As we look into the wooden boat “myth vs. reality” when it comes to cost of maintenance, I first want look at the source of much of the negative information around this topic. It is wood boat owners themselves. We love to stand around and talk about how much work we do, how much money we spend, and the difficulty owning a wood boat as a way of showing how virtuous and long suffering we are. For a deep dive comparing costs on boat care, you can find all sorts of information online. Of course, be discerning of your sources! For those of you who want the cliff notes: First, you have to understand the difference between maintenance and the replacement of worn or outdated components. A quick house example-your roof needs to be cleaned regularly which is maintenance. Your roof will eventually wear out and need replacement. More expensive than maintenance but happens at a much greater interval. Most people lump the cost of replacement of worn components in a boat into the maintenance category. Second, now that we have clarified the definition of maintenance, the true cost of maintenance for any boat is about the same. However, if you want to skimp on your maintenance, then fiberglass will tolerate that far better than wood. Just remember, whatever money you think you are saving by skimping on maintenance will come right off the sales price when you go to sell. Or you will write a big check prepping the boat for market and it takes more effort and money to bring a boat back to standards rather than just taking care of it in the first place.
When it comes to structural repairs, can we compare wood to fiberglass? Does a 80-year-old classic woodie structural repair cost more than a similarly aged fiberglass boat? Well, we don’t know because there aren’t any fiberglass boats of that age, so most people will compare an older boat to a newer boat. And there it is again, old vs. new, not wood vs. fiberglass. Is it possible the entire industry has been having the wrong discussion? I believe it has…
Next month we will chat about insurance and moorage. I know you have already fallen asleep.
