to a Victoria 38 when their requirements changed and Paul wanted to go to S America and back. Obviously successful as they are just spending big time to do a major refit.

Size, as they say, is all relative to what your objectives are in owning a boat.

I have just downsized (a little bit) to get a boat more appropriate to my new circumstances, aiming to retain as much of the good points of the bigger boat while eliminating some of the constraints that go with the size.

 

[thecommander]

We'd obviously love to own a 35ft boat but we simply cannot afford the running costs of a larger boat.

 

[Tranona]

We'd obviously love to own a 35ft boat but we simply cannot afford the running costs of a larger boat.

That is the point. If you can't afford it then it no longer seems fun. Many people do arrive at that point having traded up over the years and then find the big boat too much so the fun goes away. That is when some sensibly downsize.

Hopefully as you develop your sailing career you will be able to move up and find as many do the joys of being able to cruise further and faster.

 

[SiteSurfer]

We'd obviously love to own a 35ft boat but we simply cannot afford the running costs of a larger boat.

My limit was reached by means of the costs attached to mooring and berthing. Once I had figured that the magical size was around 28ft I set my sights on something that size.
There seems to be a hike at 22ft, 29ft and 32ft (from my rough pricing expeditions) which of course isn't a global set in stone calculation but what I found when looking around.

I don't think that apart from the berthing costs the running costs for a 32 footer are that much different to a 28 footer, I can see a bit of a hike from then upwards as the equipment gets a bit more heavy duty and numerous. Is that about right?

 

[Just_sayin']

Another two in discussions over good offers now as well.....I'm running out of stock!

Probably because you keep reducing the prices.

I'm on your email list.

 

[lw395]

A Contessa 32 isn't a 32 foot boat, it's a 28 foot boat that measures 32 foot long. It's cramped, dark, wet and slow but golly it's good looking and rock solid safe in any weather. Designed and built in the days when the quality yardstick was an ability to withstand a gale at sea. There are much better 32 footers these days - unless good looks and withstanding a gale at sea are what you're into.

Plus a lot of them are equipped with worn out 30 year old gear that breaks as soon as you show it a gusty force 6.
Design is only one element of seaworthiness.
I know someone who has possibly the best fettled Co32, I think his bills for replacement parts would have bought my Impala?

 

[rwoofer]

Libby Purves wrote an article in her column on this phenomena a few years ago. Her claim is that everyone really wants a 35 ft yacht but it takes a sailing lifetime to realize this fact.

It just happened that she and her husband had downsized to a Biscay 36 at the time.

I'm obviously finding it harder to learn than most. Went from 23ft all the way up to 44ft and all the way back down to 20ft. Now thinking I might get something a little bigger, but no idea where that thinking might end again.....

 

[Minchsailor]

I don't think that apart from the berthing costs the running costs for a 32 footer are that much different to a 28 footer, I can see a bit of a hike from then upwards as the equipment gets a bit more heavy duty and numerous. Is that about right?

Having gone some 3 years ago from 32ft to 36ft, I would say that costs (excluding berthing) are up to 50% more.

 

[pvb]

Having gone some 3 years ago from 32ft to 36ft, I would say that costs (excluding berthing) are up to 50% more.

Which costs are 50% more?

 

[Ceirwan]

Plus a lot of them are equipped with worn out 30 year old gear that breaks as soon as you show it a gusty force 6.
Design is only one element of seaworthiness.
I know someone who has possibly the best fettled Co32, I think his bills for replacement parts would have bought my Impala?

This exactly was my point.
Some people scoff at newer boats, but a lot of the time buying an older boat is false economy.
Sure the hull might be extremely seaworthy but with worn out gear, an unreliable engine rusting away under the companionway, expired hoses onto expired through hulls, a rats nest electrical installation that's probably ready to catch fire, worn out varnish, water damaged woodwork.

That sounds like I'm describing the extreme case, but there are a lot of boats with owners asking dream money that fit into this description. By the time all that stuffs been upgraded, you could have bought that new boat.
Keeping an old boat seaworthy requires maintenance and money, something they seldom seem to receive.

 

[SiteSurfer]

I think whats important (and it was to me anyway) is that you may have a budget 'chunk' to buy the boat and then (if like me) you are working and are happy to spread the cost gradually, the buy cheap(ish) and refit is possibly the only option.

