20 year old boat or 30 year old boat??

[shadow]

i agree with most everyone so far. All depends on make, but if it has been perfectly maintained, then that speaks volumes in overall care and love of the boat. The electronics is the easiest to replace, but if it still works, who cares.. I'd focus on the stuff like rigging (both) engine, etc.. But the older one sounds like the way to go, but I would have at least 5 - 8 options when I look.. But, this could be your very short list.. So good luck..

[sailorcherry]

We don't know because you could be asking is a 20 year old Hunter 37 better than a 30 year old Tayana 37?
And I haven't read the thread, but for what kind of sailing?

The real answer is whichever was better built (possibly at a lower quantity/production and at a higher price) at the time of splashing. If the same then whichever had a better refit/refurb at some point and then again if both equal whichever has been lovingly maintained. Imho.

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by boatman61

The John Deere engine in my former Van de Stadt is 38yrs old.. spares no problem.. agent just up the road and skilled mechanics at €17/hr...

If one of the boats has a John Deere get that one! If one of them has a Volvo don't get that one.

[dakno]

I know this is a late reply but here goes. Everything everyone said is correct and also mostly irrelevant. In comparing a 20 to a 30 year old boat is mostly meaningless. Condition relative to price, updated everything relative to price, market values relative to price. Everything is expensive. Cushions alone can cost 5k to 10k. Bimini, Dodger, plumbing, ports, hatches, etc., its all revelant. Batteries, solar, genset. You add everything to come to a fair market price and you decide how much below that price point you want to acquire your dream.

When shopping for my current boat there were 2 almost identical models , one had more options than the other and was priced 12% higher. I chose the one I liked better (lower engine hours) and didn't place much value on the full cockpit enclosure of the other. 2 years later I am shopping for a full enclosure...10-15k. Everything is a plus or a minus, add all of it even thou you may not have a spefic value on some things at this time, someone else may..

Good luck

[GTom]

Very good point. Though many old boat buyers tend to fix things themselves and know non-"boat" places for certain repairs, refit is a minefield for your pocket.

Everything has a lifetime (engine, cushions, etc), and the best deal you can make is the old boat that has been fully refitted 1-2 years ago. No way that in a heavily buyers market a seller could claim any significant portion of the refit costs which, as you mentioned, might very well exceed the boat's market price.

A fully refurbished and offshore prepared Albin Vega sold for ~10k $ comes in to my mind. True, approx 50-60% more than the usual market price - however this difference wouldn't even cover the up-to-date life raft and epirb...