Lots more People getting the Boating Bug

[LBRodders]

I am not sure on this.

Lets remember, boats were not sold for 2-3 months at the peak of the boat buying 'season'. So has the post lockdown spike just been a bit of catch up? The end of years figures may be interesting, particularly if they are a drop from the previous year.

On the other point of more people on the water, again I am a non believer. A used boat being sold, technically is a net gain of zero. I admit, there will be a wave of enthusiasm from new owners, but I doubt nothing more than catch up from lockdown.

3rd 1/4 new boat sales is probably the guide. That is where any net gain lies.

 

[LBRodders]

The total numbers of boats are not increased by used boat sales - its just that fewer are temporarily out of use while on brokerage at present.
I believe one or two (so possibly more) boats sold locally this year have gone away from the UK.
I am not sure, therefore, that UK infrastructure is under any significant extra demand unless sales of brand new boats for UK use are booming? There are not many brand new boats where I am.
My impression is its been the same as any other year, since July , in terms of boat movements but that's just my feeling from travelling in a local area . There are perhaps fewer spare moorings in the marina.

Beat me!

 

[Greg2]

I take the point about sales of used boats not being a net addition but all I can say is that marinas locally are pretty full now and there are still boats on the local brokerage, although perhaps a few less than normal. End of year sales figures would indeed be interesting.

The strain on infrastructure is probably as much a consequence of existing owners using their boats a lot more as it is enthusiastic new owners. For all of our time in boating (20 odd years) we have commented on how many boats don’t appear to move or to have anyone visiting them during the season. This year has been different. We spent a couple of months on the Hamble when we bought our boat and it was very, very busy and as has already been mentioned, getting visitors berths in the Solent was challenging. Having returned to home waters it was the same - a lot more private boat movements and the hire fleet booked out (although that is a separate issue and not surprising in the absence of foreign holidays).
.

 

[hutchibi]

Just on this point around net additions, has anyone heard much from the big manufacturers on how new boat sales have been, given the less time between order and delivery? Everything seems to suggests it’s been very strong but I don’t have a sense of how much that was Covid catch-up/ how big in % terms any increase in sales has been this year

 

[Scubadoo]

Not so sure Martyn, I have noticed in my marina (solent area), there has been many vacant berths near to me that are now pretty much full for the first time in years.

 

[Momac]

Not so sure Martyn, I have noticed in my marina (solent area), there has been many vacant berths near to me that are now pretty much full for the first time in years.

No doubt its different picture in different locations.

 

[Megs20Burt!]

After many years of boating with family/friends, we took the plunge this summer and bought a boat. Actually, we put a deposit on three, but walked away from 2 following survey results.

We found that boats of interest were sold within days leading to many frustrating hours of searching and writing emails trying to get up to date info on the status of boats that were available. I have to say that the brokers we dealt with were very good and helpful. Almost everybody replied to requests for info quickly.

The big issue we had was trying to find a berth!

In the end, we bought a boat from Burton Waters and decided to base our boat there. Apart from a few niggling issues with the boat (who doesn’t have niggling issues with a boat?), it has been a great move. We have noticed that many boats don’t get used much and there are a number of empty berths dotted around the marina, yet the brokerage side has been very busy. So, where are all of those sold boats going?

 

[Bigplumbs]

After many years of boating with family/friends, we took the plunge this summer and bought a boat. Actually, we put a deposit on three, but walked away from 2 following survey results.

We found that boats of interest were sold within days leading to many frustrating hours of searching and writing emails trying to get up to date info on the status of boats that were available. I have to say that the brokers we dealt with were very good and helpful. Almost everybody replied to requests for info quickly.

The big issue we had was trying to find a berth!

In the end, we bought a boat from Burton Waters and decided to base our boat there. Apart from a few niggling issues with the boat (who doesn’t have niggling issues with a boat?), it has been a great move. We have noticed that many boats don’t get used much and there are a number of empty berths dotted around the marina, yet the brokerage side has been very busy. So, where are all of those sold boats going?

What did you buy ?

 

[Momac]

So, where are all of those sold boats going?

Maybe people interested in buying are looking at boats over a wider geographical area due to fewer boats being for sale. Boats sold by Burton Waters may be going to the south coast or possibly abroad . I know some new Bayliners locally that were for sale have gone and I don't see them in the marina so presumably they have been taken elsewhere . There not necessarily anything unusual about boats being moved when sold but perhaps there has been a net migration to the south.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Maybe people interested in buying are looking at boats over a wider geographical area due to fewer boats being for sale. Boats sold by Burton Waters may be going to the south coast or possibly abroad . I know some new Bayliners locally that were for sale have gone and I don't see them in the marina so presumably they have been taken elsewhere . There not necessarily anything unusual about boats being moved when sold but perhaps there has been a net migration to the south.

Go South I say...... If you go too far upwards and to the left you might bump into Bruce You dont wanna do that

 

[gus]

Having done the marina bit in the past, being tied to one sea area, shortage of berths and rising costs, I have opted to having a motor boat on a trailer which I can fortunately park in my garden at zero cost. It has given me a freedom to go wherever I wish and pick my days when the weather is suitable. Have to do a bit of research for suitable launch sites but the rewards of the flexibility are enormous. Here are a couple of photos of 2 consecutive days in different areas in Scotland recently experienced just to entice you.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Having done the marina bit in the past, being tied to one sea area, shortage of berths and rising costs, I have opted to having a motor boat on a trailer which I can fortunately park in my garden at zero cost. It has given me a freedom to go wherever I wish and pick my days when the weather is suitable. Have to do a bit of research for suitable launch sites but the rewards of the flexibility are enormous. Here are a couple of photos of 2 consecutive days in different areas in Scotland recently experienced just to entice you.

