Answer: Because nobody’s looking to buy a new, 20-year old boat.
44-ft cruising motor yacht Mi Sueño
Now available as a stock plan.
Question: Why do boats seem to be more expensive than they should?
You might want to write down that Q&A if planning to be on TV’s Jeopardy. If
you’re not, but you are planning to become a boat owner, you might want to
memorize it. The thought might not ease your wallet, but it might ease
your mind about folks taking advantage of you.
Look at the cost of a boat thirty years ago. Even adjusted for inflation,
there’s a big gap compared with similar boats of today. Factoring in higher
wage and material costs still leaves you with a significant discrepancies.
Why? The simplest answer is because builders can’t / won’t build those
same boats today. In their minds (and it is largely true) the marketplace
would not embrace the minimalist appointments of those 30-year old offerings. Before you start screaming about how you love “simple boats”,
I’d like a show of hands of who buys cars with AM-only radios, hand crank windows, and no air conditioning.
Make no mistake, every upgrade increases cost. 30-years ago a manual toilet cost less than $50. Today a similar hand pump unit costs about
$150. So, a 3-times increase in boat cost? Wrong! A 50-thousand dollar boat then would cost a lot more than 150-thousand dollars today. You
see it’s not just the price of the pieces. It’s what pieces. The same boat today would likely be fitted with a toilet costing closer to $1000 to meet
“market demands”. Ditto every one of the major (and minor) pieces of equipment and systems aboard.
The truth is, boats are more expensive for a number of reasons. One big one, often overlooked, is because most peoples’ idea of simplicity has changed.
But then that’s just my opinion. . .
CHARLES NEVILLE associates
Naval Architects
223 Broadway, Centreville, MD 21617
tel: 410 758-1891 • fax: 410 758-3724 www.nevilleboats.com • e-mail: chuck@nevilleboats.com
The Cruising Yacht
Specialists
Order our “White Book” of recent
designs Online, or send $25 for US
and $30 for Worldwide delivery.
Only US checks, or International
money orders, please.
