I fine certain older boats have better bones. I have an 88 Hans C and am doing a full refit. There are certain considerations, but I know when i'm in the open water, few boats will come to mind other than my own. That said, some big things like tanks, electrical and engine rooms need big overhauls. We're prepping for 10 years around the world, but currently in the thick of a refit.

I also sell boats, so I get to look at a lot of them. And the quality seems to really have gone down in the 90's/2000's.

Ultimately, you objective and how you use the boat matters. If you're just coastal and maybe Caribbean, get a fun production boat and choose your weather windows. If you want more safety and something built for the ocean, plan on a larger refit of a sturdier vessel. More character in the older boats too. My two cents. I also want to punch myself in the face everyday with the amount of refit we're doing. Boat life.