Ed, You are right by saying that people do not see old cheap boats as "glamourous". An old H16 with faded colors and bad sails is not very exciting even if this can be a good opportunity to start.
<br>I think that the market of new boats is not active enough to have a lot of tempting shiny boats at an affordable price to tempt a newcomer (as we can see on a car dealer parking lot). I see some revival in the practice and the renewal of the fleets by existing sailors (I am considering bying a new Tiger) will put on the market may be some attracting machines.
<br>I agree with you also when you say that there is no more flashy dealers on the highways like before. Here, in New Jersey, even if there are a lot of clubs and sailors, nobody is selling beach cats anymore since a long time: not a profitable business or what?
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<br>For me, sailing can only grow, because it carries so much positive values. I saw the explosion of public interest for sailing in France a few years ago and I cannot imagine that it will not be the same here. We will see...<br><br>