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Skip JayR · 06-09-2015, 11:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by smjack1

Thanks again for the feedback, proves to me the value of learning from those far more experienced than I.

Seemed there is value in purchasing new so that one can purchase what they need, or think that they need and want. However, from web searches it seems a rough rule of thumb could be that a <5 year old catamaran can be purchased for roughly 65% of the cost of new. Apart from the loss of the new boat smell one would also need, or want, to spend around 15% on top of the initial purchase price for upgrades and "personalisation" but end result you'd initially save A$175k for a reliable catamaran to suit a husband and wife liveaboard to suit a 5 - 6 year liveaboard.

In princips you hit the nail on the head, Smackie...

But it goes more farer. Lets say, you get the chance to find a good boat by its substance. "Good" in the sense of "excellent sailing abilities, good hull structure etc. ...

You even could take a boat of 20 years... lets say, it was built 1995... such a boat maybe now cost you 60,000 US dollars... and you will find out (by a survey which was done by a marine engineer which will cost you only some hundred dollars), that you need to refit the boat with 80,000 US dollars...

The positive aspect of refitting is, that you can adapt the basic substance to modernity, e.g. you have an old VHF, now replacing it by a VHF with AIS (which is more safetyness), or you exchange the old radar with a new one of high resolutoin (proablby round about 4,000 US dollars) etc. ...

So you can adapt the boat to the real needs you target at, even you could optimize the boat with modern tools to make it more high performant (which even is not given by a new boat), e.g. carbon mast, carbon bow sprit, T-Rudder and foiled daggerboards (which might cost you an extra of 20-40,000 US dollars).

So in total you invest into an "old boat" of 20 years, but by refitting you modernize it to a very high performant boat... absolutely adapted to the needs and wishes you like.

You cant do this with a new boat, as you do all steps (1) buying + (2) modernisation in one step. But you still miss sailing experience, and how you will define your setup on board which will come by experiences...

So a more smarter way is: Do the first step (1) buying... sail over a period of one season.. .then you will learn the "life style" you like to adapt. E.g. some need a big frigorator, others can handle it with small volume.... another needs only "cold water deck shower", while other like hot/cold water pump system even on deck.... etc. etc. etc. ...

So the benefit of buying a used boat is... you get time to optimize and equip it that way you like it... but you already can start sailing.

With a brand new boat, this wont happen. You will recognize quickly, that - as an example - the outborder of your dinghi has not enough horse power, but as it is brand new, you will keep it unsatisfied to your needs. Or you get a "light wind sail" from the boat warft which does not really fulfill your expectations, so you like to equip the boat instead with a Genaker with a Screacher etc. ...

If you read the reports of boat owners... mostly they start to adapt the brand new boat latest after one year... e.g. you buy it for 400,000 US dollars, quickly you invest in 2nd year another 50-60,000 US dollars.

While buying a used one, you just pay 60,000 ... start sailing, after 5-6 months you invest that what you need, e.g. the upper named 80,000 and you ahve a good boat at a prize of 140,000 you will love... and if you like to progress it further on, you invest in 2nd or 3rd year another 20-40,000 8e.g. carbon mast, T-Rudder, Foiled Daggerboards) and you will have a high performant boat at a prize of max. 180,000 US dollars.. compared to the 450-460,000 US dollars you would need for adapting a brand new boat.

So the savings can be tremendous in the size of 60 % indeed.... another aspect is the "reselling". If you like to sell the 20 year old boat in 5 years, then you at least will get back the "old prize you payed", because all the reftting you invested, will upgrade it.

At the end of the day, you pay effectively in the upper named example a maximum of 120,000 US dollars.... e.g. sailing it over 5 years = 60 months its 2,000 per month. Some people pay monthly that amount for renting a house in bigger cities... and never can see those beautiful places you can experience :-)

Some even can earn money with their boat, as Rick Moore is it doing... he produces Promo videos with waterproofed drones for companies in the areas he is sailing... and get a repayment of some his expenses...

here the latest beautiful video and Rick talking about his future plans...