New reality!

[Hatterasguy]

This is scary! I was browsing the classified section of Yachting magazine. Which sucks BTW, Power & Motor Yacht is much better but I got Yachting for free for a year so couldn't pass it up. Anyway a lot of the boats have the little "E" in front of the asking prices!(remember these are used boats, most are in this country as well...) That sucks, a lot of boats just got a lot more expensive for Americans! First time I have ever noticed this. The price increases on all the European boats and parts are going to be shocking!

Man my dream Swan just went up in price.

[djugurba]

Actually, your internet browsing habits are being monitored and your periodicals adjusted for accessibility. The cognoscenti offering yachts for sale are privy to your Toby Kieth interest, and are using their web savvy to make any/all desirable yachts cost prohibitive for you. On Nantucket, where they flit in and out over the summer with day trips over to Marblehead and up to Castine, Camden and Bar Harbor, Toby Kieth is not welcome - musically or in dress code (though his politics might be welcome). Now, if you want a pontoon boat in Lake Powell, I'm sure a deal can be made.

The Greenback is taking a big beating. It's interesting that it's not a bigger deal in the press, because oil prices aren't really skyrocketing solely due to higher oil prices... they're rising because it takes more of our floundering dollars to buy the same amount at the same cost. Chart the cost vs. a stronger currency for the same period and it will look much more reasonable. But, that's un-american... and Toby Kieth probably wouldn't like it...

There are places in NYC taking only Euros these days. I've got some Lire in a drawer... too bad it's defunct!

[SwampYankee]

Thankfully those of us who do their boat daydreaming in Northeast Boating, and to a lesser extend Soundings, are seeing the exact opposite. The nature of the current economy, its effects on those closer to retirement and fuel prices are making for some pretty favorable pricing in the bourgeois sub-40' market. If things stay the same come October, and it probably will, there might be a bigger boat in the yard.

[POS]

Boats depreciate worse than cars, and I can use the cars more often.

[Hatterasguy]

Originally Posted by POS

Boats depreciate worse than cars, and I can use the cars more often.

Cars are boring you can't go anywhere.

[Hatterasguy]

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

Thankfully those of us who do their boat daydreaming in Northeast Boating, and to a lesser extend Soundings, are seeing the exact opposite. The nature of the current economy, its effects on those closer to retirement and fuel prices are making for some pretty favorable pricing in the bourgeois sub-40' market. If things stay the same come October, and it probably will, there might be a bigger boat in the yard.

Yep I have been noticing that trend. You can probably pick up a 40ft diesel Egg for under $100k these days.

[SwampYankee]

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Yep I have been noticing that trend. You can probably pick up a 40ft diesel Egg for under $100k these days.

My father picked the worst possible time to downsize except for the possibility that guys with 40's may be looking to get into 33's. Although he'd be the first to admit he got his money's worth of enjoyment out of it. It's just too big for he and my mother to handle if they don't have someone else cruising with them now that they've put some more years under the belt. He's looking for a trailerable 26-28' but isn't going to start looking until his current one is sold, he listed it with Peter Fisher @ Fish Yacht Sales in Niantic early in the winter and has started getting some action on it now that we're creeping closer to spring.

A little more in my neighborhood, if you come across any older 11' Whalers in your travels along the shore let me know. I'm looking for one for my kids to learn with. A 13' would make more sense but I can get away with putting an 11' at the dinghy dock and not have to get a slip. They aren't very easy to find, at least without looking too hard.

[SwampYankee]

Originally Posted by POS

Boats depreciate worse than cars, and I can use the cars more often.

I look at it as my waterfront property, which I could never afford, with the ability to move it wherever I want. Don't crush my little rationalization.

[djugurba]

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

Thankfully those of us who do their boat daydreaming in Northeast Boating, and to a lesser extend Soundings, are seeing the exact opposite. The nature of the current economy, its effects on those closer to retirement and fuel prices are making for some pretty favorable pricing in the bourgeois sub-40' market. If things stay the same come October, and it probably will, there might be a bigger boat in the yard.

Interesting- do you think it's a supply/demand issue? With housing values having declined in many areas, it seems it could be that overextended folks with boats paid for with home equity might be quick to the liquidation market. Hence the lower demand, which would seem to lower the prices even further. There are certainly a ton of boats for sale for cheap on the cape and south coast this year.

[djugurba]

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

I look at it as my waterfront property, which I could never afford, with the ability to move it wherever I want. Don't crush my little rationalization.

When looking for our current house, I found a boat I could afford at a nice marina in Charlestown across the water from Boston. Amazing views, year-round amenities and the gentle sloshing sound by which to fall asleep. The fiancee is exceptionally cool, but I couldn't get her anywhere near it to take a look. I thought live-aboard might be fun to try for a while, but after the winter this year, I think maybe I'll wait on that until retirement when I can flee New England seasonally. Caymans? Tobago?

[Hatterasguy]

Originally Posted by djugurba

Interesting- do you think it's a supply/demand issue? With housing values having declined in many areas, it seems it could be that overextended folks with boats paid for with home equity might be quick to the liquidation market. Hence the lower demand, which would seem to lower the prices even further. There are certainly a ton of boats for sale for cheap on the cape and south coast this year.

Nah boats are always the first thing people stop buying when the economy looks iffy. Its EXTREMELY expensive to keep a boat, home equity may be how you buy the thing but thats the cheap part. A 40ft Egg would cost you $10k a year just sitting at the dock looking pretty, thats before you do anything to it or turn the key.

As for living aboard its fun, but you have to really want it. Other than a few cloths and some books you have to get rid of everything else you own.

[Hatterasguy]

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

My father picked the worst possible time to downsize except for the possibility that guys with 40's may be looking to get into 33's. Although he'd be the first to admit he got his money's worth of enjoyment out of it. It's just too big for he and my mother to handle if they don't have someone else cruising with them now that they've put some more years under the belt. He's looking for a trailerable 26-28' but isn't going to start looking until his current one is sold, he listed it with Peter Fisher @ Fish Yacht Sales in Niantic early in the winter and has started getting some action on it now that we're creeping closer to spring.

A little more in my neighborhood, if you come across any older 11' Whalers in your travels along the shore let me know. I'm looking for one for my kids to learn with. A 13' would make more sense but I can get away with putting an 11' at the dinghy dock and not have to get a slip. They aren't very easy to find, at least without looking too hard.

I know of a super mint 11ft Whaler, I think they want like $4k for it. New paint, trailer, engine, varnish, everything.

You should have bought my Grandfathers 315 Commander, you could have bought it for a song. That was a nice boat, a poor mans Bertram 31 or Blackfin.

[rickg]

Just buy a pair of "personal watercrafts"(Seadoo, ect). They hold their value real good for 3 or 4 years, then drop like a rock.

[Hatterasguy]

Originally Posted by rickg

Just buy a pair of "personal watercrafts"(Seadoo, ect). They hold their value real good for 3 or 4 years, then drop like a rock.

After watching how people, mostly little kids beat those things to within an inch of their life, I can understand why they become worthless. Buying a used one would be scary!