Believe it or Not, a New Boat Might be Cheaper!
You are thinking of buying a boat and believe that buying a used boat will be less expensive than buying a new boat of the same type. This can be true, but a broader view shows a new boat might actually cost you less. The way we come to that is to consider the Cost-to-Purchase versus the Cost-to-Own a boat over time.
The Cost to Purchase a Boat
Let’s imagine you are looking to buy a 5-year-old sailboat and plan to keep this for five years. Clearly this used boat will benefit from depreciation, so you might pay anywhere from 20% to 25% less than what a similar size brand new boat might cost. Savings check to the used boat. So far so good.
However, before you even own the used boat you pay for a marine survey. If she is in the water you pay for a short-haul as part of the survey and if, like many people in New England you buy off season, you are likely to have to paint the bottom, wax the hull, add fresh zincs, work to bend on sails, launch the boat, fix the water pump, and on and on. So the real cost to purchase the boat is the actual sale price plus these other expenses.
We have established that the cost to purchase a new boat will be more and the insurance and the mortgage expenses will be higher as well. However, you are not spending money on a survey and with new boat warranties and new boat commissioning as part of your purchase price, you don’t have any additional expenses to worry about. You have the most updated technologies and the support of your dealer to get you going, to answer questions and take care of any issues under warranty. Still, you spent more to get here.
Look forward now five years down the line. Your used boat is now 10 years old and you want to upgrade or just sell her outright. You will find that because your boat is 10 years old, there is a second high level of depreciation. This happens because at this age, sails, dodger and bimini are all getting tired and a buyer is likely to account for the cost of replacing these in an offer. Also, services for pumps, engine exhaust riser, rudder bearings, head hoses and other items all need attention. All of this will impact your resale value.
The Cost to Own a Boat
At the same time your new boat is only five years old and aside from fresh batteries, she will not need much in the way of expensive upgrades. Buyers know this and pay more for recent vintage used boats than for older used boats. The real costs over time are the actual Costs to Own. You paid more up front for the new boat, but you have a higher resale capture when you sell in five years. When you add up all the costs to purchase on your used boat plus the lower resale valuation, you may well find it cost you less over that five year span to own the new boat! And, you enjoyed the many benefits of technology and support that came along with the newer boat.
At Cape Yachts, we can review this concept with you in detail and help determine if new or used is right option for you. However, this calculation is one you should have in mind as you consider your next boat purchase.
If you are thinking of buying a boat, either new or used we're here to help. please contact us today!
