So what would you say is the maximum realistic USD asking price for a new boat - 20 ft, 18 ft, 16 ft? No trailer, boxes, wheels, etc.

I'd love to see $12K max for new boat, but I'd think $15k is an acheivable goal for mfg. companies given the technology (and carbon) in today's boats, right?

At the $15k mark, I wouldn't expect a lot of mfg. sponsorships, marketing, etc. Keep it cost-effective to own and support your product - that should keep owners doing the marketing for you...

We all want to be rock stars like FoN "Mr. Alicante", but the reality is that for most of us, this is just another expensive hobby. The higher the price tag, the fewer of us can enter the fray...

Things like Alter Cup are great in that they place a number of lightly used (and professionally tuned) boats on the market at decent prices, but you really can't ask mfg. to do more than that. They have to eat too, you know...