How old is your boat?

[guyrj33]

47 years old

[SVPP]

1977 Capa Barren Goose - 43 yrs young

[Singularity]

I'd suggest that the poll numbers shouldn't be surprising insofar as most responses seem to be from the US. The numbers reflect the age of the American fleet in general....which is the ~same as the average age of factory built private aircraft you see sitting at the local airport in the US (not including homebuilt airplanes). Florida does seem to have a lot of newer boats, but Florida has some questionable economic influences.

Quite simply real surplus economic growth dried up between ~1975-1985, which is the period that boat/airplane manufacturing too dried up. Where a new boat/plane doesn't do anything better than an old one, and fewer people can afford so much as a used plane/boat, there hasn't been a need/market to make many new boats/planes.

Of course up until Covid the economy in the US was better than ever.

[Hudson Force]

My last boat was 12 years old when I bought it and 45 years old when I sold it. I never replaced all of my standing rigging at one time, but the average replacement time for pieces (16) was 10 - 12 years.

[daddio862]

1986 Beneteau First 405. Old girl has more sailing left in her than I do. Previous owners took good care of her and I am learning that doing the little things eat up time too!

[mercater]

1940 ish. Timber Gaff rig cutter. Still floating, design unknown.

[RGN]

1964 Pearson Vanguard. Seems many here do not hold it in high regard, for me though it is nearly perfect. Hull, deck /hardware, mast and spruce boom are all original and solid. Wire rigging was replaced this Spring, unknown before that, had one tiny crack in a turnbuckle end eye. I took that as a sign it was time.



I chose the Vanguard because I find the boat beautiful, especially from the inflatable. It is built like a tank. The boat has great seaworthiness and is especially comfortable in rough weather. The Vanguard is big enough for me and one other but I normally sail alone so it works out great. Bought it for a song and although I have spent thousands on it it is still vastly cheaper than a new similar new boat



And yes, yes, I do drive a 1982 BMW e28, the new car is a BMW 2000 e39 Touring.


Call me a Luddite

[Sailmonkey]

1976 allied seawind II

It’s a little cramped, but I’ve dumped so much time and money into we couldn’t do better. I’m extremely happy with the way it sails off the wind!

[Mplight]

1982 Bristol 38.8 #6
Perkins M50 reposed 1995
New to us 2017

[Greg K]

We sail a 37 year old 1983 Shannon 28 cutter. Nothing that's built now compares in quality and craftsmanship. Boats like this are just not built anymore, period. Zero interest in modern hull designs or multihulls.

[squarpeg]

1964 triangle motorsailer. I was 4 when it was launched. For the most part it is original. Every time I work on it I think, this boat is so damn old, then I remember I am older.

[Mnbear]

1977 hughs Northstar 35’. Never got in the water this year. Ready for next year. Just got rid of my 1983 Chevy high top van Too rusty

[OBT]

My Stella, an Allied Seawind, that I sold in 2018 was built in 1966, it remains a great boat. My Oriane is a 1982 Crealock 37. I raced on a 1937 friendship sloop Tannis owned by good friends.

[Clivevon]

1981 Westerly Conway 36 ft ketch. Mine for the last 22 years. New engine, electronics, rigging, etc etc etc...

My house is 110 years old, & the car is 8 years old but I plan on keeping it indefinitely.

They dont make any of those things like they used to.

[Halifax Sailor]

Mirage 27 1980 (cdn boat)