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You might have to knock down, TRUMPS ‘wall’, & let some Mexican cheap labourers in??? ‘B J’.
A friend of mine once told me that “the world is filling up with old people stuff.”
Fiberglass has proven durable and most boats are not heavily used. As a result, if you want a traditional design, the used boat market is rich. If you want a euro-designed cabin and cockpit, and a really big boat (these two are what you see at shows), and you’re in the chips, you may buy new. For most of us, for the near future, the used boat market is a much better value. Of course, some people like new rather than inheriting old problems, and they have a point.
Very big boats, if you can sell them, have more margin. In part this is because they are not competing as dirrectly with the used boat market. This trend is obvious at any boat show.
Perhaps it is a cycle, but a very long one.
Good points, Drew, but I’d say buyers need reasons to buy. Value is a good reason to buy used. Innovation isn’t limited to “Euro designs.” In fact, Euro designs are now available on the used market. Innovation, to me, means new, different, better, simpler, faster, more exciting, etc. Americans used to have a rep as innovators. American business leaders are now often noted for financial leverage, exporting jobs, diminishing value and offering / believing the fairy tale that AI can replace people. Innovators roll up their sleeves and innovate.
Innovators roll up their sleeves and innovate! EXACTLY
Thanks for a great article with much historical knowledge. I learned a great deal. Beneteau’s North American plant was in Marion, SC. With it closing (it produced the modern 235 among others) , the passing of many sailboat builders, costs increasing for small to midsize trailerables (20’-27’) there is just an availability gap in that range for new boats. The older used market looks robust. I would still buy a good condition wing keel Catalina 250 or Hunter 270 for their value and features.