Too soon to move up?

[weenybean]

I bought a new Catalina 250 WB with trailer in November ''01. I was more interested in a fixed keel, but I couldn''t pass up the deal, and I thought I would be trailering. I haven''t used the trailer, yet, and do not intend to unless I have to move across country.

I have decided I want a bigger boat. I have very easy access to the Atlantic and would like go offshore, but the 250 isn''t designed for that.

Is it too soon to buy another boat? For the money I spent, I could''ve easily afforded a used 28-30 footer.

Thanks for any advice.

[Jeff_H]

Its probably too late to cry over spilled milk. Generally, buying a brand new boat is not the best economic decision. This is especially true of the more common mass production boats. You can expect to take a 10% to 20% hit on your initial investment (also less brokerage fees if you sell through a broker). The good news is that unless you plan to hold onto the boat for a long time, you will facing the virtually same depreciation. In other words if you hold onto the boat for a while longer or sell it today, your loss will probably be pretty close to the same.

It is not unusual for people to buy smaller boats for thier first boat as a way to learn to sail and develop a sense of what they are looking for in a boat. It is fairly common to sell this first boat after a couple seasons and move up. That is why I generally suggest always buy a used boat for your first boat because that boat almost always will be sold again pretty quickly.

I have no idea what your level of experience or whether you have owned other boats, but if you haven''t I suggest that you keep the Catalina for a little while to develop your sailing skills and then take your time figuring out what kind of boat truely suits your needs.

Even if you are an experienced sailor, I would suggest that you try to get aboard a number of boats to help refine your sense of what appeals to you and what doesn''t. You''ve already acted in haste and repented at leisure once. Take your time, so that you don''t make the same mistake again.

Respectfully,
Jeff

[alohakate1]

Dear Weenybean,

Life is short!

Kate