If you were a contractor?

[Docked Wages]

With all the talk of how "bad" the boating industry is... Including how far prices have recently dropped on many used boats... I often find myself wondering about the opportunity to "trade up" to larger boat in the 50'-60' class.

While you can pick up 45-55' late 80's Bertrams and Vikings for 100K+/-, you'll end up dropping another $100K into it within 2-3 years to rejuvenate it to *safe* operating condition - - and most every system remains a ticking time-bomb.

With this in mind, I'm looking for insight as to what it takes financially to build a 50' sportfish (for me, designed more for family cruising than fishing). Specifically, I'm wondering what the realistic ranges of cost in dollars would be if you were to break it down by the following categories:

1.) Fabricating the Hull, Superstructure and tankage (bridge boat) - Basic fiberglass cold-molded with minimal exterior teak for maintenance purposes
2.) Engines - Assume 600 HP - 1200 HP depending upon a 20 or 30 kn cruise speed
3.) Interior - 3 SR w/ 2 Head nothing extravagant
4.) Electrical basics - Dont Include Navigation Electronics
5.) Plumbing basics
6.) Metalwork - Basic 1/2 tower, cockpit shade, grab handles and bow rail

If it helps you visualize the extent of finish work, picture a low maintenance Carolina Boat exterior with an interior and general components of a Sea-Ray grade boat. (Yes, did I really just say that?!!!) Again, maybe I'm just day dreaming about my next boat, but I keep having a hard time coming up with what it costs to build a Carolina style vessel that is something between a big money custom boat and a charter-finish. Seems there are few boats that fall within this category.

I ask for you to weigh in with your opinions b/c I don't want to waste a builders' time - - I'm far from pulling the trigger on making a decision and I'm picturing my "forever boat" and therefore the resale factor is not very important to me.

[darbikrash]

I think that's a great post and I know I am also interested in any replies.

[Capt_John]

I know a contractor here in NC that did that very thing. He's a very well known home builder and after the person building his boat started slacking off, he started on it himself with his crew. He then took on a few workers that were laid off from other boat builders and is getting the boat done much faster now. From everyone I know that's seen it....it's nicer, cleaner lines, and coming out much better and so far he's saved a ton of cash doing it. I will also say that in these days and times, there are plenty of full time boat builders willing to work with you and they have the experience to do it right. The guy I know might have just gotten lucky.

[Docked Wages]

I know a contractor here in NC that did that very thing. He's a very well known home builder and after the person building his boat started slacking off, he started on it himself with his crew. He then took on a few workers that were laid off from other boat builders and is getting the boat done much faster now. From everyone I know that's seen it....it's nicer, cleaner lines, and coming out much better and so far he's saved a ton of cash doing it. I will also say that in these days and times, there are plenty of full time boat builders willing to work with you and they have the experience to do it right. The guy I know might have just gotten lucky.

To be clear, I do feel that everyone is entitled to making a fair living and reasonable profit for their hard work however the hardest thing for us laymen to wrap our hands around is what it truly costs to build one of these style boats. In all honesty, I can look back on my last 3 home purchases and see where I've WAAAAAY overpaid for the GC to do certain elements of their work on everything from landscaping to installing really cheap grade windows.

With economies of scale comes reduced costs for materials but also comes additional overhead... Personally, I'm not looking for justification on tooling costs or staff overhead of a major manufacturer, however I am curious about the hard cost ranges of building out one of these boats exactly like this Contractor is doing.

After all, nobody likes feeling like they got ripped off or overpaid for something as it only causes considerable buyer-remorse. Not looking for cutting edge, just costs for a straight-forward quality build out. Thanks to anyone who can provide some insight!!!

[perfectscore]

To be clear, I do feel that everyone is entitled to making a fair living and reasonable profit for their hard work however the hardest thing for us laymen to wrap our hands around is what it truly costs to build one of these style boats. In all honesty, I can look back on my last 3 home purchases and see where I've WAAAAAY overpaid for the GC to do certain elements of their work on everything from landscaping to installing really cheap grade windows.

