Anybody who spends six months in a boatyard turning a $10,000 wreck into a $50,000 dreamboat is going to know all about maintenance!
For someone with a few extra bucks to waste, an Awlgrip job on the hull and topsides will make the boat look like a shiny new $50K yacht. That’s amazing stuff but it has to be done by trained people. Its not a DIY project.
For those who don’t like the idea of sailing, there are always single engine trawlers. Very economical and you are not dependent on wind.