Ruminations on value and "values"
Well, you might be dreaming, but someone once said that reality starts with a dream...
It has been 10 years since we bought ours, and we paid about 48K total, but that was for a project boat, and boy, was it ever. At that time a "turn key" Olson 34 would have cost me about 70K, and we were stretching the limits of our budget as it was.
:eek:
Your offer seems logical, as long as you say it nicely, and should be considered in light of the need to do deferred maintenance on the rig, standing and running (does it still have 4 wire-to-rope halyards?).
Engine survey will tell more of the story, too. For us the expenditures came quick -- $1400. for the ST60 instrtument package alone, and then I had to install it, and another $900. for the AP, new BStay adjuster a bit later, new fore hatch, repair a cracked sliding hatch, new fixed ports, and etc, etc. And some more "etc" over the first five years.
One also has to consider desireability/marketability. Since there are not many of these on the market at any given time, and their basic construction is stronger than most contemporary boats, you are paying for that basic construction and, of course, the great design. Going forward on the calendar, the aft cabin-and-head interior seems to be the trend for the forseeable future. Boats that combine that level of interior liveability AND on-deck performance are almost non-existent in the current sailing world.
[Sidebar: IMHO, the present market has devolved into about 90% RV/daysailors and the other 10% racing boats. For instance, we looked hard at a new Ben. 367 last fall, and found that while the deck layout was really nice, the forward head had room for a single person and a roll of tp, but not at the same time... Oh, My.
Also, even the dealer told me that their quality was below their more-IOR-ish cruiser/racers in the 80's. After sitting in the cockpit and walking around the deck, we both really wanted to like that boat. Oh well.]
What I can do is forward this thread to some other O-34 owners I know of.
No one wants to spend "too much"; however, buying a boat of any kind involves a lot of factors besides money. Best to avoid cliches like comparing it to choosing a spouse, but nonetheless there are soul-satisfying components that do seem to resemble the way you pair-bond -- and your spouse, or cat, or dog... chooses you!
We both had visited aboard a pristine O-34 several years before we made the decision to sell our beloved Niagara 26 (owned 10 years) and look around for a "last boat." I was kind of holding out for another big ol' fractional rig but the Admiral fell in love with the Olson. When we found one we could barely afford, the Captain was influenced considerably by the Admiral (or the CNO, Chief of Naval Operations, as she is sometimes called).
So, save money if you can, but remember that if the boat still makes you happy to be on the water in 2016, that's what is really important. So is driving to weather at 6.5 kts, with a feathery touch on the helm, while sitting on the low side watching the perfect sine curve of the bow wave moving down the side past you... Mmmmmm.
Philosophy dispensed daily, and worth about what you are paying...
Loren
1988 Olson 34 #8 , 1994 to present...
