Wood versus FRP

[GrayGoose]

Hello and Greetings,
This may ramble a bit...I've been a coastal cruiser for 12 years, day sailing only in three 30' FRP boats. Homeport is on the Hudson, but I will sail out to Long Island Sound, try overnighting to the Cheasapeake, back to Block Island, then Nova Scotia and Bermuda in 2006. I need advice on whether I should go with wood or FRP. Two surveyors swear by wood, and I'm looking at a 33' nine tonner, a Hillyard, center-cockpit cutter, and a 7 tonner cutter, both are wood. I would certainly welcome some experienced advice, either way, and some critical points to consider. I love how wood sails and feels and sits in the water. Could you give me some critical factors to consider besides simple preference...or does it come down to just that? Thanks.
Jack aka Gray Goose

[irwinsailor]

I love wood boats. I have had several. I will not have another. Wood is very hard to insure. They are a lot of work and if you do not keep up with it it will get away from you. If you do still want one make sure that you get it cheap because when you want to sell it it may take a while to sell. The market is very small for a wood boat.

[delmarrey]

I'd have another wood boat if it were brand spanking new and the builder was reputable. As old as I am it'd probably be my last because I never want to sell something so nice and it would out last me anyway. Once they're in good shape they're easy to keep that way, if you keep after them. But not another old wood boat!

They're cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Quiet and smooth out on the water. But Like Irwin says they don't sell well and hard to insure................._/)

[irwinsailor]

The cost of a new wood boat is out of this world. And as it ages it will become harder and harder to sell. Most of the world wants FRP I say go with the flow and buy what you will be able to sell when the time comes. You may want to upgrade to a bigger boat one day and being able to get out of your old boat will be a plus.