October Boat Sales Rebound Across the Industry

Recreational boat sales were higher in seven of the top 10 states in October than they were during the same time last year as the sales rebounded after a hurricane-influenced decline in September.

Sales in the main powerboat segments increased 10.7 percent, or 517, to 5,331, according to Trade Only Today, and industrywide sales rose 9 percent, or 611, to 7,432, in 32 states that represent about 60 percent of the U.S. boat market, Statistical Surveys said Wednesday.

Sales for October rose 4.8 percent in the main segments, at 157,007, and they are up 3.9 percent industrywide, at 241,767. Last year, 258,879 boats were sold.

2017 forecasts were for sales growth of 4 percent to 6 percent, and Ryan Kloppe, sales director at Statistical Surveys, told Trade Only Today that he believes the industry will finish the year with an increase in that range.

In September seven of the top 10 states reported lower sales than in the same month the previous year. Florida, battered by Hurricane Irma, saw sales fall 37 percent in September and the drop was the leading factor as the industry reported lower overall sales for only the second month this year.

Apart from Florida, sales in September were up 3.4 percent in 28 early-reporting states that represent about 58 percent of the U.S. market.

“The overall market was trending higher before the hurricanes, and now you’re seeing that shining through,” Kloppe said. “You’re seeing the states of California, North Carolina, even Michigan do well,” he added. “You’re seeing big gains in those states.”

Kloppe said Florida sales and boat registrations may lag for a time because of the effects of Irma.

Florida usually tops the nation in sales, and it led the early-reporting states with 1,877 in October, although that was 85 less than the 1,962 the state reported in the same month last year.

Among the top 10, the states that recorded higher sales in October were Texas, at 1,171 (up from 1,021); California, at 682 (up from 519); North Carolina, at 493 (up from 397); Georgia, at 386 (up from 297); Michigan, at 381, (up from 337); Alabama, at 337 (up from 307); and New York, at 179 (up from 175).

Industrywide more outboard-powered fiberglass boats from 11 to 50 feet were sold than in any other category. Sales rose 11.7 percent, or 247, to 2,364.