boat demand

[Martxer]

Looks like interest in boats is up in the us

From all over the country, we are now getting reports that a boat buying frenzy is playing out at many dealerships. From runabouts and center consoles to large express and flybridge cruisers and motoryachts, boats are selling at a fast pace, and many dealers are running out of inventory. Builders of large boats in the $1 to $2 million range report that nationwide inventory is often in single digits, and in some cases only a couple of boats are available for immediate delivery. One financial institution is saying its boat loan business is up 31%. BoatTEST has seen a huge spike in boat research on its website, something echoed by virtually all major online classified services

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

BoatTEST video here (from about 0.45 onwards)

Part of me thinks that this is just BoatTEST doing their bit to stoke up interest in buying boats but I take it at face value because there are stories of similar sales activity on this side of the pond. IMHO it is pent up demand from the last 3 months of lockdown which wasnt satisfied and also people thinking that boating is a good way to have a holiday this summer and remain isolated. For sure it is good news for boat sellers but I dont think it will last. We keep being told that we are in for the mother of all recessions shortly with high unemployment and boat sales always drop significantly during a recession. I would be very surprised if this demand continues into the autumn

 

[PDF]

We just finalised our boat purchase on Tuesday, after starting the journey at the start of March. The broker told us she'd had lots of recent interest in our boat (it was still on the website but marked as under offer) and also had sold 4 boats in a week once the brokerage had reopened after lockdown. It appears the demand is there.

 

[Seastoke]

We just finalised our boat purchase on Tuesday, after starting the journey at the start of March. The broker told us she'd had lots of recent interest in our boat (it was still on the website but marked as under offer) and also had sold 4 boats in a week once the brokerage had reopened after lockdown. It appears the demand is there.

We went local merc garage on Tuesday get swmbo new motor, there was 4 people before us had to wait 45 min. So motors busy as well.

 

[oldgit]

Turbo 36 just been sold from club moorings, via a Broker, boat gone up to the Norfolk.

 

[Martxer]

We went local merc garage on Tuesday get swmbo new motor, there was 4 people before us had to wait 45 min. So motors busy as well.

Have made enquiries this week to buy a new van nobody has got back to me yet so either they are busy or just don’t want to sell.

 

[russ]

My neighbours German car dealership had very good sales of used cars in May but nothing with new cars. He says used values are rising.
Luckily for my industry houses are selling too.
Let’s keep the glass half full rather than half empty.

 

[Orthop]

In Munich a Rolex Submariner is not avaliable.
But you can be put on a waiting list. It may take a year or two...

 

[rosssavage]

Yeah, strange. I visited my local broker today as my tub looks like she’s going to have to go (BA employee, as is my wife....).

He bit my arm off when I asked if it was a good time to sell - they have 10 empty berths on an always full sales pontoon, and he said he can’t get stock in quick enough.

Another broker in our marina who specialises in small craft sales has only 4 boats in stock - he usually has 15 or more, and one of the sales pontoons at Pentoon hook marina on the Thames has one sales pontoon complete empty!

Really, really don’t want to get rid of my beloved money pit, but looks like a good time for a quick sale.

He’s coming over tomorrow for a valuation...

 

[ozzie]

We put our Beneteau Monte Carlo 37 on EBay prior to listing with broker to drum up some interest, sale agreed within a week! Broker is now handling the sale for us. Off on a long road trip to Norfolk next week to view the replacement!! We are also looking to move from Torquay to Brixham and they are both reporting high demand for berths!!

 

[Dino]

I was talking to a guy on Monday evening who advertised his 21ft American Sports Cruiser that morning and it was sold mid afternoon. Lots of people can’t or won’t travel so they are looking for boats, etc.
local broker said business is brisk

 

[tico]

Advertised our RIB last week as we now have the big boat.... sold within 2 hours with a queue of people willing to pay asking price.

 

[oldgit]

Changed cars over the lockdown , All of it done quickly and locally.
None of the usual chancers and time wasters from half way across the country.

 

[Momac]

Even so I expect a boat (or car) has to be well presented and appropriately priced if it is to sell promptly.

 

[russ]

Yeah, strange. I visited my local broker today as my tub looks like she’s going to have to go (BA employee, as is my wife....).

He bit my arm off when I asked if it was a good time to sell - they have 10 empty berths on an always full sales pontoon, and he said he can’t get stock in quick enough.

Another broker in our marina who specialises in small craft sales has only 4 boats in stock - he usually has 15 or more, and one of the sales pontoons at Pentoon hook marina on the Thames has one sales pontoon complete empty!

Really, really don’t want to get rid of my beloved money pit, but looks like a good time for a quick sale.

He’s coming over tomorrow for a valuation...

Very sad news Ross. Have you considered dabbling back into marine repairs ?

 

[Fjord John]

Yep, I've seen loads of boats on broker sites go under offer in the last couple of weeks, some that have been sitting around for months or years. Certainly a good time to sell.

 

[ari]

A lot of people with disposable income and leisure time facing a future in which the cruises, skiing trips and big foreign holidays are out for the foreseeable (even once flying is allowed again, how many are going to want to do it for fun?)

 

[Portofino]

Younger generation are calling corvid19 the “ inheritance virus “ !

Highly more likely boating is seen going forwards as a crowd less pastime , plenty of fresh air and so on .....by the intelligent if I may add .

Beats airport hassle and packed beaches / bars etc at places like Benidorm et al .

Perception the virus is going to be around ( the world ) for a while and lingering here too !
Like a 2nd home you are safe in the knowledge no bodies coughed, spat , touched your personal space .

Ticks a lot of boxes in terms of risk re the virus .

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Luckily for my industry houses are selling too.

Taylor Wimpey reported a “very high level of demand” in home sales today. I'm surprised but very pleased because its good for some of my company's customers

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Not a statistically significant survey by any means but of the 20+ brokerage boats I looked in person during the Oct 19 - early Mar 20 period (before I decided to buy a new one), about 50% are now 'sold' or 'under offer'.

And there has been several new folks posting on the Forum in the last couple of months who have voted with their money recently too. So there may be something in this.