Can you tell me

[bitsamonkey]

Construction may have changed, but so did layouts, and a lot of people might prefer the later styles. I figure the older the boat, the more problems you're inheriting. Take your time and find a really great old hull with a transom that has been professionally replaced and raised or plan on doing it yourself. The very early boats have little usable storage with the tank above deck under the console. Brand new, the old ones may have been better in some ways but they're all projects by now.