How old is your boat

[Wtrguy]

The longer we look the older the boats we like are getting. Personally, I've always loved the look of older boats with tons of brightwork. I think Bob Cofer's "Seafairer" above is absolutely gorgeous. But the maint. involved and my own lack of experience dealing with woodwork made the prospect worrisome. So we started off looking at boats no older than 20 years thinking less maint. and better resale. Now that that myth has been dispelled on this forum and elsewhere, we're seriously considering one built in 1983. As the goal is to cruise on the boat year round for as long as we can, there will be lots of time for mindless busy work and considerably more funds to spend keeping/making her as nice as possible. My wife says I've always been a glutton for punishment so maybe that's the core problem!?!

 

[fgarriso]

1980

 

[Mac2]

The longer we look the older the boats we like are getting. Personally, I've always loved the look of older boats with tons of brightwork. I think Bob Cofer's "Seafairer" above is absolutely gorgeous. But the maint. involved and my own lack of experience dealing with woodwork made the prospect worrisome. So we started off looking at boats no older than 20 years thinking less maint. and better resale. Now that that myth has been dispelled on this forum and elsewhere, we're seriously considering one built in 1983. As the goal is to cruise on the boat year round for as long as we can, there will be lots of time for mindless busy work and considerably more funds to spend keeping/making her as nice as possible. My wife says I've always been a glutton for punishment so maybe that's the core problem!?!

I love brightwork too. At about the 10 year mark I learned to hate it. Thus my next boat was steel. I think if you’re retired and can varnish on a set schedule, without having to sand down to wood and start again, it would be more enjoyable. Good luck

 

[Delta Riverat]

The varnish will commence next year. When it gets a bit warmer out there. I'm a "quick & easy" guy and it's going to be sand & paint. Got some gelcoat spots to treat and they will also be "spot treated"

Yeah, cosmetics. Better than it used to look. Perfect? No chance, just better than it was before.

It's one of the benefits of an old boat. You don't feel so bad when you bash the dock on a windy day. I took a nice chunk out of the cap rail that day, wood splinters. Tore off the big spears and pounded down the rest. Made a painter tape dam and filled it up with epoxy. Still looks like crap but at least it don't have splinters sticking out -

 

[SteveK]

As we gain overall votes so does the 1976-1980 group, still in the lead at this hour

 

[DDW]

I would not accept a boat with any exterior brightwork. But if my arm were sufficiently twisted, I might if I lived aboard. Since you will be varnishing almost full time, might as well live there! But seriously, it would make it somewhat easier because you could get up, have a cup of coffee and slap on a coat. Right now the varnishing I am maintaining is an hour drive (one way), $20 in gas, and an $8 bridge toll per coat - even if the 3 hours time isn't counted.

 

[lwarden]

Our Lindell is a 2002 vintage.

Funny thing, when you are on a forum like this for a few years regularly you build an image of members by their posts and develop an idea of how old/experienced they may be. I have to say that @rslifkin, I had you pegged as someone much older than your mid 30's based on the depth of knowledge you have of boats. Your experience suggested to me someone who had owned boats for several decades.

 

[rslifkin]

Funny thing, when you are on a forum like this for a few years regularly you build an image of members by their posts and develop an idea of how old/experienced they may be. I have to say that @rslifkin, I had you pegged as someone much older than your mid 30's based on the depth of knowledge you have of boats. Your experience suggested to me someone who had owned boats for several decades.

I'll take that compliment! I think it can be tough to tell on a forum because everyone gets into boating a bit differently, and at different stages of life. Some people start out mechanically inclined and get exposure to boats early, some people start from zero and decide to buy a boat in their 50s and are just starting to learn at that point.

 

[Admiral Westlake]

Victoria Ann will be 52 years old in the spring. She is still young compared to my 65 years.

 

[nveater]

I am surprised at the age distribution of our boats. I thought that there would be a higher percentage of newer boats. Interesting- next someone needs to do the same for the age of the owners

 

[RCook]

Well, while we're asking, it would be interesting how many miles, or engine hours, people typically use their boat each year as well.

In nine of the ten summers we've had our NT37 (not including the Covid year) we've averaged about 4,000 nm and 800 engine hours per summer. It was 14 years old when we bought it, and had 1,489 hours on the engine.

 

[SteveK]

This morning the 1976-1980 are still in the lead.
Total 97 TF members reporting.

 

[jrd22]

2003, just bought last August in Juneau, AK. Have 200 hours on it after an amazing cruise down to the San Juan Islands. Boat before that was an 88 pilothouse sail. Have resurrected a couple of boats from near death, the new one is in good shape with no exterior woodwork.

 

[PNWPederson]

1970 Grand Banks 32

 

[ranger58sb]

I am surprised at the age distribution of our boats. I thought that there would be a higher percentage of newer boats. Interesting- next someone needs to do the same for the age of the owners

Done, not long ago. Mentioned in post #25...

 

[SteveK]

I found the poll for how old are you HERE from 2015 everyone is 10 years older now.

 

[Greg QS]

Crazy Last 3 boats ( only ones worth mentioning) Were an 85, then backwards to a 79, then up to a 85. Crazy thing is
I had a 34' Silverton 1981 Bought in 1995 only 15 yeas old. Had for 11 years
A 1979 CC tournament fisherman bought in 2007 , 28 years old, had for 15 years.
Now I have my newest boat A 1985. Bought in 2022 , and was 37 years old. Now it is 40.

Crazy , my newest boat it is my oldest boat. What the heck! But the new girl has 2007 heart and soul ( engines, gensets) So just like us old people int todays world just put in new organs, limbs, joints and keep going!!

 

[NOT]

The dingy on the roof is the only boat I have bought new, it is a 1999 Walker Bay 8
It is perfect for my 1963 36ft Vega. It was first documented in Chicago in 63, ended
up in Florida in 84, I became involved in 2013 as the 10th owner . The nice thing is
that there is always something to do onboard, even if only a boat ride.

 

[‘75 Tolly]

The dingy on the roof is the only boat I have bought new, it is a 1999 Walker Bay 8
It is perfect for my 1963 36ft Vega. It was first documented in Chicago in 63, ended
up in Florida in 84, I became involved in 2013 as the 10th owner . The nice thing is
that there is always something to do onboard, even if only a boat ride.
View attachment 170038

Nice lines!

 

[ranger58sb]

This is the more recent age poll I was remembering:

Aging

After reading Teds thread about the end of the line with slow hand, it prompted me to start a new thread about how to handle aging, and what limits and changes we make with boating. I made it to 78 last year and am still alive. The biggest toll on my body has been the lack of strength and...

www.trawlerforum.com

-Chris

 

[SteveK]

This is the more recent age poll I was remembering:

Aging

After reading Teds thread about the end of the line with slow hand, it prompted me to start a new thread about how to handle aging, and what limits and changes we make with boating. I made it to 78 last year and am still alive. The biggest toll on my body has been the lack of strength and...

www.trawlerforum.com

-Chris

Aha, missed that one. It does show that the 2015 one has aged the participants to the 2024 one which is current enough to say 70 is the average age.

 

[RickyD]

Solitude was built in 1962.
View attachment 170010

Our previous boat Seafarer was built in 1928.

View attachment 170011

You are a glutton for punisment. 1928...to much external wood

 

[jimfrens]

Three boats, all fiberglass Chris Craft.
1969 Commander 27, purchased 2013.
1972 Commander 28, purchased 2021.
1967 Commander 38, purchased 2023.
I’m 72.