I don't wish to insult anyone here, however when walking the docks at the Newport Boat Show this Fall, it struck me how tinny new boats are today. With the exception of the cost prohibitive boats I was on, like the Morris and the custom boats from Maine, I didn't care for much I saw for "affordable" boats. Sure, the new boats have all the bells & whistles, all the new NAV gear, all the electronic goodies, and absolutely there have been design changes in both materials used (lighter, stronger, carbon spars, etc.) and in layout … a 40 foot boat today seem much bigger below and on deck and more space efficient than a 40 footer 30 years ago. Nevertheless, I wound up doing a major Galley upgrade on our 1986 Tartan 40 this year, and a new bottom job. And once I got into the construction of the hull, frig box, bulkheads, plumbing & electrical, etc. behind all the cabinetry, I was impressed, how they did things back then, and the materials they used. The clever things these boat carpenters did years ago and the joinery work was quite impressive. It made me feel good about owning an older boat. They just don't build them like they used to. What impressed me was how well boats were built 30 years ago. I guess everything was better built 30 years ago … cars, houses, your toaster or washing machine, whatever … and it lasted. Isn't simply absurd a $2000 computer lasts a couple years ? Newer, cooler, perhaps better materials these days in boats, but is the workmanship as good, or as meticulous, as detailed or as perfect ? Like the (unaffordable) stuff you see today from a custom Maine built boat ? It seems today, to keep costs down, corners are cut, construction methods and materials are compromised with boats. Maybe it's just me, being a traditionalist. But if it were me, and I was buying a boat today, and budget was a limited factor, I think I'd be looking for an older, well-made production boat with a pedigree, or possibly an older Hinckley, Morris or Little Harbor, where I knew the bones were solid, that I could improve over time and get to be just the way I wanted. As Max says, I like the warmth, style, traditional materials, safe cockpits and darn good looks of the older boats, and assuming well built, all the better. Cheers, John