Bene/Catalina v. Sabre/tartan--new or used

garywayne · #1 (**permalink**) 08-22-2003

The price differential between production boats like Beneteau and Catalina as compared to Sabre and tartan are huge. Is the price justified? Do you get your money''s worth? Does it make sense for similar cost to buy a used Sabre/Tartan or a new Bene/Catalina?

Sailormon6 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-22-2003

Like buying a car, it all depends on where and how you intend to use the boat, and on your ego. (If you think ego isn''t an issue, how many people really need limos or big suvs or high end sports cars?)

Are you using it on inland lakes, or for coastal cruising, or for making long passages? Is speed and lively performance important to you, or are you only concerned with getting there safely, no matter how long it takes? If you are only going to use the boat in a less demanding environment, does your ego require that you have an upscale boat that will "wow" the dockwalkers, but that is overbuilt for your intended use? Could you be equally satisfied with a used boat in excellent condition that has depreciated significantly, rather than a sparkling, new boat with all the latest bells and whistles? Many of us would have widely differing answers for those questions, but only your answers would be right for you.

In short, you should look at the boat to see if it is designed and built to meet your needs, and then look inside yourself to see if it meets your expectations. If it fails in either respect, you probably won''t be happy with it.

Personally, I bought a new boat over 20 years ago with all the options, and, when you amortize it, it has been a great value. However, if I was buying a boat that I only planned to keep for 2-4 years, I would definitely buy a used boat.

Many people who are 3-4 years away from retirement, and can''t take the time to make long passages might want to buy a used Catalina or Beneteau now, and then buy a new, bigger, tougher, more luxurious boat when they retire.

The good thing is that, thinking about all these things, and hunting for just the right boat is almost as much fun as having it.

928frenzy · #3 (**permalink**) 08-22-2003

A comparison that most of us can understand is - Sabers and Tartans are like Cadillacs or Lincolns, while Benes and Catalinas (and Hunters) are like Chevy Impalas or Ford Tauruses. The same question can be asked of the cars, namely, "Are they worth the extra cost, and will they hold their value better in the long run?"

I guess it all depends on what you want and expect from the boat (as well as the car). Is fit and finish important to you? Is the extra amount of structural strength, weight, and rigidity needed for the way you plan to use the boat (or car)?

Keeping in mind that nearly everything new depreciates with time, so how much can you afford to lose in depreciation? Let''s assume you could buy a Catalina new for $150K or a new Saber for $300K. After five years the Catalina may be worth about $125k while the Saber may be worth $250k. They both lost the same depreciation %, but the Catalina cost you $25k less. However, it may very well be that the better built boat will depreciate at a slower rate, and thus may be the overall better value.

I think you have alot of homework to do for the answers to your questions.

~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~

928frenzy · #4 (**permalink**) 08-22-2003

To follow up on your questions, to which I may not have completely responded: Older boats depreciate at a lower rate than new boats. So, if you were to buy an older Saber or Tartan for the same amount you could have paid for a new Bene, Catalina or Hunter - the older boat would hold more of its value (at least till the newer boat was about 20 years old or so, at which point the depreciation curve is nearly flat for all boats). However, older boats usually require more maintenance, so the actual cost/benefit ratio may be closer than the purchase amount would show.

Personally, I''d buy an older boat that was well maintained. With a bit of luck and some TLC, I might even be able to sell it for more than I paid for it. ;^) I very seriously doubt you''d be able to sell a "new" boat for more than what you paid.

~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~

newuser · #5 (**permalink**) 08-25-2003

Great question and good answers. The final decision comes down to a balance of your ego, pocketbook, and very important, where and how you sail. Three years ago, when we were looking for our first big boat, we spent a summer looking at used and finally ended up with a new Beneteau 411. Although it was more expensive initially, the speed and comfort provided in our home crusing area of the Chesapeake is very satisfying. If I were to retire and head out to some serious blue water, I would definitely look to a stronger and perhaps more experienced boat. My best advice is to look around for a long while to get a feel for value and different designs before you take the big plunge.
Good luck and soon, good sailing.