Just a silly thought.....

[Capt. Kermie]

New Sails for Sale

With the anticipated Boomers retirement into adventure land, there should be no shortage of "new" buyers getting your next previously enjoyed boat. I have heard here & there that boomers hold the nations wealth and plan to spend a fair amount of it on their retirement, be it motorhomes, big motorcycles, boats of all kinds, 5th wheels or just some travel aventure, but they can't take it with them so many will spend it. I bought my little MacGregor 26M brand new in 2003 and that is my retirement project as I will retire next year. At the time it never occurred to us to buy used, my wife liked it when she saw it at the boat show so we saved and bought it. In hindsight I think it is better to buy used and let someone else enjoy the first half of ownership as I have discovered first hand how expensive it is to outfit a brand new boat. That said I still have no regrets because I never bought it as a financial investment but moreso as a retirement investment to enjoy the fruits of my many years of labour. I plan to get a lot out of it. The one downside to big boat ownership is the lack of slips available in some areas, there seems to be some rather long waiting lists in the more prime location marinas. Owning a trailerable is a palatable aternative for me. As a pundit speculating here is some food for thought; what is to become of all those toys that boomers keep buying and who is going to purchase them? Given the boomers are a population peak then the buyers must be a population valley, which means more sellers selling toys than buyers able to buy them. Perhaps the future holds some very good deals to be had in the used market for those willing to wait.

 

[Capt. Kermie]

New Sails for Sale

With the anticipated Boomers retirement into adventure land, there should be no shortage of "new" buyers getting your next previously enjoyed boat. I have heard here & there that boomers hold the nations wealth and plan to spend a fair amount of it on their retirement, be it motorhomes, big motorcycles, boats of all kinds, 5th wheels or just some travel aventure, but they can't take it with them so many will spend it. I bought my little MacGregor 26M brand new in 2003 and that is my retirement project as I will retire next year. At the time it never occurred to us to buy used, my wife liked it when she saw it at the boat show so we saved and bought it. In hindsight I think it is better to buy used and let someone else enjoy the first half of ownership as I have discovered first hand how expensive it is to outfit a brand new boat. That said I still have no regrets because I never bought it as a financial investment but moreso as a retirement investment to enjoy the fruits of my many years of labour. I plan to get a lot out of it. The one downside to big boat ownership is the lack of slips available in some areas, there seems to be some rather long waiting lists in the more prime location marinas. Owning a trailerable is a palatable aternative for me. As a pundit speculating here is some food for thought; what is to become of all those toys that boomers keep buying and who is going to purchase them? Given the boomers are a population peak then the buyers must be a population valley, which means more sellers selling toys than buyers able to buy them. Perhaps the future holds some very good deals to be had in the used market for those willing to wait.

 

[Steve]

I Got Mine

Twenty years on Army pay. Now working with seriously injured warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan. Did not put a lot of money in a 401K but you can't beat parachuting into Alaska, walking jungle trails in Panama, or going into a hot LZ on a Blackhawk in Iraq...or helping a wounded warrior live his/her dream.My memories are much greater than my bank account. If I waited until I could afford a $ 200.000.00 boat it just might be from my life insurance payment.I can afford what I have now. I sail the same waters as the big (and expensive) boys/girls do. My children see the same sunsets. I am grateful someone took care of thier new boat, so I can sail her still.We may not go around the world...but, wherever we go, my family is sharing the experience together...and I saved $ 185.000.00.

 

[Steve]

I Got Mine

Twenty years on Army pay. Now working with seriously injured warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan. Did not put a lot of money in a 401K but you can't beat parachuting into Alaska, walking jungle trails in Panama, or going into a hot LZ on a Blackhawk in Iraq...or helping a wounded warrior live his/her dream.My memories are much greater than my bank account. If I waited until I could afford a $ 200.000.00 boat it just might be from my life insurance payment.I can afford what I have now. I sail the same waters as the big (and expensive) boys/girls do. My children see the same sunsets. I am grateful someone took care of thier new boat, so I can sail her still.We may not go around the world...but, wherever we go, my family is sharing the experience together...and I saved $ 185.000.00.

