Not sure what you mean by that? If anything parts for our boats are cheaper than some of the proprietary parts you need on new boats. Spent a week in the Exumas cruising with 6 year old Tiara. All the electrics (nav lights, pumps, etc) were controlled by a touch screen a a maze of relays and wires down below. It worked but imagine parts costs ? Ever priced a part for a MAN?
There are two separate thoughts on the subject of older boat ownership costs. So, let me treat them separately and try to better explain my thinking. In both cases I will assume that a buyer is in search of a boat and is willing to spend $300K. His choices are a less than 5 year old boat or a classic 30 years old Hatteras.
First, if the buyer chooses 5 years or less his insurance will most likely cover both parts and labor in full, less deductible, in the event of a loss. This full coverage continues until the boat is 21 years old, and then depreciates to 20% parts costs coverage by year 28, if not earlier. At year 28 and beyond the coverage for the older boat is 100% labor and 20% parts. Add to that the costs differential of the parts on a 5 year old boat costing $300K in 2017 versus a 30 year old hatteras costing 300K in 2017. On a haul, prop, shaft, strut or two, my estimate is at least 10 to 1. Keep in mind the Hatteras parts are 80% on you versus the insurance company with the newer boat. Thus my point that you can not buy "boat" insurance on my 40 year old Hatteras, unless someone considers 20% parts coverage boat damage insurance.
Second, the maintenance parts differential between a $300K 5 year or newer boat today versus 30 year old Hatteras. Boat needs new bimini and total canvas replacement. My estimate 10 to 1 costs. Boat needs new floor carpet or other flooring. 10 to 1. Boat needs detailing in and out. 10 to 1. Boat needs new bottom paint. Probably 5 to 1. Then consider all the things that are more likely to arise in a 30 year old versus 5 year old boat. Window frame replacement, new paint job, HVAC failures with five or six old units versus one maybe two newer units. Then throw in older boat needs for electronics updates.
So, bottom line, spending $300K can buy you a lot to take care of that is more likely to need care, of a smaller boat with likely a lot less ongoing expense.
That is why I believe the old Hatteras buyer market is becoming more and more a hobbyist market made up of those that just can not resist owning the boat that they have coveted for a long time, and willing and able to take care of it personally.
I would not trade mine for anything else. I will confess that I would really like the main engines to be as oil tight as the Westerbeke four cylinder generator engine. It has had the same oil diaper under it for 18 years and remains spotless.
Pete