As for escallations, the cost of new "basic" mid-sized (?) boat in the 35' range hasn't stayed in-line with income of young professionals.

Without getting personal, as a young architect (when I had an honest profession), the average salary would have grown by a factor about 2.5 over the last 30 or so years. [I was probably in the top 3 or 4% of that underpaid profession]. I needed a partner to buy the boat with. The cost of the boat has grown by a factor of 5 or so.

Part of it is the "accessories" (e.g. , electronics, plumbing, galley, refrigeration, inverters, etc.) -- which you wouldn't need to have initially if you were buying a basic boat. But it doesn't explain the total rise in cost.

The good news is that a USED boat is a GREAT value. The bad news is that fewer young people seem to want to make the committment. The cost of upkeep for those that can't keep the boat on their own mooring is really gone up as much as the price of boats.