There are actually free VB skins if one looks around and I have found them, but have no experience setting up or maintaining VB.
Mostly I have used phpBB and really like a skin for it called 'AcidTech Purple'; not for it's graphics (which I remove when I use it...) but for how easy it is upon the eyes-> neither too bright nor too dark IMO. It can be seen here:
http://www.stsoftware.biz/phpbb3/ind...cidtech_purple

I've always wanted to try my hand at VB, but with all the 0$ forums to choose from I couldn't justify paying for a forum which would likely only have one user...me !