Todd Powell Boats

Wood Boat Owners and Their Hair Shirt or the Maintenance Cost Myth

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want the cliff notes: First, you have to understand the difference between maintenance and the replacement of worn or outdated components.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.

The Wood Boat Perception

The perception in the marketplace today is that you should stay away from wood boats. They randomly sink, and gee don’t they take a lot of work? That has not been my experience so where does this reputation come from? Well, to start, wood got old first. First in, first to age, first to show the weakness in design and construction. But what is odd is that the entire segment of wood boats, regardless of quality, has been given a bad rap. As with any product line that has multiple manufacturers and designers you will have good and bad. We don’t throw out every car because Ford built the Pinto. In a way, time has done us a favor. If a boat was poorly designed and/or built, age has most likely removed it from the marketplace, and it is quietly composting somewhere. Some boats were built for a specific price point that successfully got folks on the water but did not have the robustness of construction to last decades-which they were never intended to. The Sabrecraft 26 plywood cabin cruiser was a very inexpensive and lightly built boat with an intended life span of maybe 30 years. Why should that vessels demise be an indicator of the life span of a much higher quality build? Clearly then the life span of a Kia is indicative of the life span and quality of a Rolls Royce.

Proper maintenance is also another key factor. Even the highest quality boat cannot overcome poor maintenance. But here again, folks seem unable to recognize that a clear lack of care by the owner (or owners) is the cause of the problem, not the boat itself.

Fine, we have an idea of a couple of the big drivers of the “wood boats are bad” reputation. But then you say: new is just better with more conveniences and less prone to breakdown… or least it may be under warranty! And I don’t have any problem with that thinking because now you can have a new vs. old conversation which is entirely different. But if you want to stick with your wood boats are old or poorly maintained therefore all wood boats are bad then get ready. There is an old fiberglass boat tsunami coming (actually it is here) with plenty of fiberglass boats past their intended life span or poorly maintained. Now you will have to decide if you want to tar all fiberglass boats with the same brush or flip over the new vs. old discussion- which is really where the decision lies.

Next month: Wood boat owners and their hair shirt or more accurately, the Maintenance Myth.

All Doors Are Self-Locking

Carrying along on the theme of time passing which we discussed in the last blog (Tick Tock Says the Clock) I recently came across a statement that resonated with me.

In Bobby Jamieson’s Everything is Never Enough he has this to say: “A time to open and a time to shut. You won’t always know when it happens, but, sooner or later, every door shuts for good. In the end all doors prove self-locking”.

This is a pretty simple statement of fact. As we move through life, time will close and lock doors behind us no matter what we want. But I remind myself that to close a door behind me, it must have opened in front of me first. And to come back to the discussion on being intentional, which doors do you want to open and walk through?

We live in an amazing country that provides us with so many choices-too many you could argue. It is a well-documented fact that more choices can cause us to make no choice at all. (Google the Jam Study by psychologists Sheena Lyengar and Mark Lepper). With so many doors available to us how do we make a decision on which ones to walk through? Well, that is up to you. My only hope for you is that you do decide and then step through.

And to finally loop this conversation back to boating, as all conversations should, it is difficult to know when the door on your boating may be closing. Some folks get interested but think it is “too late” to start. Some boaters bail out too early then have to restart. And some hold on tooth and nail until the door slams on their fingers. Yes, I am talking to you-oldster with a boat that has bunch of deferred maintenance and consequently a value of exactly zero.

Obviously, it is different for each of us, and I don’t have any magic formula for discerning what your timing should be. But I found the door metaphor to be helpful, and it is good to be aware of your timing and your doors so that you can be (again) intentional. And if you try to return to a door and find it locked, give it little thought, rather move on to the door that is open.

