Cruising Sailboats: a Dying Breed?

[senormechanico]

I'm kinda looking forward to anchorages like that again !

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

I'm kinda looking forward to anchorages like that again !

Yup, gives me hope for the future .

[Pegu Club]

New cruising sailboats, yes the “smaller ones” are certainly a dying breed.

But that frankly matters very little, there is after all a glut of older sailboats available at really good prices. Heck, if you do your homework and look at a bunch of them you can find well cared for boats, and have it ready to cruise in two or three off seasons, while sailing it in season for fifty percent of the price of buying a new boat equally equipped.
Some will poo poo older boats as not being worth the effort, but the huge cash savings over buying new argues otherwise.

Fair winds,

[SteveSadler]

A dying breed? Far from it. I sailed the caribbean in 1980, Anchored in Jost van Dyke with one other boat on my birthday, 11/21,
We cruised thru all islands that season, with few other cruisers. In 1990 cruising the same islands again, saw 10x more cruising boats. Again in 2017, at least 10x more boats than 1990.
The biggest surprise is the size and value of the boats also grew. Far fewer 30' wood boats with no equipment, lots more newer production boats 40'+ with new ribs.
Now in Tahiti,the 20-30 boats in peak season in the 70s is now 3-400 spending the cyclone season. Most are 40'-60' with a big budget.

[cyan]

Originally Posted by SteveSadler

A dying breed? Far from it. I sailed the caribbean in 1980, Anchored in Jost van Dyke with one other boat on my birthday, 11/21,
We cruised thru all islands that season, with few other cruisers. In 1990 cruising the same islands again, saw 10x more cruising boats. Again in 2017, at least 10x more boats than 1990.
The biggest surprise is the size and value of the boats also grew. Far fewer 30' wood boats with no equipment, lots more newer production boats 40'+ with new ribs.
Now in Tahiti,the 20-30 boats in peak season in the 70s is now 3-400 spending the cyclone season. Most are 40'-60' with a big budget.

FYI, I uploaded a picture showing such numbers in post#237, a 15 year before/after satellite view of Tahiti.
Perhaps the internet has helped people to be graphically aware of the best cruising grounds? Thankfully there are still deserted atolls filled with beauty...

[zboss]

Originally Posted by pcmm

Depends on where you are. 30 years ago (when I started sailing) more than 3/4 of the marinas on the north shore of Lake Ontario had years long waiting lists. Now I can pretty much role into any marina on Lake Ontario and get a slip for the season immediately! amd most are between 1/2 and 3/4 full. Boating is on the decline for sure. Mostly because I think of cost and owners lack of ability to DIY!

Marinas are full because people are buying them on cheap credit and leaving them in a slip. All the marinas here are full with boats that simply don’t go anywhere.

[Hasbeen]

Originally Posted by cyan

I wonder how many Coconut Milk Run / Pacific Puddle Jump boats followed the trades through French Polynesia over the years, then terminated the big journey in OZ.

I knew many who would have liked to sell the boat in Oz, & fly home. Unfortunately there were so many costs & paperwork difficulties put in the way of doing that, many had to pull the sails up & continue on.

[john61ct]

Gotta protect that bustling local boatbuilding industry

[Polux]

Originally Posted by SteveSadler

A dying breed? Far from it. I sailed the caribbean in 1980, Anchored in Jost van Dyke with one other boat on my birthday, 11/21,
We cruised thru all islands that season, with few other cruisers. In 1990 cruising the same islands again, saw 10x more cruising boats. Again in 2017, at least 10x more boats than 1990.
The biggest surprise is the size and value of the boats also grew. Far fewer 30' wood boats with no equipment, lots more newer production boats 40'+ with new ribs.
Now in Tahiti,the 20-30 boats in peak season in the 70s is now 3-400 spending the cyclone season. Most are 40'-60' with a big budget.

That's the same in the Mediterranean. Prices of marinas on the sailing season are skyrocketing while anchorages are full. It is not need to go back so many years: the diference to 15 years ago is already huge. Maybe more 50% or so.

[SV THIRD DAY]

It's over....no one is going Cruising any more....

Hmmmm….why are the marina's in all the cruising hang out always full?
Oh well....but Cruising is dead, you read it online!

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by cyan

FYI, I uploaded a picture showing such numbers in post#237, a 15 year before/after satellite view of Tahiti.

Perhaps the internet has helped people to be graphically aware of the best cruising grounds? Thankfully there are still deserted atolls filled with beauty...

I think it’s GPS mostly. Navigation used to be a skill that was difficult to master and become proficient at.
Now absolute dead nuts accuracy can be had by writing a check.
I admit I use it too, but always knowing exactly where you are within a few feet is something that until recently has never happened before.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by SV THIRD DAY

It's over....no one is going Cruising any more....

Hmmmm….why are the marina's in all the cruising hang out always full?
Oh well....but Cruising is dead, you read it online!

No body goes there anymore because it is too crowded.