BruceK wrote:This is very subjective but I dont really buy the "What you can afford" argument being a size restricter. My budget was the same. My running costs are more admittedly and I pump money into the boat in upgrades and refurbishments (but by choice it must be said) but I did buy my boat for 25k. Dont get hung up on age, just get hung up on quality and condition. As I said previously, there were some really superb boats in this class made in the 80's and early 90's that have stood up to time and have been well cared for, just takes a little searching. They have also reached a point where they will not really depreciate further and are reasonably easy to shift especially a few that are finding a retro demand like the Offshores and Portafinos. The quality of work and materials in some of these earlier boats is remarkable in juxtaposition to the more recent entry level offerings and dare I say, will probably as a result last longer. But it is subjective. I have never bought a new car either. The idea of haemorrhaging money in depreciation is an anathema to me.
My what I can afford and what I want the boat for are as follows:
1) Small enough to fit on my swing mooring which is in an excellent position and cost £95 per year (25ft is about the max)
2) Only one engine to keep servicing and other costs down
3) Must be trailable so as to bring home in closed season. This with 1 above will save over £2000 a year
4) Would like to take it around and about from time to time
5) Want to move up from cuddy to have proper toilet and sleeping etc
6) 90 % of the time there will only be 2 of us on board with a little dog
7) Holds its value reasonably
8) Diesel engine as this will reduce fuel bills greatly (for several reasons some because of circumstances)
Anything over 25-26 foot blows almost all of these criteria out of the water.
The S23/25 and some others fit this criteria very well
Dennis
