Jeff wrote:

It sounds like you don't want a wooden boat because of the aesthetics,
but to save money. So how much do you figure you'll save?

OK, let's do some sums:

Wooden boat:

boat: 12k
survey: 1k
haul-out: 0.3k
initial work: 3k
TOTAL initial outlay: 16.3k
Annual haul-out: 0.3k
Annual work: 3k
Annual insurance: 0.5k
Annual loan repayment: 4.5k
TOTAL annual cost: 8k

End of 3 year loan have asset worth 12k.

GRP/steel boat:

boat: 30k
survey: 0.4k
haul-out: 0.3k
initial work: 0.5k
TOTAL initial outlay: 31.2k
Annual haul-out: 0.1k
Annual work: 1k
Annual insurance: 0.3k
Annual loan repayment: 4.5k
TOTAL annual cost: 5.9k

End of 3 years, have 30% stake in a 30k boat, 7 years left on mortgage.

Figures seem fair? sorry, all these are in pounds sterling. Roughly
double the numbers for $, isn't it these days?