Tick Tock Says The Clock

Since my (now long ago) mid-thirties, I have been very aware of the limited time we are blessed with. I am a bit obsessed to be honest and while it can be good to be aware, it can also be a bit of a dark cloud overhead. Of course, since I am interested in the topic, I read books like Four Thousand Weeks and then do the math on how much time I probably have left-Hmmmm…

While it is not great to walk around feeling like the hourglass of your life is running low on sand, we cannot pretend we have an infinite amount of time. To help with this I actually created a pictorial timeline with my estimated demise and potential activities, between here and there. While this may seem a bit morbid, it does have a way of clarifying your priorities. If you think you have an endless number of 5 or 10 year segments in front of you, that allows you to be unfocused and taking action can always be tomorrow. Creating a timeline is simply a reflection of reality-we have a “sell-by date” and if we have some goals or dreams, we might want to be calmly intentional about the things we want to do. It also can help you shed some “maybes” that you are not real serious about. If you remember my rant last February about the “you won’t bounce back forever” continual drumbeat you might think this is just a different version of that. Not so, that was a discussion on the panic-inducing volume of media messaging on the topic. This is a way to counter that by creating a timeline and a plan. Does life go according to plan? Never! But this is the difference between being on the river of life in a canoe with a paddle vs. without. It gives you a chance to be intentional and know that you are directing your actions where you wish to go. When life knocks you of course, you will know which direction to turn. It also allows you to put your energies where they will give you the most benefit. We have a limited amount of energy each day, week, month and we should be aware of where we are spending it.

If you are a go-with-the-flow type, knock yourself out and toss the paddle. I am just not wired that way and I don’t want to squander the grains of sand I have left.

Changing is Challenging

To varying degrees we comply and conform to outside influences depending on how close we are to those influences. Family, both immediate and extended, can be very close and very influential. Someone who follows you on Facebook and you have never interacted with, not so much.

What does this have to do with boating? Your influence group (IG) can have a huge impact on which boat you buy…or don’t buy. It is easy to pretend you are a lone wolf, but if we have learned anything in the last couple of decades, we all have influences. It is just a question of which ones and how much. An easy example are sailors that have decided to move to powerboating. Sailing is great, but it is physically demanding and many a dedicated sailor has decided that to keep boating they must switch to power. Seems simple, but it is not. Many of their sailing friends will be shocked, dismayed, scornful. Another one I hear frequently, as a wood boat guy, are people who confess (usually in hushed tones) that they want a wood boat but can’t buy one because their boating friends will think they are stupid. Or folks who want to boat but their friend group does not boat, so clearly, they can’t boat either.

There are all sorts of different and subtle influences that can put the brakes on your boating dreams and you don’t even realize it. The question for you is simple-will you allow these influences to keep you stuck or do you want to go boating?

Not doing something is easy, doing the thing, regardless of what your friends and family say, is hard. The good news is that for every boating activity under the sun there is a bunch of people also doing it. You just have to find them. Yacht clubs, boating clubs, brand groups, and yes, even wooden boat support groups. They are all out there wanting to make you feel warm and fuzzy about your decision because each person who joins their group validates their decisions.

Changing is hard but best to get on with it and hanging out with boaters is a great way to get started.

Boating in Retirement-Start Early!

I deal almost exclusively with boats used for “cruising” . Going from Point A to Point B, spending the night and then heading to Points C and D, not roaring around the lake with a 4 case capacity cooler-which is also fun. When I am working at the boat shows one of the most common comments I hear is “when I retire”. However, you are not going to go from “no boat” to “boating every day” just by buying a boat. There will be a break-in period, definitely for you and probably for the boat.

Boat Handling– Boats are not like rental cars where you can just hop in and go. Each style will handle differently in wind, waves and current. When you are docking or underway you need to take some time to learn how to handle the boat with your normal crew. If you have no experience with the size and configuration of your new boat, then I recommend budgeting for professional training. A bad experience or two could keep you from ever leaving the dock again.

Equipment Add/Deletes– Most people want to start making changes as soon as they purchase a vessel (unless new). I recommend that you cruise for a while with the boat’s existing equipment before you start making a lot of major changes. You may find that the item you thought was pointless actually has a purpose. After a little time the $20,000 in upgrades may only need to be $5,000.

