From: jeffh@nonsuch.EBay.Sun.COM (Jeff Huntington)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: Financing, Volvo Diesels, Duoprops, &
Date: 25 Jul 1992 01:24:58 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: jeffh@nonsuch.EBay.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: nonsuch.ebay.sun.com

In article 6140057@hplsla.hp.com, thatchh@hplsla.hp.com (Thatch Harvey) writes:
> 
> 
>    I have a couple of thoughts on the purchase of a new boat. 
> I don't want to discourage you from a new boat purchase, but I personally
> have determined that it makes more sense for me to purchase used boats.
> Unlike David Letterman, I will order my reasons from most important.
>         1. I keep getting bigger boats, so no boat is ever the one that
>            I will have forever.
>         2. There is a substantial investment in outfitting a new boat above
>            and beyond the purchase price. dinghy, canvas, electronics, more
>            electronics, fenders, lines, bigger holding tanks etc.  Most of
>            this stuff is done on a used boat, and you pay very little for it
>            then.
>         3. Insurance, taxes and payments are a lot higher on a new boat.
>            That money could be used for fuel, other toys, trips, investments.
>         4. The depreciation curve seems to be exponential.
>         5. Is the extra nn% cost really going to increase your ability to
>            enjoy the water by a commensurate amount?  There certainly are
>            issues of reliability, lower maintenance etc, but there's always
>            someone willing to lose his shirt on a repowered boat or a low
>            hour boat.
>      
>    My last decision was based on level of accommodation. For a given amount
> of money we could afford, the used boat gave us ten more feet of boat than a
> new one, and it has been worth it.
> 
>     I understand however, how exciting it is to buy a brand new thing that
> no one else has messed with. If you go that way, don't torture yourself about
> the decision the way I do. You made a good one, have fun with it!
> 
>                  Thatch Harvey
> 


OK, this is too much.  I just can't keep from putting in my $.02 worth.

I could not agree with Thatch more.  He has all of the data absolutely correct.
If there is any way that you can buy a used boat (particularly in this market)
and be satisfied with what you can get, by all means do so.  You will absolutely 
save money - maybe even a lot of money.  This is coming from someone who has 
bought quite a few new boats, and is in the process of buying another new one.

Now for another point of view.  (I hope this does not come out as rationalization 
and justification for my stupidity.)  :-)

Eight plus years ago, when we were looking to buy our last boat, we were looking
at used boats.  It turned out we were most attracted to the Catalina 30 at the 
time.  It seemed to meet out criteria.  

1. We could afford on.
2. It was popular in the are (a lot to choose from and likely easy to resell)
3. They sail OK on the bay.

There were also some things we didn't like about it, like:

1. It seems like a small (wanta-be yacht, rather than a larger sail boat.
2. We didn't relly like the looks or layout.
3. There was no really comfortable place for me to sleep.

I am sure there were other pros and cons - it has been over eight years.

The point is, we say a brand new Catalina 27, and it was just what we were looking
for.  A popular, attractive, boat with an interior layout that we really liked.  And,
there was a nice long double berth in the main cabin (no V-beth or Quarter berth
to deal with).  We were able to buy the new Catalina 27 for about the same money 
as a used Catalina 30, and we enjoyed it many times more.  Never regretted the 
decision in the eight years we owned her.

When it came time to buy my next new boat, the used boat market had become so soft
that I knew it would be positively insane to buy a new boat.  So, we search, and 
looked, and sailed, and agonized over what to get.  By this time, our criteria 
had changed.  We wanted a boat to go cruising, and had five very important
criteria to be met.

1. A comfortable double berth (at least 6 ft. 7 in. long) that was not a V-berth,
   quarter berth, under the cockpit sole, or required converting the main salon.
   In a nutshell, a pullman berth.

2. An anchor platform on the bow.

3. Lots of opening ports 

4. Sails well

5. Attractive (to us)

So, what boats fit the bill?  A Nonsuch 33 seemed nice.  In fact, we waited for
years for a used one to become available, and when we sailed it found it just
didn't "feel right" in too many areas.  The Catalina 42 might do, but it didn't
have much in the way of opening ports, and didn't seem to be designed for live
aboard.  I think there was another one or two, that got eliminated and (obviously)
didn't impress us.  It came down to an Island Packet 38 or a Caliber 38/40.  The
berth in the Caliber was not long enough.  Upon investigation,we learned that it
could be made longer - but to do a good job would be a major (read expensive) 
piece of work, and there was doubt as to how it would turn out.  The Island Packet
would do fine just the way it was, and we fell in love with the interior.  However,
we did not like the way the boat looked or sailed.

A new Caliber could be had for about the same money as a used Island Packet.  You
guessed it, we ordered a new Caliber, and had them make the berth longer when 
they built the boat.  And, I am not so sure I am not nuts.  :-)

At least I understand that buying a new boat is not all emotion, there are practical
rationalizations for doing so.  How I envy those of you who can find and enjoy
previously owned boats.  Of course, there is the issue of getting exactly the 
equipment you want, installed where (and the way) you want.

So, echoing what Thatch says, buy used if you possibly can.  If you can't, there
are perfectly valid reason for buying new.  The important thing is to enjoy what
ever you do.  That is why we buy boats in the first place (I think).  ;-)

Jeff Huntington



Newsgroups: rec.boats