southernjack

If you guys are looking for statistics form Info-ink - here you go:

Unit sales of powerboats 15 feet in length and above dropped about 28 percent in 2008, compared to 2007, according to Info-Link Technologies Inc.’s Bellwether Report,

Within the outboard boat segment, unit sales were down about 24 percent, while the sterndrive/jet boat segment sales were down about 38 percent, the personal watercraft segment was down about 27 percent, the outboard sportfishing segment was down about 40 percent and the ski boat segment was down about 31 percent.


Info from Spader Business Management shows the following:

New boat sales made by the average dealer tracked by Spader Business Management fell by 23.3 percent in 2008, when compared to 2007

New boat sales totaled $4,873,434 for the average dealer tracked by Spader in 2008, down from more than $6 million in 2007. Similarly, pre-owned boat sales fell by 19.3 percent from $1,035,875 last year to $1,283,490 in 2007.


The area where the average dealers tracked by Spader were most dramatically impacted in 2008 was profitability. The average net profit of dealerships tracked by Spader fell by 69.2 percent. Last year, the average dealer showed a net profit of $96,909, or 1.1 percent of sales, compared to 2007, when the average dealer showed a net profit of $314,748, or 3.0 percent of sales.

Keep in mind that this is compared to 2007. The marine industry as a whole did not consider 2007 or 2006 asbragging years. Used boat sales did well in 2007 compared to 2006, but new boat sales were only up 1.3 percent in 2007 over 2006. The problem with these numbers istheaveragesale price for a model went up more than 1.3 percent in the same time period, so unit sales were down.

The other big issue hitting the industry isboat inventories. New boat inventories were up in 2006 from 2005, and again up in 2007 by 2.8 percent ( sales up 1.3 percent), and used boat inventories were up 4.7 percentin 2007 compared to 2006. New boat inventories dropped in 2008 by 2.8 percent, but when salestanked many dealers got stuck. Used boat inventorieswere up 5.9 percentin 2008 over 2007,which was up 4.7 percentover 2006.

So inventories were up on both new and used boats,then sales came to a screeching halt and you end up withboat manufacturers closing factories. These are the statistics, now if someone can rub a crystal ball and tell us when it will end?????????

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John V.
30' Bonner CC

DanSme

Ok. Here's a challenge. You've got $25,000 cash in hand. What slightly used inshore/freshwater fishing boat would you be 'bottom fishing' for?

Bud G

That's where I am right now! What's out there?????

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Scout 210 DC

intrepidz

If you can get new and used boat for 20 to 30% off. Why can’t we get deals on new outboard motors? You can buy a new truck for 25 to 30% off and they get only get 13 to 15 mpg and a boat motor gets 1 to 2 mpg. Why have we not seen a drop or discount in boat motor sales?

Sorry,.. but I’m just asking WHY??

Thanks
Mark

fishthis10

I posted a message on the Miami Boat Show thread regarding what my brother is experiencing. He had quite a few good leads and deposits on boats. After the show he started sending out credit apps and couldn't get customers with good credit, 10-20% down payments approved on a loan. They are selling boats, but mainly on the low end where someone can come in with 5-40K in cash. The floor plan companies are really tightening down which doesn't help matters. He is down in the keys in a good location so they get traffic, but now their inventory is low. They are advertising now trying to get consignment boats in.