Just getting started on learning about trawlers, and am really impressed with the support and knowledge base of this forum. Wow, what a great, caring, expert community!
Am hoping to purchase a 36' - 42' boat and dock somewhere on the San Francisco bay. But only after plenty of research and introspection on what matters to me.
One thing that seems obvious to me is TANSTAFL - "there ain't no such thing as a free lunch." New boats are really expensive, and older boats can be much cheaper, but given the complexity of the mechanism, older boats face innumerable potential mechanical and electrical issues (read "expensive"). And I know that condition is everything for an individual boat, in terms of maintenance and upkeep.
So maybe a dumb newby question - overall, is there some sort of "sweet spot" of price/depreciation/age/condition? Are boats like new cars, that depreciate quickly right off the lot, or do they hold their value over an extended period? Are you smarter to buy an older boat and plan on extensive refitting, or buying a newer boat and paying more to start?
Thanks to all, and look forward to many years of conversation.
Am hoping to purchase a 36' - 42' boat and dock somewhere on the San Francisco bay. But only after plenty of research and introspection on what matters to me.
One thing that seems obvious to me is TANSTAFL - "there ain't no such thing as a free lunch." New boats are really expensive, and older boats can be much cheaper, but given the complexity of the mechanism, older boats face innumerable potential mechanical and electrical issues (read "expensive"). And I know that condition is everything for an individual boat, in terms of maintenance and upkeep.
So maybe a dumb newby question - overall, is there some sort of "sweet spot" of price/depreciation/age/condition? Are boats like new cars, that depreciate quickly right off the lot, or do they hold their value over an extended period? Are you smarter to buy an older boat and plan on extensive refitting, or buying a newer boat and paying more to start?
Thanks to all, and look forward to many years of conversation.