Are we evolving toward extinction?

Don Finkle of RCR Yachts highlights the conundrum of how better boats is not helping grow the sport:

One significant issue for sailing in general is the fact that you can no longer buy a nice new smaller starter family boat.

When we started in the early 1970s, we sold many new 20-to-30-foot boats. These boats were a great way to get younger folks and young families started in the sailing lifestyle. They were simple, and because they were built in high quantity, the prices were low by modern standards—actually a small fraction of today’s prices.

I was looking through our files and came across the sale of a fully equipped racing C&C 29-1 for $27,000 in 1977. Today, that boat would be at least $270,000, ten times as much not counting inflation. A boat like that built now would have two wheels, a diesel, a folding transom, and many other things unknown back then.

Today’s boats are bigger, better, and with more features, and that is one reason they cost so much more.

Another is higher cost means lower volume, which exacerbates the cost issue. But the fact remains it is hard to get people started in the sport with a new boat—that is where used boats fill the gap.

There are some very attractively priced pre-owned boats now, but they are not new. They are not of the current design, and not built with modern materials and equipment. No free lunch we are afraid. So, it is frustrating to us when someone new to the game has to learn on a boat that is nothing like modern boats, is not clean and nice and free of issues.

Certainly, some folks become turned off by the fact their used boats are, well used, and often were heavily used. Builders understand this but they are trapped in the reality of cost of manufacture against demand that is being mostly filled by cheaper used boats.

We do not have any solution here, simply pointing out a dilemma that only some drastic change in construction technology can fix. People often shortchange themselves by buying used when they can afford, and would be happier with, a new boat. We only go around once. It depends on how much you value your time and enjoyment.