December Boat Sales Slide But Value Rises

U.S. used boat sales slid 4 percent in December, compared with December 2015, but the total value of sales increased 7 percent. 

Seventy-two fewer boats were sold, 1,537, for a total of $274.8 million, according to Trade Only Today. For the entire year, compared with 2015, sales fell 3 percent from 30,223 to 29,431 boats sold. But the total price paid rose 1 percent from $3.7 billion to $3.73 billion.

A drop in smaller-boat sales was the main reason for the decrease in volume, according to reports by YachtWorld members in SoldBoats, their proprietary database. For boats under 26 feet, 333 were sold, a decrease of 10 percent. For boats 26 to 35 feet, 566 were sold, a decrease of 6 percent.

Sales volume in both size ranges was 74 boats fewer than in December 2015, and slight increases in other sizes weren’t enough to account for the difference.

The increased price of December sales was caused by gains in four of six size ranges. Deliveries of three more boats longer than 80 feet added the biggest increase, $14 million, even as the average price of boats that size fell from $5.7 million to $5.5 million.

Although 1 percent more boats from 36 to 45 feet were sold, their total value increased 12 percent. The amount paid for the 443 boats that sold was $68.1 million, compared with $60.7 million in December 2015. Boats from 46 to 55 feet saw a $2.3 million gain.

Boats shorter than 45 feet sold for higher than average prices, despite generally slower sales. Boats under 26 feet increased 10 percent to $28,360. Boats 26 to 35 feet sold for 9 percent more than average at $69,453.