Where Do Boats Go When They Get Old?

[Ducati]

Not sure if it's because of the economy but I have recently noticed that fewer younger people are buying sailboats. That observation also makes me wonder what will happen to all of those beautiful vessels owned by people who are now in their 60's and 70's. In my area I estimate 40%-50% of the boats make up that demographic. What will happen when they finally stop sailing? Visit Yachtworld, look up "sailboats 25'-40'-1980-2011" and you will see that there are almost 12000 for sale (world wide).

Sailboats are not like automobiles which eventually rust and then are scrapped, they stick around forever.

Based on all of that my question is this: What will happen to all of these boats and what effect might this that have on overall boat price valuations?

 

[Charlie13958]

Some people are grinding the glass and mixing with concrete. You may be driving on the old boats in the future.

 

[woodster]

Based on all of that my question is this: What will happen to all of these boats and what effect might this that have on overall boat price valuations?

one would assume that they will go the way of the housing market...when there are to manny homes for sail the prices go way down...supply and demand if you will....the same will happen with boats as well.....it will be a buyers market for sure...happened in the 70's and will happen again or maybe happing right now...but the cost for a new one will not drop as low in proportion as used ones...materials prices take longer to drop.....but when they drop it will be short lived because there is a point in manurfacturing when it will cost more to produce those materials.......

regards

woody

 

[Tim R.]

They do not stick around forever. They sit for a few years until the lack of proper maintenance makes them too expensive to fix or continue owning. Boat yards seize them, part them out and then they get chopped and recycled.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Just think of what 'dem kids are missin'. Makes me sound like my parents!

I enjoy it while I still can, and don't worry about my boat's next owner. He's out there somewhere, and he'll get a really good boat. After I'm gone!

 

[Steve Dion]

Once it cost more to repair them than they are worth.....

It they have a lead keel, they cut it off for scrap and cut the rest of the boat up and haul it to the dump. We just had a couple in our marina that when that way.

 

[HukilauMike]

Not sure if it's because of the economy but I have recently noticed that fewer younger people are buying sailboats. /quote]

This is no surprise at all, and I don't think it has much to do with the economy. Just compare the ages of the crowds at a power boat vs. sail boat show. Lots and lots of young people with young kids at the last power boat show I attended (in the dead of winter; I just needed a boating fix). In fact, I would say the overwhelming majority of the attendees at the power boat show were families where the parents looked to be around 30, with kids under 10 years old. Contrast that with the crowd at the sail portion of the just-concluded Newport Boat Show. Just about all of us crawling over the sail boats were middle aged or older. I don't remember seeing a single young family, or even seeing many who looked to be under 40 years old. Fewer and fewer people are going sailing.

 

[RON20406]

Tim and Steve have answered the above question very well. And, Mike's observation concerning potential sailboat buyers is, I believe, a direct result of our changing generations. In an age of instant gratification, minimal thought and commitment to a "pastime" where time is a pre-eminent consideration, and "I want it and I want it now" is their mantra, what better choice for these people with a push button mentality than a powerboat? This observation is not meant to criticize or degrade owners of powerboats, but rather to honestly account for their popularity versus that of owning a sailboat. As we all know, a sailboat is a commitment to time and effort for both its maintenance and its use. And, one who owns a sailboat is not only enamored of its style and beauty but the mechanics that magically move it through the water. For us, these things are irreplaceable and will forever define and separate us from our subsequent generations. Good luck and good sailing, Ron

 

[gpdno]

Well the gentleman I purchased my boat from was in his late eighties. Had not sailed her at for the last few years. Now that I bought her she gets to go sailing every couple of days. She's a good old boat and I hope to have her for many more years.

 

[tommays]

1970 Cal 29

1970 C&C 35 mark I

Zzzoom and Seafever are both 1970 hulls and kept young as both hulls have a loyal following BUT in twenty to thirty more years at 60 to 70 plus years old it will be interesting to see how the insurance company's want to handle them as they already carry and age based detectable regardless of there condition

 

[zeehag]

from what i see, the oldsters are sailing their boats to mexico and leaving them to rot or become part of mexican scenery or be taken over by mexican government. seems for a coupla years they will pay slippage, but they get tired of this or die and boat goes to boat hell.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I am 34 and my wife is 30. We are young in the sailing community. I have been sailing all of my life. My wife is just learning the ropes and I hope that she sticks with it.

