To Buy or Not to Buy This is the Question

contrarian · #1 (**permalink**) 09-14-2011

Hello all, this is my first post and I thought I might get some interesting input regarding my dilema. To Buy or not to buy. I raced a Pearson O.D. (weekender) up untill 2005 but I was ready for something bigger. I sold it in 2006 with the intention of buying a bigger boat either a Tartan 33 (not the T-10) or a Morgan 38 once I was able to determine what my R E A L sailing venue would be (that's a whole other discussion). Things changed and here we are 5 years later and I still don't have a boat and it is starting to get under my skin (read: He's got the itch ) My finances are such that I can't afford either of the boats that I would really want, but I might be able to swing what I will call the interim boat. I am looking at a Dehler 31. Not really interested in all the suggestions of other boats, my real question is whether I should hang tough and ride out this dreadfull economy untill I can get the boat that I really want or... Go ahead and get a smaller boat that I can get out there and sail now. Plus if any of you think the smaller boat idea is better and you have any info on how well the cored hulls of the mid 80's Dehlers have held up please let me know. I think it would be a fun boat to sail.

cruisingdream · #2 (**permalink**) 09-14-2011

Buy Now , Take a gamble on what you really want , the best prices are right now.
as the economy improves supply & demand says the price of boats will go up and probably more than your pay check will.

dhays · #3 (**permalink**) 09-14-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisingdream

Buy Now , Take a gamble on what you really want , the best prices are right now.
as the economy improves supply & demand says the price of boats will go up and probably more than your pay check will.

I agree. You'll never find a better time to buy a boat if you don't have one already.

kryzakw · #4 (**permalink**) 09-14-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisingdream

Buy Now , Take a gamble on what you really want , the best prices are right now.
as the economy improves supply & demand says the price of boats will go up and probably more than your pay check will.

The price of boats never go up.

Faster · #5 (**permalink**) 09-14-2011

As a buyer with no boat to sell first you ARE in a pretty prime position to take advantage of the current buyers' market. Add to that the fact that you'll be actively sailing now rather than later.

As an interim measure it may cost you a bit more by the time you find the ultimate boat, but you can write off that cost against the increased time on the water in the meantime...

Minnewaska · #6 (**permalink**) 09-14-2011

To be certain, this is the support group you come to when you want to hear that you should buy now.

I also agree that, if you can afford it, you should get back in. Sounds like you can. Deal with post-interim down the road.

apogee1mars · #7 (**permalink**) 09-14-2011

Interesting choice. Not many people are familiar with the rugged Dehler 31.
The economy is not going to get any better for decades. THAT'S RIGHT DECADES!
Everyone should stand by to stand by, sans the super rich of course.

contrarian · #8 (**permalink**) 09-14-2011

I agree with apogee1mars that there is a possibility that things won't get better but sometimes we pragmatist must heed the words of Van Morrison and get on the bright side of the road. Optimisim is a wonderfull thing but being optimistic and gambling are 2 different things. The thing about the interim boat that is bothersome but probably shouldn't be is that you can spend a lot of money trying to refurbish and maintain an older boat when you could spend that same money trying to refurbish and maintain the boat that you really want, problem is that I know what I can afford and what I can't and while 15-20k difference may not seem that much to some of you; for me right now it might as well be 150k. The Dehler I can pay for and have another 5-6k to put into her and while she may not be what I really wanted, I think it would be a compromise I could live with. Anyone out there have any experience with the Dehler 31?

overbored · #9 (**permalink**) 09-14-2011

So if you don't by one now and wait another 5 years to get the perfect boat, do you get the 10 years of no sailing back at the end of your lifespan to add back on?

Minnewaska · #10 (**permalink**) 09-14-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by overbored

So if you don't by one now and wait another 5 years to get the perfect boat, do you get the 10 years of no sailing back at the end of you lifespan to add back on?

Of course not.

Never put off for tomorrow anything that depends on there being a tomorrow.