Yacht Sales Report: Sales Bounce Back in July 2012

Recreational boat and yacht sales regained some momentum in July, settling into a healthy pace of growth and providing more clues about the location and durability of the yachting industry’s recovery.

Aluminum pontoon and fishing boats continued to be reliable gainers, but the best-performing category in the industry’s main powerboat segments was the high-volume 11′ to 40′ outboard fiberglass category. Sales in that segment rose 20.5% in July to 2,783 boats from July 2011, according to figures compiled by Aarn Rosen, national sales manager at Statistical Surveys Inc.

“It shows the renewed strength of the Southern and Middle Atlantic markets,” Rosen said of the outboard category’s strong showing. “They’ve had a good year. Combined with the strength of the ski [boat] market, it shows the Southern states are joining the Northern states in a revival of boating health.”

Pontoon boat sales rose 12.6% in July, to 2,666, and fishing boat sales rose 5.3% to 1,801. Categories of smaller boats generally fared better than larger ones, but the industry’s gains did not appear to extend to the 1′- to 30′ inboard and sterndrive fiberglass category. Sales there were 8.6% lower, at 1,442 boats, marking the 5th consecutive month that sales were flat or lower in that category.

“It may be that the segment had more inventory to work out of the system,” said Rosen, who attended Nautic Global Group, Rec Boat Holdings and Skiers Choice dealer meetings this summer and said he heard consistently positive reports from dealers who told him they were replenishing their stocks.

Sales of larger fiberglass boats were generally lower. The 31- to 40-foot cruiser category had 11 fewer sales than it did in July 2011 and the 41- to 62-foot yacht category had seven fewer. Sales of 63- to 99-foot yachts rose by a single boat to 19.

Sales in the main segments, which include the two aluminum categories and five fiberglass boat groups, rose 8.8 percent for the month, to 8,814 boats. Industrywide sales were 8.1 percent higher at 16,560. June’s gains had been lower — 6.1 percent in the main segments and 5.3 percent industry-wide.

July’s report “certainly mimics the nice trends of last month,” Rosen said. “The same categories are growing.”

The data for July were based on information from 26 early reporting states that comprise about 57 percent of the U.S. boat market. July sales represent 13 to 14.8% of the total annual market.

Reported sales of documented vessels were complete only through May 31 because of data entry delays at the Coast Guard, Rosen said, which means sales totals for boats 30 feet and larger are significantly understated in the data.

Sales of jetboats continued to surge, gaining 38.6 percent to 524, after a gain of 53.4% in June. Sales of ski boats rose 11.6% to 531, and sales of PWC were 3.1% higher at 5,031.

Sailboat sales fell 1.6%, or three boats, to 183.

Source: Jack Atzinger