Why do you think retail value is so low?
 

I have seen 2 Sutphen boats in my life and they have both been super machines. Fast and durrable, why do you think that their retail value is not as high as other boats that are their equal?

The public is not aware of them. Unlike, Cigarette, Donzi, Scarab, Formula, etc.

..you have to know the sport and the players..to be a Sutphen-Fan...

The same advertising dollars that are spent convincing people to buy new boats, helps to sell used boats. If you can't afford the new boat that is on page 3 of a boating magazine, you look at the same model a few years old and buy it.
If buyers figured out how long they wanted to own the boat first, lets say 6 years, then went looking at the 1996 version of the model they wanted. If you don't like what you see, don't buy that boat new, because you will end up owning it in six years.
Sutphens age gracefully.

Sutphil - Good point, that's why I keep all my buyer's guides, for anything, boat-related or not. They're good reference material.

From what I remember (it was long, long ago), my father's Sutphen was a really good boat, it was about 18'-20' and had a 327.

Apparently, they don't even have a website; I've run the name in Yahoo and all I get is a dealership in Connecticut. Great boats, though.