 

[Patrick S/V Shangra-La]

Took a Year and a half

to find my present boat, I.m the third owner. I like to let others put the toys on the boat so I can enjoy it. There are many used boats for sale but there are onley a few exceptional boats for sale. When I found this one, it was eight years old, it looked brand new, with every toy a sailor could want except radar. The price for the boat with everything on it was much better than I could get for a new one, then adding the toys myself. I watched my broaker as we viewed this boat, and I believe he would have bought this boat himself if I had not. Yes it is a trade off, pay more for new with the warranty, or be prepaired to repair as you go. I was right because of the quality of the PO I have had to pay very little to enjoy a boat that looks, smells, and sails like a new on.

 

[Patrick S/V Shangra-La]

Took a Year and a half

to find my present boat, I.m the third owner. I like to let others put the toys on the boat so I can enjoy it. There are many used boats for sale but there are onley a few exceptional boats for sale. When I found this one, it was eight years old, it looked brand new, with every toy a sailor could want except radar. The price for the boat with everything on it was much better than I could get for a new one, then adding the toys myself. I watched my broaker as we viewed this boat, and I believe he would have bought this boat himself if I had not. Yes it is a trade off, pay more for new with the warranty, or be prepaired to repair as you go. I was right because of the quality of the PO I have had to pay very little to enjoy a boat that looks, smells, and sails like a new on.

 

[ChuckThomas]

crazy thing

the newer the boats and/or bigger the boats, the less they seem to move. that is the case it seems in Mandeville anyway. Anyone else notice that?

 

[ChuckThomas]

crazy thing

the newer the boats and/or bigger the boats, the less they seem to move. that is the case it seems in Mandeville anyway. Anyone else notice that?

 

[JungleJetJock]

Well...

People certainly buy new boats to make used boats for those of us that are a little more frugal with our savings. I bought my H260 from a guy who thought he and his wife might like sailing but turns out, they didn't. They had been into power boating for years and loved that but sailing didn't agree with them (or probably more likely her). Because of that I bought a boat that needed a little cleaning and routine maintenance but was otherwise unworn and unused for a song. It was exactly the boat I was looking for to sail on my lake but at a lot less money than the dealer was asking (even for used).

 

[JungleJetJock]

Well...

People certainly buy new boats to make used boats for those of us that are a little more frugal with our savings. I bought my H260 from a guy who thought he and his wife might like sailing but turns out, they didn't. They had been into power boating for years and loved that but sailing didn't agree with them (or probably more likely her). Because of that I bought a boat that needed a little cleaning and routine maintenance but was otherwise unworn and unused for a song. It was exactly the boat I was looking for to sail on my lake but at a lot less money than the dealer was asking (even for used).

 

[Joe Daly]

New or used

Frank, Thank you for this post. We as sailors either own a new boat or a new to us sail boat owner.It is only a matter of our own makeup as an indivdual. Some buy used cars somealways new ( not really a comparison). I have the log of the original owner of Trinity and I have read it and know she was dear to the owner who picked out the spec's and wanted this particular design. I found her and being the third owner feel just as connected as the original sailor. I have made many upgrades but affordable to me. A new boat was out of the question. So it is a qusetion of economics and ability to repair,upgrade or do whatever it takes to make a sail boat yours. Sailboat ownership is absolutly a luxurey in this day and age no matter who we are. But I sure don't mind working to hold on to sailing my sloop. Regards to all, Joe s/v Trinity

 

[Joe Daly]

New or used

Frank, Thank you for this post. We as sailors either own a new boat or a new to us sail boat owner.It is only a matter of our own makeup as an indivdual. Some buy used cars somealways new ( not really a comparison). I have the log of the original owner of Trinity and I have read it and know she was dear to the owner who picked out the spec's and wanted this particular design. I found her and being the third owner feel just as connected as the original sailor. I have made many upgrades but affordable to me. A new boat was out of the question. So it is a qusetion of economics and ability to repair,upgrade or do whatever it takes to make a sail boat yours. Sailboat ownership is absolutly a luxurey in this day and age no matter who we are. But I sure don't mind working to hold on to sailing my sloop. Regards to all, Joe s/v Trinity

 

[Dick Dixon]

Just keep one thing in mind, Frank.......

