How Long Do You Own a Boat?

[sailorchic34]

Lets see...
14' force five/laser, 5 years
22' oday, 1 year
Tayana 37, 3 years
Islander 34, 11 years.

With a bit of luck, I'll have a viking sendoff in the Islander....

[daletournier]

Wharram tiki 31, 2 years
Gemini cat 2 mths (long story)
Top hat 25 8 mths
Freedom 32 7 1/2 years
Catalina 470 20 mths (current boat and will be for many years)

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by thinwater

So how long do you own a boat?

Had our first boat, Cal-39, for 2 years. Knew within the first couple of months it wasn't what we wanted long term.

Have had our current boat, Hunter 410, for 8 years now and have been full cruising the last 2 years. Don't expect to get rid of it and get another boat unless we go power boat somewhere down the line.

[sailon46]

Santa Cruz 27 (Chanel Islands Ca) : 4 years, Formosa (San Diego and Long Beach Ca) 35 :5 years, Catalina 42(brand new in 89) (Long Beach Ca 3 years, 20 years in Houston Texas , Beneteau 51.4 (Caribbean): 6 years and counting.
Ernie on the Mary Jane

[Dieter Hugel]

Southcoast 21 5 years
Southcoast 25 (not owned but sailed) 3~4years
Newport 30 14 yearss
Newport 41 14 years and still counting the dream boat that is still showing me things and how to sail her. Not contemplating going any bigger. Just the right size for me and the wife with occasional trips with adult kids.

[newhaul]

Islander bahama 24 = 8 years
Upgraded to columbia defender ( the boat I have always wanted) 2 years and counting no desire to change.
Spencer s42 2 years pass thru from dad to new owner.

[guyrj33]

I had good advice and purchased a 74 Pearson 10M in 1986, still have it.
I'm tempted by more modern interiors but not enough to give up the solid build and performance of the 10M.

[Lionshooter]

4 in 40 years. Spirit 23 for 8 years, Chrysler 26 for 12, Hunter 30 for 16, CSY 44 for 7. Some overlapped.

[drcot3]

I have had my hatteras for 18+ years why change unless you find another boat.

[SV Bacchus]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

It’s very unlikely we’ll buy another boat.

I wouldn't doubt that one bit and if I had your boat I'm fairly certain I wouldn't either. We are still in the "trading up" phase at this point in our boating career.

[ebsail]

16' no brand wood sloop. Destroyed at the mooring in large storm My age 15
13' tech dinghy
27' bayliner sloop
43' Columbia sloop
24' C & C sloop
35' Ericson
23' Sonar
25' O Day from 2011 to (?) my present age 79

[MJH]

I have owned three boats (canoe and dinghies excluded): Tanzer 22 fixed keel, five years sold due to transfer; San Juan 28, 11 years; and Tayana Vancouver 42, 11 years and counting. They were all good boats for my ability a the time. However, I frequently have very happy memories about the San Juan 28 which took me on many solo voyages into British Columbia, Vancouver Island ccircumnavigation, and even to Alaska. The boat was in excellent condition when I sold her but at the time I had done everything that I could with her and had dreams of sailing offshore which she was not designed for...parting was such sweet sorrow. The Tayana Vancouver 42 fulfilled that dream in 2016 with a roundtrip to Hawaii/Pearl Harbor after many years of preparation. She will be my last boat.


~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

[kas_1611]

Boats are like Cats (the furry kind)

You never own them they own you

[thinwater]

I see a lot of "I will keep this one forever," but not a lot of big numbers. I thought I would keep my last one. I really liked it. And then my priorities changed.

I was really glad to sell it in good condition so that the next person can get the same joy I did.

My reason for asking was curiosity regarding how people look at upgrades. Do you do it for...

• Reduced maintanance
• Resale value
• The joy of doing
• Immediate enjoyment (comfort or speed or seaworthiness)

... since the upgrades will last far longer than your ownership (particularly if you have already owned the boat for 5 years). Sometimes it is all of these.

Or if you have in mind that you will sell the boat within 5 years (and you probably will), do you ever adjust your projects accordingly? I never did, because my decision to sell was a sudden realization. I think sometimes I upgrade to keep the thrill in it, and then when I'm done, I'm suddenly ready to move on.

[tstano]

My wife won't go for the schooner so the Pearson will have to do.