Investments

For Now and Ever: Classic Boats

Author: Sandy Lindsey

Chris Craft's Launch 25 Heritage (above) is a good collectible candidate. Photo by Grafton Marshall Smith.

If I'd known how much a '60s-era Donzi Sweet 16 would eventually increase in value, I would have bought one back when they were ''cheap.'' Today they can fetch up to $10,000, a pretty good return on that $5,800 sticker price in 1969. But normally we don't think of boats as investments. You buy one to use the heck out of it, hoping (but not necessarily expecting) it's still capable of a relatively dry ride 20 years from now.

Funny, but that's exactly why people have always bought boats -- for pleasure. It just happened that, as years passed, some turned into classics. And there's no reason to think some of today's models won't do the same. The trick is in knowing what to look for in a boat while it's still modern and affordable.

''Limited edition'' models are worth investigating. True limited production runs are intentional on the part of the builders, as when they plan to produce only 100 of a specific design. You'll also find some first-year models in limited production, so the builder can make a splash with it while at the same time gauging buyer interest. Malibu Boats did this in 1996 when it released 125 of its inaugural-edition Corvettes, with 400 horsepower and a lipstick-red motif that still turns heads in the few places you might find them.

That's a key with a collectible anything -- that it rarely be seen, and that it turn heads when it is. A bright yellow Ski Nautique from the fashion-challenged 1970s is a classic because of the recognition factor and because you're surprised to see it anymore.

You also should ask yourself why you won't see certain boats in 25 years. Is it because they're in limited supply, or because they're liable to fall apart? The mahogany Chris Crafts that still stop boaters cold always had a reputation for being among the best-made boats on the water. If they weren't, we wouldn't still see them cruising around today. It also helped that Chris Craft's dealer network was among the biggest and best. So you've got a solid boat, a unique design and limited availability.

Collectors will back up those three characteristics with their checkbooks.

SIX PICKS

Taking into account the three prerequisites for classic boats (quality, attractiveness, limited production) these models could become collectibles.

The Donzi Sweet 16 is still in production essentially as Don Aronow introduced it in the early 1960s. It's responsive, fast, and it comes in a package so small that you almost wear it -- a veritable water-going hot rod. Although Donzi has no plans to cease production, demand has always outstripped supply.

In response to the ever-growing interest in classic boats, Bayliner combines the latest in technology with traditional lines in their new Heritage Edition of the 2150 Capri. It features the clean-cut looks of a classic lake boat, with a tapered stern and traditional windshield, but this is powered by a 5.0L MerCruiser for a top speed of almost 50 mph.

One of the most sought-after names in collectible boats is Chris Craft, and their new Launch 25 Heritage is a good collectible candidate. The design harks back to the days when similar boats ferried guests to and from yachts ... smooth-flowing lines, classic bow flare and the Chris Craft burgee. The newest Chris Craft has a 280 hp Volvo Penta 5.7L GSI and an optional captain's choice for showing off.

Baja just released the 20 Outlaw, a hot little family sport boat priced to sell. Baja says the standard 5.0L MerCruiser pushes it to 60 mph. It has room for a family of five and all the racy amenities Baja is known for. Construction? A fully bonded fiberglass stringer system, end-grain balsa-core hull and biaxial laminates with a liner hull get our money for 2022 collectibility.

A brand-new inboard design makes Malibu's Sunsetter XTi a potential collectible. It's the first direct-drive inboard with seating for 13 and an interior sundeck instead of an engine box. The halogen bow lights and four-color graphics will look as good in 2030 as they do now.

It doesn't seem you could go wrong with a 17' Boston Whaler Montauk. They may be short on amenities and creature comforts, but these boats are among the most universally popular -- from inland lakes to Arctic oceans. They'll stick around for a couple of generations, at least, because they've proved to be unsinkable despite operator error or acts of nature.

COLLECTOR'S CHECKLIST

1. Look for quality construction that will, theoretically, endure years of use beyond the warranty expiration until the boat attains collectible status.

2. Anniversary editions, or a limited run of boats built for a specific purpose such as poker runs, are likely to increase in value. Look for production limited to fewer than 500 boats.

3. Keep an eye out for unique equipment packages, such as special engines or deck layouts.

4. The boat should turn heads due to a telltale hull design that's easy to spot from a distance.

5. Be alert for ''maritime Corvairs'' -- boats with stunning looks whose production is cut short by unforeseen circumstances.

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