Most people want to get going now rather than patiently save that extra 3 or 4 grand, which whilst to some on here is chump change - isn't to me.

 

[thecommander]

We spent the last few years dreaming about buying a 90s 36 footer (Bavaria, Benny sort of thing) then realised we didn't have as much money as we thought so bought a 23 footer instead.

SWMBO still isn't happy (I think she wanted a mobile home sized boat). I'm ambivalent towards it because the extra space that comes with a 36 foot boat would have rarely been used (friends/family aren't interested in boating) however I believe something around the 26-28 foot mark would have been perfect because they usually have full standing head room, a decent forward berth, a seaworthy hull and possibly something easier to sail short handed. Always next time

 

[lw395]

This exactly was my point.
Some people scoff at newer boats, but a lot of the time buying an older boat is false economy.
Sure the hull might be extremely seaworthy but with worn out gear, an unreliable engine rusting away under the companionway, expired hoses onto expired through hulls, a rats nest electrical installation that's probably ready to catch fire, worn out varnish, water damaged woodwork.

That sounds like I'm describing the extreme case, but there are a lot of boats with owners asking dream money that fit into this description. By the time all that stuffs been upgraded, you could have bought that new boat.
Keeping an old boat seaworthy requires maintenance and money, something they seldom seem to receive.

You forgot worn upholstery and that smell!

There are many really nice, well cared for older boats out there, they are not often the ones for sale though!

 

[lw395]

We spent the last few years dreaming about buying a 90s 36 footer (Bavaria, Benny sort of thing) then realised we didn't have as much money as we thought so bought a 23 footer instead.

SWMBO still isn't happy (I think she wanted a mobile home sized boat). I'm ambivalent towards it because the extra space that comes with a 36 foot boat would have rarely been used (friends/family aren't interested in boating) however I believe something around the 26-28 foot mark would have been perfect because they usually have full standing head room, a decent forward berth, a seaworthy hull and possibly something easier to sail short handed. Always next time

It's better to have a smaller boat and get good use out of it than either no boat, or a big boat you don't use enough.
When you start out, there are lots of more local places to go, but after a few seasons, I found I wanted to go further, so a bigger boat seemed called for.
Having sold my bigger boat, I sometimes regret ever selling the Impala. But being sort of in the trade, and having plenty of friends with bigger boats, I get more offered sailing than I have time for, in between having gone back to dinghy racing.
I don't think that many 28ft boats have full standing headroom, at least for me.
I'll be in the market again either this coming winter (is it spring yet?) or next.

 

[Judders]

I think harking back to an old boat is pretty common. Indeed I think in the same Libby Purves column referred to earlier in the thread she talks about the simplicity of their 'folkboat day's. I hope that one day I'm getting misty eyed about the Impala whilst sitting down around the saloon table set for six people for dinner, the crockery from which will be washed up in warm water. I won't of had to queue for the marina shower having used the one onboard and I shall patiently point out to SWMBO that there is plenty of work surface in the galley so she needn't put the pudding out on the chart table. Oh how I shall wax lyrical about how much better it was in our Impala...

 

[Minchsailor]

Which costs are 50% more?

Larger engine uses more fuel, more complicated systems to maintain, sails are bigger and have to be made from heavier gauge cloth, ropes (halyards, sheets, warps) all need to be longer and bigger. Bigger gauge rigging and longer. Larger fenders. Blocks need to be the next size up. Heavier anchor and chain.

You might argue that these are one time costs, and not part of routine running costs. But once a boat is past its first few years, 'something' needs replacing each year. There is another thread on Boat Prices; the conclusion I have reached is that there are a lot of boats out there lacking in routine TLC where the owner has over expectation of their worth. I saw them when I was looking for mine.

 

[doug748]

"there are a lot of boats out there lacking in routine TLC where the owner has over expectation of their worth. I saw them when I was looking for mine. "


And it is gonna get worse. Who would spend money on an old boat now? You are almost certainly throwing it away, in terms of resale value. So the quality of old stock will be reducing as the attraction of a brand new, shiny, boat grows.
With a generation less willing, or able, to fettle the boat becomes a disposable consumer durable - great news for builders.