tophatyachts.com

I was just reading that in the 80s these yachts sold for $30000. I would be interested to know exactly in what years they sold for what money. That was a lot of money in the 80s and if you look at the inflation figures from the RBA $30000 in 1980 is equivalent to $120000 today. If you take it from 1985 $30000 is equivalent to $80000 today. Its interesting to compare the REAL value of something as inflation keeps eroding away the buying power value of every dollar you hold every year.

This is the link if anyone wants to play around with it - easy to use and ive found very useful.

http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/d33101 ... calculator

Another interesting point ive noticed is that value of lead in the keels of these boats! Currently 1 tonne of lead is valued at $2291. Source

http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/? ... rrency=aud

This means if the keel has 1250kg of lead in it the lead alone is worth over $2800.

Something to think about.....

Chris

Chris,

Even before the GFC, a good Top Hat with an inboard was fetching $20 to $30k. Second hand yachts have halved in price over the past 6 years. When I bought my Top Hat I looked at some S and S 34s but decided $65-75k was more than I could afford. A few have recently sold for $35-45k, so it is not only Top Hats that have devalued.

I remember an old add for the Top Hat that described it as, 'the budget priced world cruiser', I guess it still is but today it is even better value.

Cheers,
Mark

Chris and Mark,

Back in the 1970's you could buy a new unit in the eastern suburbs of Sydney for the price of a Top Hat!

To try that today, you will need around 20 times that amount

Phillip,

What do you think it would cost to build a Top Hat to the original specs today?

Cheers,
Mark

I found this on yachthub its a Folkboat gives some idea on price

http://yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sal ... boat/99731

no doubt the weak euro and strong aus dollar has made this cheaper than it otherwise would be. I would imagine an australian built one would cost a lot more I know not the same as a top hat but gives some idea. I would imagine there would be a lot of cheap boats in europe at the present time, getting back might be a little harder though!

Ok Mark let's work it out for a basic sail away NEW Top Hat.

We may need help on some points. To make it simple we will assume it's for a Mark 3.
Those who know the real cost having just brought the item please amend what I've posted.

I've been told that it takes 2 men x 4 weeks to construct a basic [hull, rigging, internal furniture] Top Hat, so that $32,000 for labour.
Hull Materials [fibreglass] $
Lead keel $2800
Furniture Materials $
Mainsail $1200,
Genoa $1000,
Furling gear $
Spinnaker $ ?
2 storm sails $ ?
Halyards and sheets $250
Mast and boom $ ?
Jib pole $ ?
Spinnaker Pole $ ?
Rigging $ ?
Winches x 2 $1000
Jack stays and boom bag $500
10hp diesel engine $10,000 fitted?
Propeller and shaft $1600
Stove $520
Toilet $300
VHF radio $300
EPIRB $280
Cushions $800
Chartplotter/sounder $850
Electrical wiring $500
Lights nav. $500
Lights internal $200
Wiring $ 300
2 lifejackets with harness $240
Safety lines $100
Pushpit and pulpit $1500
Horseshoe float $90
Antifouling $750
Solar panel and frame $750
Extra Labour to fit basic sailaway items 2 men x 2 weeks $16,000

Well that already brings it up to over $57,000 and we still have to add more to that figure.
Have I forgotten any BASIC SAILAWAY items. I'm sure I have.

Based on that Folkboat price, it looks like a new build Top Hat would be at least $100k today.

I think part of the decline of the price of second hand boats has been the increase in operating costs attributable to regulation and governments. EG my mooring licence in Sydney Middle Harbour in 1975 was $15 per year, would be around $350 today. In those days you could check your own mooring apparatus- today $200 to $300 without extra maintenance items. Similarly the anti-foul paints could last up to 18 months, and slips would let you do you own work, and their fees were reasonable. Basically I calculate a minimum cost of around $3k p/a to keep a typical boat of Top Hat size, on top of which you have repairs and improvement cost. In today's world people have busy lives, not as much leisure time. If you only get to sail a few times a year, it's not economical.

Mind you, compared to some of the plastic floating caravans out there, a Top Hat is an absolute steal!

I will never tell how much it has cost to do the refit of SeaLady.
A lady never tells how much it costs nor how long it takes to be spectacular.

I still cannot load photos - ugh!!!

But part of my personal justification was the lack of an alterative plus the fact that I love her!!!

What I have now is a boat that many say looks like it came from the factory 3 months ago.

Everything works as if it were new.
She is solid, safe and easy to sail.

Unlike before, stuff does not break after or during a day out.
And I spend my time on her enjoying rather than attempting repairs that I botch.


Furling gear - purchased in Oz $2-3,000 or like mine from Brazil $1000

Mast and boom new about $15-20,000 - refit like mine $3000

S/S rigging $2-3,000 mine was $2,500 but some bits were reused.

Your prices for lights are too low, same as wiring.
My interior lights - just the hardware were $30-50 each + LED globes for some.
One mast head light - the latest all round LED was $800 - I opted for a cheaper version
Combination Deck light and steaming light with LED globes $120
Just the switch panels were $50 each - I have 2

Allow $2000 for deck fittings - they add up if you needed to replace all. Cleats etc
Grab rails if in teak???
My interior table - all solid teak according to my shipwright is about $1-2,000 of teak - as a raw material.


What about water tank?
Holding tank?

The price of the timber alone for my floor was $450 + the cost of finishing and installation
Stunning Teak and beech veneer - If solid would have been thousands.

Batteries $500

Fuel tank, fuel filter??
Compass - $80 - I have a cheapie that does the job

Water pump for shower and sink - $180 plus installation
Taps - my shower head was $80!! Tap $45, Sink $120

Autopilot $1,000

Anchor $350 Anchor line $120 + chain (I used existing)

Teak Duckboard $1000
S/S ladder $300


$800 in cushions would be very very basic fabric.


Winches - I have 4 - 2 x job sheet winches plus 2 x winches for the cabin roof for halyards, reefs, topping lift etc.

I think a Top Hat built new today in Australia would be $100-120,000
At least.

Dianna,

I will never tell how much it has cost to do the refit of SeaLady.

And I will never do the same for SEAKA, hell the wife would kill me!

I've added your info, remember its a basic sailaway version.

I agree with you Ian busy lives with not much leisure time has a lot to do with the decline in second hand yacht prices. Look at how many people now work weekends and nights. A LOT of people live to shop. Look at the shopping centres on the weekends even on the central coast where we have beaches and national parks, waterways all around the shopping centres are full of families on weekends! I cant understand it! It is sad for the kids as they are being taught this is normal. I hate it and try to avoid taking the kids to them at all costs. I know in Sydney it is even worse. It really is a consumer driven society we live in.

Good if you want to buy a second hand yacht though I might add! I cant see things changing any time soon unfortunately.

Chris