Age of your boat?

[got seashells?]

Hubbie (AKA Captain) and I are going to have a discussion this evening about the Max age of a boat that we should be considering. I am of the opinion that age is not as important as quality and upkeep. This will be for a full time live aboard cruiser that we expect to be on for no less than 5 years and mostly through the Caribbean.

this is a link to one that I would like to put on the potential list that he is not comfortable with but only due to its age. https://moreboats.com/boats/tayana/55/56550

so I am asking what the age of your boat is and if that is a big factor in your purchasing requirements.

[dwedeking2]

42 years. Quality of the hull and structure of the boat was priority. I was looking for a project boat (in regards to non-structure items like electronics, paint, electrical) and low $$ entry point as I have a number of years before I retire. With fiberglass age isn't as important as how the boat was taken care of for those years.

[thomm225]

My boat, a 1974 Bristol 27, is 42 years old also. (43 in July) I have yet to do any structural repairs to it in the 6 years I've owned it.

[Mike OReilly]

My boat celebrated it’s 40th year. Going strong.

I would agree with the statement that build and design quality matters more than age when it comes to fibreglass boats. Wood, steel, not so much.

[Paul54]

34 years old. All the big stuff is in good shape. All the little stuff will always need fixing/replacing. But it is always sailable.

[a64pilot]

She turns 30 this year.
I started out my quest not looking at anything more than 5 yrs old, I figured a three to four yr old boat would have taken the large chunk of depreciation, yet still be new enough that it didn't need any work if well cared for.
I bought a beautiful, well cared for boat that was three or fours years old, that had been very well maintained and had many extras. During survey, we found a couple of severe structural issues and I had to pass.

I ended up buying a much older, but much better built boat, that had no structural issues.

My advice is depending on your budget buy a quality, well built boat, if you can afford a new one, then by all means buy a new one, but an old well built boat is better than a new boat that is not well built, in my opinion.

[Don C L]

54 years, and probably will outlive my grand kids, and I don't have any yet.

[Suijin]

Mine turned 31 this year. I've slowly been refurbishing her and improving her. There's no doubt that she's a better boat now than she was 10 years ago.

I think you're right and your husband is wrong, generally speaking. The issue that you're going to face buying an older boat is determining exactly what upkeep has been done and how well it has been done. Photos and interior finish, as well as other things you can see, only tell part of the story. Even a survey is not guaranteed to reveal everything that is wrong with a boat, regardless of it's age.

At least one of our members owns a Tayana 55. His opinion of the example for sale would likely be invaluable. My thought is that is a very low price for that boat and I suspect it's related the screwed-down teak deck. If it's at the end of it's lifespan, which it probably is, you're looking at north of $50k to replace it, and probably a bit less than half that to rip it off and restore/paint.

There's no mention of equipment or inventory for the boat. If it's minimally equipped, that would also explain the price. Could be a great deal. Could be a terrible deal. There's no way to tell from the listing.

Also, the fact that after the bottom was peeled and only three coats of barrier were applied is a bit puzzling. The minimum is usually four, and more is better.

[SuW]

My boat is 41 years old and in great condition because we rescued her in time. Someone had put in a new engine and new sails so the rest was manageable. No problems with core delamination moisture in all the deck parts we have cut holes in, solid glass on the rest of it.

However, the boat you are looking at (Tayana 55) has a teak deck. (Run away!) I think that the price of these boats is higher when the teak is removed :-)

We have friends with a similar vintage Tayana 37. They have just spent nearly 2 years doing the teak deck and still haven't found all the leaks in the wood cored bulwarks (which were full of water also). OTOH the boat was cheap.

The interiors of these boats are really, really beautiful. It's keeping the water out that is a problem!

[markwesti]

That Tayana looks gorgeous , I would research it thru the owners group (there must be one) 9000 hrs on the engine , Is that a lot I'm asking I don't know . The hull was peeled , will it need it again ? I sincerely hope not . Price is very tempting for a 55' boat . All this would come out in a survey . Our little boat , I did the survey she was floating and that was good enough for us . And she was at the repo dock no less . I tracked down the owner and bought her before she could be auctioned off . She was laid up in 79' finished 80' we purchased in 94' . She has been a labor of love to this day .

[Tayana42]

My Tayana V 42 is relatively new at only 28 years. She benefits from the initial build quality provided by Ta-Yang Shipyard and the regular care she has gotten over the 17 years I've owned her. Care and maintenance are more the point than age. That said significant systems need to be renewed over time. For example 9,000 hours on the engine warrants careful inspection. Electronics and pumps? Interior cushions eventually need replacement. But if you pick a boat with good initial build quality it all comes down to condition, condition, condition.

[a64pilot]

I have to ask, why such a large boat?

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I have to ask, why such a large boat?

Right.

And if you have a bar in the boat, half of your cruising activities (70% for some) will be done at home...

My boat is 49 years old, and it does not have a bar - I have to walk.

[zeehag]

mine was 40 last year--so 41 this year. all original thai cedar not rotted masts.
i have a solid heavy and for me, perfect cruiser.

[Jason Flare]

My boat is a model year 1973. Sometime this year it will be a full 44 years old.

I was told years ago that age has little to do with a boat's value. "Condition is everything."