Hi there
So many opinions, its a great read. As a first yacht, always go a little cheaper I think, a first buy is a feeling out process as to what you really want in a yacht for you.
I was well advised by a few salty types to ideally have
center cockpit, and consider nothing other than solid hand laid
fiberglass as the best construction. After my first yacht being dynel over ply, and spending time in the slipway where I was moored and hearing the horror stories of newer expensive production foam cored yachts and the like, the
advice I was given always stuck with me.
I now own a center and aft
cockpit, hand laid
fiberglass yacht that I would consider was purchased on the best possible
advice. My live abord yacht was purchased for well under 40k, and going against what many may believe, it is a solid investment as is already valued 10k above the
purchase price with approx 4-5k invested. It is in no way impossible to make a 400-500% profit on a wise choice and some
work, even in today's market.
I guess I am saying, a fixer-upper is a great way to go if you get the right one and have a go at doing 90% of the
work yourself.