Anyone recall what they paid for a new boat in years past (I'm talking back to the start). I find it amazing that a 30 year old beat up fish holds more of its original value % wise then all most any other boat on the market.
I purchased my first new Sunfish in April, 1973. I paid about $550 for it. This did not include a trailer. I car topped it on my 1970 VW bug. I purchased it from a dealer in Columbia, SC. He had about ten Sunfish stacked in their shipping boxes in his store. All I had to do was pick out what color I wanted. In 1983 I purchased another new Sunfish. It was purchased new/used after a weekend of racing on Lake Pontchartrain, LA. I think I paid about $1100 for it. I still have that boat and use it regularly on Lake Hartwell, GA.
I couldn’t remember the exact price so I called my Mom to get the story right …to the best of her recollection the New boat price in the Spring of 75’ was $595.
My family actually bought our first “Brand New” Sunfish that spring. It was part of a group purchase with 11 or 12 other Yacht Club Members (Tiverton RI). The factory gave them great pricing, only $350 a boat! Can you imagine?
The boat eventually was left down to me officially in 1984 and I promptly sold it for $400 to my neighbor. I then spent $850 on an 81’ (which I sold for $500 in 1990 after it got trashed in a storm).
This kind of return on investment is truly remarkable!
That's what gets me. There's a 72 or 74 on the Vanguard site for $950. It really blows my mind I bought a J-24 for a $1000 sailed it for a year and sold it for the same. But the little fish still holds value. How would have thunk, it a sunfish going up in value. Should I buy some and store them to pay for the kids college??