Shake down Cruising-When your new-to-you boat has not been boating much lately some stress testing will show up any weaknesses. It is not uncommon for a seller to hold off selling even though the boat is getting very little use for a season or two…or three before deciding it is time. I know everyone wants a boat to have low hours but when a boat is underutilized it has a tendency to have minor items go haywire until you have worked all the kinks out. Better to work through this on a series of smaller excursions instead of shoving off for months only to find yourself in a quiet cove without a critical replacement part-for the toilet!.

New Boats-Even if you are purchasing a new vessel, there will be some break in time. Warranty items will come up and need to be addressed. A cruising boat is one of the most complicated things you will own and it will take some hours of use to get all the minor adjustments worked out. Buyers spend a lot of time analyzing the warranty, which is good, but seem surprised when they actually need to use it. It is simple part of the process of getting your boat ready to go.

Finances- Your budget is about to go through a bit of a shock once the annual maintenance of your new vessel settles in. Even though you have run the numbers and you know you can afford it, it will still be an adjustment. This is a little easier to absorb emotionally when your money-making capabilities are still in place.

All this adds up to buying at least one but probably two years before retirement. The time between purchase and actual retirement will not be wasted. Each trip will be a step in getting to know your boat with plenty of time in between shorter cruises to make all the adjustments we just discussed. And it will help prevent you getting impatient to start serious cruising before you, or the boat of your dreams, is ready.

Finding purpose (small “p”)

You hear a steady mantra about finding your purpose. Only then can you find peace in your life. If you are struggling with finding your BIG PURPOSE, I have a small one for you to help pass the time…Save an Old Boat. No one said your purpose had to be noble, or epic, or podcast worthy. Though it would be nice if it gave you a sense of accomplishment.

Actually, you could consider saving an old boat noble or epic. Think of what you will be doing for the environment by keeping that thing out of the landfill. Or helping your local maritime industry by sprinkling some dollars around the boatyards and at the local chandlery. It could start feeling epic, after spending a long weekend in the yard sanding, painting or polishing and waxing. Or that feeling of satisfaction after spending a Saturday standing on your head below decks trying to trace down the faulty wiring and you finally find the culprit! (Micro-rant: why do people think the old wiring is what you hang the new wiring on? The next owner will not know which was new or old-it is all just “wiring”).

It can definitely give you a sense of accomplishment after taking what most people were willing to cast aside and making it useful again. Think of the satisfaction when walking down the dock and your boat is floating there because you had the vision and willed into reality. Or the enjoyment of preserving a bit of nautical and/or regional history. Being the next link in a long chain of stewards who have kept the story going.

Boats are interactive, you don’t purchase it and put it on a shelf to admire. You work on it, and use it. It can take you places in return for the love and attention you lavish upon it. We are wired to actually do things, all sorts of things and sitting around watching other people do things is soul-sucking.

Finding a boat is easy. Spend even a few minutes on Facebook Marketplace, Yachtworld, Craigslist and a dozen other sites and you will find a long list of small “p” purpose yachts waiting for you. Find one that won’t break you financially and get to it.

You’re Not Going to Bounce Forever

I thought when you got to middle age, things would be easier, clearer, with fewer decisions. No! It all starts with the you-won’t- bounce-back-forever thing. Yes, this is a common refrain from middle-aged people. You aren’t going to be able to bounce back like you used to, so you better get retired and get out there!

At the same time we are also told that everyone is living longer so you should plan your money until your 99 years old. Back to the “won’t bounce” crowd-they say you are only going to be able to dodder around until you’re maybe 70. So, does that mean I will be sitting in a chair for 30 years watching Jeopardy? That sounds awful. Or, you should assume you will live to 99- but did you hear about poor fill-in-the-blank? Gone in the prime of life, never got to enjoy the goals he or she hoped to achieve one day. Well, that sounds awful as well.