I have a friend who is slipped this next to me that is probably mid 30s to upper 30s. We are probably younger by 10 years from the next person and the average person is over 20 years senior to us at our marina. I would love to see more people my age in the sport.

I believe that a lot of people my age do not have the money to own a boat or don't want to have the income to. I also believe that the younger sailors tend to be racers more often than cruisers with a lot of them being crew.

People my age often have kids and they make it hard to get, maintain, and afford a boat. The economy has taken a down turn so that adds to the money issues. A lot of people my age are also very focused on their careers and work a lot.

Add to this the way a lot of people are in the younger generations. People are getting married later, starting their career later, and having kids later. They don't seem to mature until much later.

Just a few observations.

 

[gpd955]

I'm doing my part and grooming this one!

 

[kenn]

I find that unless they were were brought up in boating or blessed with a summer cottage, it's unlikely that many younger people will be attracted to sailing.

Yes, there's perception of cost, though we all know that with careful choice of a good used boat and some DIY input, the actual annual cost is quite reasonable. (Our total annual cost of keeping and sailing a small boat is less than a year's worth of one Starbucks coffee per business day)

It has more to do with the fact that after high-school, most people are just too damn busy trying to find their way, get established, eke out a living, and maybe start a family. The nature and commitment of boating just doesn't jibe ( ) with a nonstop lifestyle lived in short bursts.

Me - I always liked the water and completed some sailing courses in high school, but my sailing was done mainly on windsurfers. My wife and I, looking for something to do together, decided to get our small boat in our late 40s, and it was an instant hit, on just about every level. I used to regret not doing this sooner... but now I'm just thrilled to have something that engages us and that we can hopefully do together for the next 20 years.

Where do boats go when they're old? To frugal owners like me!

 

[Joe]

Around here they become target practice for the navy, or sunk for artificial fishing reefs.

 

[Jimm]

See May 2011 issue of Spinsheet (pg51-52) for an explanation........

http://issuu.com/cdeere/docs/spinsheet0511

 

[rgranger]

I'm doing my part and grooming this one!

Those are some fortunate kids....

Great pics, thanks for sharing.

 

[CrawJac]

Being a younger sailor (in my 20's) the main drawback to sailing is the costs.

Here in Savannah you can pick up a center console for about the same price as a decent sailboat, but you don't have to pay for as much upkeep. When you factor in the cost of the slip, upkeep, parts, and time it is no wonder that the younger crowd goes for the cheaper, more manageable options.

But, when the increasing number of sailboats coming up for sail hopefully it will drive the costs of boats down to give those of us with less disposable income a chance to pick up a nice boat or used parts.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

to answer the OP....

They take them to Florida, where they become liveaboard homes until they sink. then the taxpayers pay to have them hauled and crushed.

this is another reason mooring laws were enacted...

 

[mark_swart]

I'd assume that eventually increased supply would devalue the larger boats. The real catch is that although a 35-40 foot boat is lovely to be on, the dockage and upkeep is SO much more than a smaller (25-30) that even if you can afford the purchase price, you still might not be able to realistically afford the boat.
I think sailing is actually very affordable, if you're just talking about finding a usable boat that you can take out sailing with your family and maybe do some overnighting. A new 19 foot pontoon at Bass Pro costs $14K, coincidentally just the other day a guy was telling me about how someone GAVE him a Mac 26 with a trailer that really just needed cleaning and TLC to be usable. So I don't think the powerboats are really cheaper, especially once you start putting GAS in them.
Of course the budget goes out the window if you are racing, but I'm just talking about beginner pleasure sailing.
I have sailed my whole life but I think the sailing community doesn't do a great job at reaching out to younger generations and the thought of sailing and handling a boat might be intimidating. After all, it is a niche and not everyone is going to be happy going 4 knots when they could be going 25. But by the same token almost every non-sailor I have taken out on my boats has enjoyed it, and a couple have even bought their own boats.