I'm currently sailing your next boat! And I promise to continue taking care of it.Dick

 

[Dick Dixon]

Just keep one thing in mind, Frank.......

I'm currently sailing your next boat! And I promise to continue taking care of it.Dick

 

[Stu Jackson]

Bigger boat use, re #13

Yes, we've seen that. We try to mess up that theory that "the amount of use a boat gets is inversely proportional to its length." We use our C34 more than the C22 and C25 that came before. We may be among the few...

 

[Stu Jackson]

Bigger boat use, re #13

Yes, we've seen that. We try to mess up that theory that "the amount of use a boat gets is inversely proportional to its length." We use our C34 more than the C22 and C25 that came before. We may be among the few...

 

[Stillraining]

Stu and Chuck

I always laugh when I hear that quote! " The bigger the boat the less it's sailed" The same can be said for the mansion on the hill " The bigger the house the less it's lived in"I always have looked at it this way: "What ever they are doing to enable them to aford it also keeps them away from it". Thats not nessarly a bad thing! They sill own it !!When I was 17 and owned a MAC21 with 3 other 17 year old partners I sailed a lot and was broke a lot! Now I sail little but I always have money. But I sure as heck aint tradin my 41 for a 17. I would not be able to sail the 17 1 day more then the 41 because I like havin money so I work. Do you see my point? Those 50'+ boats you seem to see always sittin, is not due to the fact that the guy or gal has to work to pay for it "heck they probably paid cash", I did.  They are just busy doing what they always have done. Buying the boat was something they always wanted to do just like you and me. They are just busy, busy people, like me in the summer time. I love summer weather but I dont get to sail much because I'm always workin ( Excavation contractor ). When I do get time off it's in the winter and it aint fit for sailin most of the time. Does my boat sit alot Yes, do I care yes, but there isint much i can do about it until I semi retire. Would selling the big boat and buying a 20 footer get me out on the water more. NO! I cant make any more time for a 20 footer then a 41 footer. My boat is not the drain on my finances, and I will bet you those big boats you see sittin arn't theirs either. The only way I could sail a LOT more would be a compleat overhaul of our lifstyle. Im just not willing to do that and eather are they, NOT YET ANYWAY!! I still have 3 girls to get thru collage and 10 years left to pay off the house. Then we'll talk.  Someone made a post the other day that they sailed 122 days last year. Shoot I dont know if I hit that mark @ 17 almost dead broke most of the time and with time on my hands. But I sure do admire their ability to do it.  This is just my observation of the big boat owners that I know. Stu: Like you, I think I do use the big boat more then if I did own a 20 footer, just for the fact that I like being on it, even if it's not in the water I want to be on it. I only worked a half day today so I swung by it and just sat in it, drinkin a cold! beer form the fridge dreamin and tinkerin. Edit: OH Frank ! I almost died laghin when I read your post. I have always joked around with my wife and kids about other people driving around in our next car, boat whatever saying their just breaking it in for us or making sure were not gettin a lemmon. As a mater of fact a close friend is driven my new PU right now. He paid 35k for it in 2001 and it's still looks almost brand new I will be buying it from him for 7K this summer with 110,000 on it. Thats how I buy stuff, To each his own.

