"aussie" yup wrote in message news:3fb53723$1@news1...
Buying a used 45 -50 cruising sailboat soon, but what material?

concrete?...seems difficult to get a good one
Cheap, almost free. Can be good if well built by good people. Usually not.
Almost no resale value in USA -- usually sell for value of mast, winches,
etc.

wood....lots of maintenance?
Right. Good ones are charming, interesting. Maintenance need not be much
more the glass (grp to you), but you do have to care for them.

steel....hot in summer down here in australia
Strong, bordering on indestructible. Need not be hot, as you can insulate.
Maintenance much the same as wood if you want to keep rust at bay. (Our
choice for our boat, but mostly because we go to strange and wonderful
places) Good ones can look very nice, bad ones look rough.

grp....don't know much about it
Probably cheapest total cost of ownership over a period. Can be strong if
well built (but not as abrasion resistant as steel -- stay away from coral).
Osmosis (water soaking into glass and weakening it over time) is an issue.


In any event, GET A SURVEY BEFORE YOU BUY. Best money you will ever spend
is a good survey.



--
Jim Woodward
www.mvFintry.com


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