- second hand boats depreciate about 5% a year eg a boat costing $30,000 would depreciate about $1500 a year.

- but I also think the market value follows new prices upwards as well. eg I reckon prices for my Stabi 1530, have gone up due to new Stabi prices. So, I would estimate that its 5% depreciation below the current new price, not necessarily what you paid for it.

 

It seems very odd that depreciation is so low compared to vehicles; but cant beat the market.

Some makes hold their value better than others, Stabi and Surtees for example. 

Labour costs will keep increasing, minimum wage is heading up too. Land values are way up , so are rents for premises to build boats. Generally overheads would be hard to fix, so new prices keep rising resulting in less depreciation on purchase price. Certainly better than cars.

I found exactly that, so I bought a new boat instead of S/H.

3 to 4 year old boats will mostly still look much like new with even basic maintenance and are likely still current models so if the new list prices have gone up then so will the used price so unlike most things you may get to sell your 3 - 4 year old boat without taking a huge first owner hit.

The other variable is whether there is stock siting around of the model you want of whether it has to be ordered and go onto the build list that might take months. Lack of stock on the market pushes up used prices.

If I wanted a certain model and was looking at new boats I would go to a dealer that doesn't have one on his yard and negotiate a payment plan alongside the price. If your payments fully cover the dealers payments to the manufacturers (hull,engine, electronics etc) and the boat only sits in his yard for a week or so to get rigged, then if you are smart about it you should be able to get a pretty good deal.