second hand boat - best age to buy

[ndc333]

> Unlike Tranona though, my needs and desires have changed regularly and I have owned four brand new boats in ten years which is costly.

4!!! is this Goldilocks syndrome? what boats did you have?

 

[jwilson]

I see the attraction with new: our present boat was under a year old when we bought it in 2005 and really was barely used. The owner had a valid reason for selling, and we paid about 80% of the new price - the same model was still in production. It had been fitted out with a "package" of instruments, heater, windlass, and whilst OK, these were not exactly what I'd have chosen.

Looking round at new boats in 2016-17, all the mass market brands have cut build costs, and the boats are in my opinion often worse for long-term life than the equivalents were in 2004-2005, when I was also looking at new/newish boats. If changing again now I'd be very tempted to look for a 10-15 year old boat, but look long and hard to find one that had had a really quiet, coddled life. The saving versus new would be more than enough to completely refit instruments, windlass, heating, etc., put on new Alcantara upholstery, have the bottom AF blasted off to start again from scratch, along with a new feathering prop. Pick the right "base boat" and you could have a better boat than equivalent £££ would buy new.

As others have said, engine hours are almost irrelevant, 99% of yacht marine diesels get replaced because of age and corrosion rather than wearing out. Lots of 3,000-4,000 hour charter boat engines start instantly from cold, no smoke, still smooth - ie just nicely run in....

 

[Garold]

> Unlike Tranona though, my needs and desires have changed regularly and I have owned four brand new boats in ten years which is costly.

4!!! is this Goldilocks syndrome? what boats did you have?

What is Goldilocks syndrome?

But to answer your question: Lagoon 380, Lagoon 400, Beneteau Antares 8.80, Beneteau Oceanis 38.

Garold

 

[ndc333]

too hot, too cold, too big, too small... just right.