So you can't afford that Boat?

The fact that boats cost a lot more than many of us think they should (or wish they did) has been my topic du jour several times in past years. For many the pure force of economics present the most daunting barrier to buying the boat of their dreams. After 25+ years in the boat business I must admit I certainly understand why boats cost what they do. At same time, however, that doesn’t make high prices any less of a surprise. In spite of this apparent reality, you as a buyer have a lot more control over the price you pay and the boat ultimately tied to your dock than you might think.

As universal as high boat prices may seem to be, a closer look validates the old bromide "you get what you pay for". That fact has been recently confirmed with the launching and delivery of two of my custom metal boats. Both boats are in the mid to upper 40’s in overall boat length. Both have similar accommodations though the 3-foot smaller boat is obviously more tightly packed. Both boats sport a quality level of finish well in keeping with their owner’s wishes. In spite of these physical similarities, however, the prices of the two boats are considerably different. By "considerably" I mean one cost more than twice that of the other.

Please understand, by telling this story I’m not trying to point out the similarity of these vessels, as much as their differences. One was built domestically, one overseas. The trim chosen and finish were selected with different goals and budgets in mind. Finally the array of equipment on both boats is significantly different. Still both boats are designed to perform essentially the same task. While you should not expect to buy a luxury product at an economy price. That doesn’t mean a modest price can’t represent a real value.