Factors that Contribute to Sailboat Cost
There are a number of factors that contribute to the cost of a sailboat. They differ based primarily on the market they're sold in. For example, a used sailboat's condition will affect its price, but this detail is irrelevant to a new sailboat.
New Sailboat Pricing Factors
New sailboats can be very costly, and prices have gone up over the last few decades. Sailboats are no longer the common family accessory that they were at the height of the 1960s and 1970s fiberglass boat era. This means that fewer companies produce them.
Additionally, the equipment found in sailboats today is far more effective and technologically advanced than it once was. In the 1970s, a sailboat with ducted central heating and air conditioning was unthinkable, but it's standard on a lot of boats today because that's what consumers expect.
The primary factors that contribute to the cost of a new sailboat are size, material, standard equipment, and the level of fit-and-finish.
Size
Size is the single biggest contributing factor. Let's use the popular 31-foot Catalina 315 as a benchmark. This is one of the smallest sailboats made by Catalina today, and it starts at $163,000. This boat is pretty basic, so we can safely say that it's on the low end of the new boat cost scale.
Now let's look at its big brother, the Catalina 355. This 35-foot sailboat has a similar level of fit-and-finish, so we can pretend it's just a stretched version of the Catalina 315. This vessel starts at around $231,000, which is significantly more expensive for an extra five feet in length.
Standard Equipment
An entry-level, base-model cruising sailboat has very little extra equipment, even today. These vessels can be optioned out with everything from powered winches and autopilot to radar and air conditioning. Let's pick a few options and compare pricing.
- Air Conditioning: $1,859
- Radar: $1,878
- Power Winches: $1,485 each (assume 2 are installed, so $2,970)
- Autopilot: $2,000
- Bow Thruster: $2,165
- Total: $10,872
As you can see, just a few popular additional options can add up to a significant cost increase. And we just used the cost of the equipment itself—not installation. This is compounded as size increases, as larger boats require larger machines to achieve the same effect (with the exception of radar in most cases).
Fit and Finish
Fit and finish are major contributors to sailboat pricing, especially with brand new boats. For example, substituting composite countertops for stone or marble can cost thousands. Plus, the use of finer woods, metals, and fixtures can easily double or triple the overall cost of furnishings.
Used Sailboat Pricing Factors
Factors that contribute to used sailboat costs are a bit less dramatic, but they're more difficult to predict. For example, the same boat with the same equipment may sell for 20% more if it's five years newer. The primary contributors to used sailboat costs are age, type, size, and condition.
Overall Condition
Condition is the biggest factor in used sailboat pricing, as it is a direct contributor to the cost of maintenance. How much work needs to be done before the vessel is clean, comfortable, and safe? This is why boats with damage can be a great deal if you're willing to do the work.
Vessel Age
Older sailboats simply cost less—to a point. This rule doesn't apply to classic vessels, especially if they're in pristine condition. But virtually every fiberglass sailboat that's older than 20 or 30 years is going to be pretty affordable compared to late-model vessels.
Vessel Type
Cruising sailboats tend to cost more than light sport sailboats, especially as you go further back in age. This is because cruising sailboats are better equipped and more comfortable and thus more desirable to the market as a whole.
Average New Cruising Sailboat Cost
The average cost of a new cruising sailboat is about $250,000. This number is taken from analyzing new sailboat listings of various sizes, with the average being about 35 feet in overall length.
New cruising sailboats range in price from around $150,000 to well north of $500,000 for large and custom models. Aluminum sailboats cost significantly more than fiberglass models, and steel tends to fall somewhere in the middle.
The price of wooden boats is virtually impossible to ballpark until plans are examined, and materials are sourced. Plywood boats cost less than hardwood boats by a significant margin, as there's only a handful of people alive who are competent classical boatbuilders.
Used Cruising Sailboat Cost
Used cruising sailboats are significantly less expensive than new ones. On average, the price of a 20 to 30-year-old cruising sailboat in excellent, voyage-ready condition is between $30,000.
The price of used cruising sailboats ranges from $5,000 for older vessels and $150,000 for late-model cruisers. The cost occasionally soars past $200,000 for special models, especially high-tech luxury yachts.
Can You Finance a Sailboat?
Yes, it's entirely possible to get a loan for a new or used sailboat. It's usually easier to get a loan for a sailboat than a powerboat, and it's also much less expensive to insure. Sailboat loans can be more difficult to get and more costly than car or house loans, but good credit goes a long way.
The average interest rate on a sailboat loan ranges from 4% on the low end to 7% for riskier and smaller loans. New sailboat loans are different, as the amount of money involved usually lowers the interest rate.
Average Price to Build a Sailboat
The great thing about building a sailboat is that the only financial price you pay is the cost of materials. A sailboat can be constructed by a relatively unskilled individual today thanks to modern boatbuilding methods such as stitch-and-glue plywood construction.
The cost of materials varies widely between boats. A small wooden sailboat built from white oak can cost significantly more than a larger sailboat built of steel, and a fiberglass sailboat of any size is usually the cheapest option.
The highest costs, other than wood, are usually due to the price of marine epoxy. A one gallon can of good boat epoxy can easily cost $100 or more, and you'll need many gallons to complete the most modest boatbuilding projects.
Unless you're building a small open-cockpit sailboat, you can expect to pay in the tens of thousands for materials. These costs can eclipse $50,000, but it's still significantly cheaper than hiring a custom boatbuilder. That said, custom boatyards are the way to go for professional fit-and-finish.