 

[Stillraining]

Stu and Chuck

I always laugh when I hear that quote! " The bigger the boat the less it's sailed" The same can be said for the mansion on the hill " The bigger the house the less it's lived in"I always have looked at it this way: "What ever they are doing to enable them to aford it also keeps them away from it". Thats not nessarly a bad thing! They sill own it !!When I was 17 and owned a MAC21 with 3 other 17 year old partners I sailed a lot and was broke a lot! Now I sail little but I always have money. But I sure as heck aint tradin my 41 for a 17. I would not be able to sail the 17 1 day more then the 41 because I like havin money so I work. Do you see my point? Those 50'+ boats you seem to see always sittin, is not due to the fact that the guy or gal has to work to pay for it "heck they probably paid cash", I did.  They are just busy doing what they always have done. Buying the boat was something they always wanted to do just like you and me. They are just busy, busy people, like me in the summer time. I love summer weather but I dont get to sail much because I'm always workin ( Excavation contractor ). When I do get time off it's in the winter and it aint fit for sailin most of the time. Does my boat sit alot Yes, do I care yes, but there isint much i can do about it until I semi retire. Would selling the big boat and buying a 20 footer get me out on the water more. NO! I cant make any more time for a 20 footer then a 41 footer. My boat is not the drain on my finances, and I will bet you those big boats you see sittin arn't theirs either. The only way I could sail a LOT more would be a compleat overhaul of our lifstyle. Im just not willing to do that and eather are they, NOT YET ANYWAY!! I still have 3 girls to get thru collage and 10 years left to pay off the house. Then we'll talk.  Someone made a post the other day that they sailed 122 days last year. Shoot I dont know if I hit that mark @ 17 almost dead broke most of the time and with time on my hands. But I sure do admire their ability to do it.  This is just my observation of the big boat owners that I know. Stu: Like you, I think I do use the big boat more then if I did own a 20 footer, just for the fact that I like being on it, even if it's not in the water I want to be on it. I only worked a half day today so I swung by it and just sat in it, drinkin a cold! beer form the fridge dreamin and tinkerin. Edit: OH Frank ! I almost died laghin when I read your post. I have always joked around with my wife and kids about other people driving around in our next car, boat whatever saying their just breaking it in for us or making sure were not gettin a lemmon. As a mater of fact a close friend is driven my new PU right now. He paid 35k for it in 2001 and it's still looks almost brand new I will be buying it from him for 7K this summer with 110,000 on it. Thats how I buy stuff, To each his own.

 

[Schoolhouse Steve]

New boats

I found my first boat in a trash can when I was in the third grade. It was only 3 feet long and had no mast or sails. My mom helped me rig and sew the sails. I learned to sail this boat in the family swimming pool making trips of 40 feet each way. My next boat was a used 16 foot daysailer I bought just to see If I was really interested in this sport. Then I bought a used 25 footer which was big enough to sleep inside. After sailing and saving for 18 years, I bought a brand new Mac 26 for my 55th birthday present because I could and because it fits the needs of the local area I sail in. Some day in the future, if I could afford a bigger boat, used or new, I would do it. I've given up on other sports, {white water rafting, skiing, motorcycles, dog sledding} in order to spend more time and money on my boat. I'm sure all of us spend as much as we can afford on our boats,whatever our means. But yes, some of us do buy new boats once in our lives.

 

[Schoolhouse Steve]

New boats

I found my first boat in a trash can when I was in the third grade. It was only 3 feet long and had no mast or sails. My mom helped me rig and sew the sails. I learned to sail this boat in the family swimming pool making trips of 40 feet each way. My next boat was a used 16 foot daysailer I bought just to see If I was really interested in this sport. Then I bought a used 25 footer which was big enough to sleep inside. After sailing and saving for 18 years, I bought a brand new Mac 26 for my 55th birthday present because I could and because it fits the needs of the local area I sail in. Some day in the future, if I could afford a bigger boat, used or new, I would do it. I've given up on other sports, {white water rafting, skiing, motorcycles, dog sledding} in order to spend more time and money on my boat. I'm sure all of us spend as much as we can afford on our boats,whatever our means. But yes, some of us do buy new boats once in our lives.