With economies of scale comes reduced costs for materials but also comes additional overhead... Personally, I'm not looking for justification on tooling costs or staff overhead of a major manufacturer, however I am curious about the hard cost ranges of building out one of these boats exactly like this Contractor is doing.

After all, nobody likes feeling like they got ripped off or overpaid for something as it only causes considerable buyer-remorse. Not looking for cutting edge, just costs for a straight-forward quality build out. Thanks to anyone who can provide some insight!!!

with the current state of boat marked, you are better off finding a preowned boat rather then having a builder come down on his prices. YOu will have more leverage negotiating with a bank owned or guy who has to liquidate. If I had a builder to build and I got him down on price I wouldnt trust the overall quality of the construction. You know they would be cuttin corners. You cant go back and rebuild it after it is done or it will cost a ton more. I talked to a few builder and i dont see them droppin prices on new builds, I certainly wouldnt.

[Docked Wages]

with the current state of boat marked, you are better off finding a preowned boat rather then having a builder come down on his prices. YOu will have more leverage negotiating with a bank owned or guy who has to liquidate. If I had a builder to build and I got him down on price I wouldnt trust the overall quality of the construction. You know they would be cuttin corners. You cant go back and rebuild it after it is done or it will cost a ton more. I talked to a few builder and i dont see them droppin prices on new builds, I certainly wouldnt.

Thats a fair point.

But sticking with the same theme of my original question, what does it really cost to build out a boat as I described? Envision me working as the GC on the project... (hypothetically speaking)

Not interested in beating a builder over the head; just looking to gain a better understanding of what it really costs to build one of these rigs

[Questsportfishing]

maybe even 1 -2 years old that right now can still be bought with warranties some that can also be bought from people liquidating like the last post.. a rebuildable block that just needs new engines, paint or wiring is also an option and some of the boat builders may know of some of 'their rigs' for sale check their brokerage boats... the carolina classic my friend just bought is real nice and just needed electronics and it was brand new never sold 1 1/2 year sitting / brokerage boat.. I go by national liquidators down here in ft lauderdale where they repossess boats (sad piece of water) and they blow through boats.. check them..brand new stuff goes by..

[Docked Wages]

No doubt there are some killer deals on slightly used boats in distress sale situations however the core of my original post revolves around understanding the REAL costs of building a new vessel in today's economy.

I own a 1988 45 viking. If 20 years ago the list price was around $350K therefore a new one by today's standards (keeping pace with inflation) should be around 700K (+/-). Back about 20 years ago production builders also had upfront pricing on many popular options and included price lists for each of them along with their marketing materials... How can the builders justify setting prices north of $1M for the same boat today? Popular option prices no longer seem to be sitting out on the table and everything seems to direct you to deal with "brokers" or middlemen whereby the value of what your hard earned dollars are buying for you is no longer clear.

Granted, the used market provides more clarity on where prices "should" be however I've heard and read stories of both production and custom builders (not all) cutting corners and sidestepping all sorts of warranty issues that will negatively impact their own bottom line unless you are a repeat new-build customer. Rest assured that when I have the good fortune, financial position and time on my hands to drop big money on another boat, I won't want to buy someone else's headaches but will take the time to get involved in the build-out process for my own "forever boat".

So can anyone give us readers some ballpark numbers on what it takes to build a new vessel as outlined in the first post of this thread?

[scattered_grass]

with the current state of boat marked, you are better off finding a preowned boat rather then having a builder come down on his prices. YOu will have more leverage negotiating with a bank owned or guy who has to liquidate. If I had a builder to build and I got him down on price I wouldnt trust the overall quality of the construction. You know they would be cuttin corners. You cant go back and rebuild it after it is done or it will cost a ton more. I talked to a few builder and i dont see them droppin prices on new builds, I certainly wouldnt.

You are dead on here! I have experienced this first hand.

[seapower]

You "think" it'll cost, multiply it by at least 2!!! Never seen it to fail. Guy's that build boat's aren't doing it for a hobby, the math has to work or they're out of business. That being said,there is way more to building and powering a boat than most have any idea is involved. Most boat's look great on the outside and that's what most judge by. But the "detail's" that went into your boat that can't be seen is what most don't understand, but are essential to having a "good" boat. Frank