topboats.com
boats are not at all like cars. a twenty year old boat could well be a much better boat than a 5 year old one. It depends on the particular boat and boat builder.
wooden boats - don't go there unless you are a boat builder/insane/forumite known as Vas
fibreglass boats last forever - literally! (unless they have balsa corded hulls - need careful checking)
interior furnishings easy to change, navigation stuff easy to change
boat hull type: displacement (slow but steady, not fast but very cheap to run if you have plenty of time)
semi displacement (steady but can do fast but thirsty- however a lovely ride)
planing (best going fast, over 16 - 20 knots or more, planing boats can do slow very well if it's calm)
engines - older engine designs are simpler and less stressed, usually easy to fix
new engines - super clever, but complex and tend to be more highly stressed these days
drives system
shafts - Noah's Ark had shaft drive,probably with a volvo tamd41 engine - it will still be going fine when the sun burns out
shafts are simple, reliable, easy to maintain, rarely fail, but not as fuel efficient as an outdrive.
outdrives - more fuel efficient, great fun to drive, complex, expensive if they fail (see numerous outdrive threads)
IPS drives- claimed to be more fuel efficient, very complex, 2nd mortgage if one goes bang - however they are getting more popular and better understood by mechanics.
what ever you start looking at condition/maintenance is everything. Better to buy a great condition but older, simpler, boat, than a newer high tech unloved one.
