On Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:14:32 -0800 (PST), "
wrote:

On Nov 24, 3:42?am, "Roger Long" wrote:
We started out looking casually at much less expensive boats than the one we
bought because we weren't very serious and I didn't realize how much I was
going to like sailing and cruising after not doing it for 15 years. ?We
found a 28 footer for $1,200 and negotiated the price down to zero. ?The
estimate to have her fixed up minimally was 15 grand and we decided that we
could afford it. ?Then, I started looking at used boat boat prices and
realized that she would be worth about 6 after we were done. ?That broke the
psychological price barrier though and we went out and bought twice as much
boat for the same 15 thousand. ?She's now about a 75 thousand dollar boat,
counting the value of my labor, and I probably could get 20 for her in
today's market.

--
Roger Long

I'm not sure how the value thing works with older boats, duh I turned
down an older ski boat for $400 and found it was worth atlest $4k but
I have had my heart set on the sail boat since I saw it 4 yrs ago so
I'm very clueless to values.

I know when it comes to some of the older VW's that in 63 you could
have bought a vw van for about $1500 new and down to free to a few
hundread when they were just a few yrs old to now where some are going
as high as $60k or more. I'm a firm believer that things get better
with age. or atleast older things are worth fixing.

the engine I traded was worth about $750 and cost me little to
nothing, so I figure so far I've gotten a great deal but regardless
its not the end value but the dream that will make this worth it for
me.

I'm not sure how much work the other boat will need but I'm sure
everything is there for it and he has been working on it a few years
befor he passed away. He and his brother reconditioned boats at the
coast so i'm sure all the work was professional.


My experience is that, other then inflation, used boats do not
appreciate. Quite the contrary, they go down in value and in addition
the number of things that go wrong multiply... rapidly.

I'm not saying that one shouldn't buy a second hand boat, rather one
should not do it with the intentions of making money on the deal.

If you want a boat then go for it but it IS going to cost you money.
Or, at least it always has in my own case.
Cheers,

Bruce
(bruceinbangkokatgmaildotcom)