Investment grade boats

[davidpm]

The economy is in tatters and everyone knows it is a buyers market for boats. That being said it appears that there are still boats that are so highly regarded that they are in short supply and will always sell.
I'm using "investment grade" as fun title to get attention. Of course any boat is going to cost a lot to keep up and you will not get your money back. Any boat will probably loose value as the years pile on. But I'm thinking that certain models are sufficiently rare and desirable or plentiful and so popular, or desirable for racing. that out of 100 boats for sale these boats will be in the top five percent to sell.

Just for fun I did a search on Jeff_H's posts back to the beginning as he typically comments on the "which boat should I buy" threads. He mentioned that the Tayana 37 would be his first choice for a 50,000 world cruiser. I tried to find one and interestingly none were available on YachtWorld. Only a couple were available elsewhere. So I'm thinking that this boat may qualify.

So to start off the list I have three candidates that could not be more different but I think share in the top 5% salable rank in their respective categories.

Tanyana
Blue water cruiser. Seems to be rare but highly respected by our very own Robert Perry.

Catalina 30
Probably more of this boat on the water than any other. I have a broker near me that always seems to be able to sell whatever he gets his hands on. Takes about half a year.

Pearson Commander
Nice shape, not expensive and seems to be popular especially in the Annapolis region.

What boats do you find that buyers compete for and do not last long even in today's down market.

[jameso]

Hinckleys were down a bit, late last year, but have recovered some. My guess we missed the "boat" on some great older yachts. Would be interesting to do a web search of your" if only" boats, and keep tabs on them for three years or so

[MastUndSchotbruch]

Originally Posted by davidpm

Catalina 30
Probably more of this boat on the water than any other. I have a broker near me that always seems to be able to sell whatever he gets his hands on. Takes about half a year.

Good for your broker. I have friends that are trying for 2 years now to unload their Catalina 30. No such luck.

I don't think their boat is bad or unrealistically priced but there are just so damned many of them that buyers always seem to find another one, just slightly better or cheaper.

[WDS123]

David,

the investment grade boats will be those that do not appear in any adverts. They get sold to friends.

[LandLocked66c]

Interesting thread, I would recommend that some pictures should be posted of the aforementioned crafts... Noobs, such as myself aren't always familiar with some of the boats mentioned.

[overbored]

Originally Posted by MastUndSchotbruch

Good for your broker. I have friends that are trying for 2 years now to unload their Catalina 30. No such luck.

I don't think their boat is bad or unrealistically priced but there are just so damned many of them that buyers always seem to find another one, just slightly better or cheaper.

you said it. if they want to sell it they need to make it better or cheaper. if they have not sold in two years, bottom line, they are asking to much

[overbored]

racing dingys and late model under 30' racers are the easiest to sell. most go by word of mouth

[hellosailor]

David-
" I tried to find one and interestingly none were available on YachtWorld. "
I've noticed a funny thing about Yachtworld. Over the years, year in and year out, sometimes there are four or six or eight of a certain boat, and then for six months there will be none of that same boat. Dunno why, but sometimes "every" boat of a certain model will be up for sale at the same time, and then there's none of them to be found at all. I think the used-boat market may just be too small, too frgamented by different low production runs, to make anything of this.
Especially when you figure the wide price spreads, and the (let's face it) blatant lies about condition and needs in the used boat market. Like the children of Lake Wobegon, every used boat is way above average. Ahuh.

I'd think the boat market parallels the real estate market and the retail economy in general in some ways. That is, there's more profit (percent, not just gross) to be made by dealing with the high-priced goods. By all means buy a depressed item, but someone out there will have a "must sell" Hinckley that will make a better investment than a "must sell" Pearson 26. The P26 will flip faster, sure, but the H will be sold to someone who isn't going to argue as much about the last thousand dollars.

[RichH]

Originally Posted by davidpm

Just for fun I did a search on Jeff_H's posts back to the beginning as he typically comments on the "which boat should I buy" threads. He mentioned that the Tayana 37 would be his first choice for a 50,000 world cruiser. I tried to find one and interestingly none were available on YachtWorld. Only a couple were available elsewhere. So I'm thinking that this boat may qualify.

Tanyana
Blue water cruiser. Seems to be rare but highly respected by our very own Robert Perry.

A $50K Ty37 is probably going to be 'beater' offered in a 'fire sale'. Expect to pay $80-100+ for a decent one and with current 'equipment', etc.
And yes, 'good' Tayanas (all the models) are usually sold quite rapidly through the 'Tayana Owners Group' (a google group) or privately, etc. ... usually the 'worn out beaters' are offered through 'brokerage'.

[CapnBilll]

I wouldn't expect to see more "investment grade" boats than I would expect to see investment grade cars, or RV's.

They are basically a depreciating asset, only a few well build ones, would hold value enough to appreciate through a market swing.