I keep coming back to this thread every week or two and I can't help thinking that all the talk of hull shape and cabin design and weight and speed are still all secondary to price when it comes to bringing new people in. The first sailboat I purchased at age 21 was a used international 420. I think I paid $1200, including the trailer, and I rented a slip on a lake for maybe $300 for the season, probably less. Thirty years ago I sold a 30 footer (purchased for $14,000 and sold for $12,000) and got out of boat ownership for awhile (kids, etc. don't ask). After twenty of those years I thought about buying a daysailer and looked at new models. Fell in love with the Colgate 26 until I looked at the price: about $40,000 at the time and $50,000 now. Well, forget that for something I might use one or two days a weekend 15-20 weekends a year. Eventually I picked up a Hunter 25.5 for $3500. Sold that recently and I'm looking for something 31-35 feet for less than $20,000. It will cost me $4-$6,000 every winter and about $2,000 every summer. I love to sail, but I will never use a boat often enough to justify more money. My kids won't either. If I could get a new boat at the top of my price range I'd get to the dealer so fast the wind would move your boats. It may just be that the material and labor costs have gotten so high that new sailboats will never be a mass market item again.
By the way, I tend to buy $35,000 cars off lease for $20-22,000, keep them for six or so years, and trade them in for $8-9,000. I am cheap, but I don't think my economic situation or attitude is very unusual.
