beginner question

[sodman12]

Why are steal hulled boats so much less expensive than fiberglass?

I know theres an easy answer i just don't know it

[Libellula]

potential resale value
that must be factored in the purchase of the boat

[sodman12]

yeah but why are they less expensive?

[camaraderie]

MOST (not all) steel recreational sailboats are owner project boats and priced accordingly. Many older steel boats that have not been meticulously maintained are simply rust buckets. Steel is also heavy and has been pretty much supplanted by aluminum in metal recreational boat building. Having said all this...there are still, well finished, well built and well cared for steel boats out there if that is what you need...but you'll have to look at a lot to find them.

[TrueBlue]

yeah but why are they less expensive?

Because like sailingdog, rust never sleeps.

[sailaway21]

They are proportionally more expensive to build and so, less competetive in the market place, so few manufacturers build them. They are proportinally more expensive to maintain, so fewer buyers want them, and when you do find an older one, it is unlikely that it has been well cared for it's entire life. They were the logical heir to wooden boats, once welding technology advanced. Unfortunately for them, fiberglas was invented concurrently with those advances.

[sailingdog]

I sleep... about once a week.

Originally Posted by TrueBlue

Because like sailingdog, rust never sleeps.

[Sailormann]

They are less expensive because there is less demand for them. They are high on maintenance and (usually) low on performance.