My other favorite is the email that has been going around for years written by a 94 year old full of witty life advice. Live life with no regrets! (not possible) Eat chocolate! ( I don’t like chocolate). Work less (maybe). Drink wine and be merry! ( I am good with this one) and it goes on from there. I don’t think this author actually existed, it is probably just some early form of AI.

Eat right, but there is no consensus on what right is. Get enough sleep, but also get up early to meet the day. Touch grass-I don’t even know what that means. Exercise, whatever you are doing is not enough! Be social it is critical to staying connected, but also meditate in solitude.

There is so much input that how can you possibly make sense of it all and figure out what works for you? A steady firehose of information from podcasters, Tik Tok and Instagram influencers. There are books and articles, where does it end?

So what does this have to do with boating? Is this where I tell you to start now on your boating dreams before you become poor fill-in-the-blank? Nope, go boating to get away from all the noise about how to live your life. Boats offer escape! After all, why touch grass when you can touch water?

Thus endeth the rant-thanks for listening.

A Tale of Two Budgets

The most common question I get is “How is the boating market?”. It is a bit like asking “How is the weather in the United States?” Well, it depends on where you are, what are the big influences like the jet stream and ocean currents along with local impacts of geography etc. etc. You get the point-the market depends on where you are and minor specifics of your particular market niche. However there is one common trend I am hearing about which is affecting buying decisions. We all know that boating is not the cheapest of hobbies and requires a commitment of time and money. We have discussed this more than once in previous blogs. The change in conversation I am hearing is switching from, “Gee boats are expensive” to “ Wow, it costs a lot to keep a boat!” The focus has switched from the boat buying budget to the boat keeping budget. The marine industry has not been immune to the inflation we have all experienced in the past few years. Moorage, maintenance, financing and insurance have all gone up in varying degrees. (I still think insurance is crazy cheap considering what we are asking of it). Moorage and maintenance are the most common ones I hear about which makes sense as they feel like they have seen the biggest increases. They are impacted by a multitude of different factors and a little increase in each area starts to add up. However, THERE IS A SOLUTION! When you are trying to figure out which boat to buy and whether can you afford it, dial it back a bit. You wanted that 55’ pilothouse? Maybe you can get achieve your goals in a 45’ sedan. Looking to cross the oceans in 20 years? Maybe buy a boat for the inland cruising you are going to be doing for the next 15 years and worry about the oceans later. Want a brand new or newer boat? Maybe give a look at something a bit older that has been loved and coddled and has many years of cruising left. If the goal is to be on the water, modify your expectations and get there. I think 2026 is going to be full of opportunities for buyers, and adjusting your expectations will allow you to grab one as it floats by.

December-Let’s Recap!

I thought it would be fun to take a quick run through what we have discussed this year. I have a habit of continually looking towards the next thing and never taking a moment to reflect on where I have been. Sometimes coming back to something a month or year later gives you a fresh perspective or new take on a topic. Here is 2025 by month and topic with my quick reaction in ().

January: Barriers in Boating (Today’s challenges are tomorrow successes)

February -Weather! (Nothing you can do about the weather!)

March: Quit Moving the Goal Posts (Take a moment and enjoy the win)

April: History month-American Marine’s Alaskans. (Nostalgia)

May-Set Your Expectations (Old boats=Opportunity)

June-Expectations by the Numbers (It’s just math)

July-Is it Really Work? (Work or play has more to do with the framing than the actual activity)

August-Six-percenters & Somedayers (Better to be a six-percenter)

September-A Little Self-Reliance=Less Boating Stress (Personal agency is freeing)

October -The Gripers#%$&! (I need to stop complaining and be grateful for the opportunity)

November- The Key (Know thyself and know where you are headed)

Interesting how often the same things that apply to our boating can also apply to the broader scope of “life”. No wonder boating can be such an all-encompassing activity. Barriers, goal post moving, setting expectations, Six precenting, self reliance, self awareness. However you decide to spend your time in 2026, hopefully these will help you live life as you wish to. All the best, Todd