What is the boat you are towing as I also do this with my smaller boats ?

 

[Megs20Burt!]

What did you buy ?

Cruisers Yacht 280CXi 2006. 329 hrs on the engines and not been used for a while, which, of course causes issues to develop. We are working through a long list of jobs & maintenance, most of which we were aware of before we bought the boat. My missus wasn’t keen on boating off the coast, so we are trying boating life inland and see how we go. 2 months in, lots of cleaning, crawling around the boat and ££ and she is loving it!
who knew???

 

[Megs20Burt!]

Maybe people interested in buying are looking at boats over a wider geographical area due to fewer boats being for sale. Boats sold by Burton Waters may be going to the south coast or possibly abroad . I know some new Bayliners locally that were for sale have gone and I don't see them in the marina so presumably they have been taken elsewhere . There not necessarily anything unusual about boats being moved when sold but perhaps there has been a net migration to the south.

That seems to be the case. A few from the marina have left for the med, but very few of the boats sold are staying at BW. Glad we are not anywhere near the Solent. The South West looks a bit more promising, but other half has her eye on Jersey and maybe even an upgrade on the boat next year?

 

[[178529]]

It's obvious from the constant threads along the lines ' i"ve just been thinking about getting a motorboat for my family, i"ve never been boating before other than a spin on the broads, it needs x,y, and z and a budget of A' that there are a lot of new entrants into the market. Also talking to a local boat dealer in Essex they have rarely been so busy which does confirm a little the hearsay.

It seems to me there are two stocks of boats. Countless numbers on the hard in boatyards that people are probably able to sell for the first time in ages. Also a fair number in use that people have either been thinking of selling or are also thinking of upgrading. Whilst the stock of boat hasn't increased the number on the water is likely to increase. But my view is that this is temporary.

Again you can just tell from many of the posts that the reality of mixing unwilling family with a cold April day on the water with a biting easterly will soon see a lot of unsold boats hitting the market again.

 

[gus]

What is the boat you are towing as I also do this with my smaller boats ?

The boat is an Orkney 590tt with a 60hp Yamaha on a tandem trailer.

 

[Momac]

Again you can just tell from many of the posts that the reality of mixing unwilling family with a cold April day on the water with a biting easterly will soon see a lot of unsold boats hitting the market again.

Not just April .....I recall shivering in June or July due to unseasonal UK weather. I cant say I enjoyed it but such things have not deterred us from boating. Or children (who are adults) aren't really interested in the boat .

 

[[178529]]

Not just April .....I recall shivering in June or July due to unseasonal UK weather. I cant say I enjoyed it but such things have not deterred us from boating. Or children (who are adults) aren't really interested in the boat .

My children are grown up but could take it or leave it. My wife doesn't like boating. I am probably jaundiced but think it is the minority of families where the whole family, or wife even, really enjoys boating. Certainlky at the marinas and moorings i've been in. I think it's the rare lucky sod who has a wife who enjoys boating as much as the husband.

I'm probably going to get swamped with lots of people proving me otherwise now. Many years ago I used to sell a range of sailing boats for a short while and so often afterwards they used to tell me they were now just sailing with their friends. I think it's probably slightly different with motorboats.

 

[Momac]

It was my wife that wanted our first boat and she also wanted the upgrade to our present boat so I can't complain.

 

[Nito]

My children are grown up but could take it or leave it. My wife doesn't like boating. I am probably jaundiced but think it is the minority of families where the whole family, or wife even, really enjoys boating. Certainlky at the marinas and moorings i've been in. I think it's the rare lucky sod who has a wife who enjoys boating as much as the husband.

I'm probably going to get swamped with lots of people proving me otherwise now. Many years ago I used to sell a range of sailing boats for a short while and so often afterwards they used to tell me they were now just sailing with their friends. I think it's probably slightly different with motorboats.

A timely thread for me, we're in pretty much this situation as buyers looking for our first boat.

Fortunately for me, my wife is the instigator in this, her father has always had boats and she has grown up around them and on them and loves the Sea, as do I, my Grandfather had a small Sunseeker in the 80's and we're looking for something similar albeit a bit larger. My own hobby has been motorbikes but it's not very family inclusive. I do all my own work on those and I'd like to think I'm fully aware of what to expect with a boat, my fear is that the novelty wears off for the family and then I'm stuck with an anchor around my neck footing the bills and doing all the graft myself !!

I have two teenage boys, youngest loves the water and being onboard, the eldest is always happy to come along.

We're looking for a Sports cruiser, circa 28-36ft with the sweet spot probably being somewhere in the middle. We checked out our local Marina a few weeks ago and the space we were looking at was taken this weekend just gone. There aren't many left! Apparently there will be a price raise in April next year which many are thinking will be quite hefty! I get this helpless feeling that once you get a boat the potential to be held to ransom at all opportunities will rapidly present itself!!!

Of course, we're looking at the worst maintenance combo, twin inboards, on sterndrives and mid 80's (polyester resin) boats

I'm happy with the mechanicals and to be honest, prefer the simplicity of older tech. Although a tub with outboards (like many sport fishers) would be a far more sensible proposition from a maintenance perspective, it's just not what we are looking for from a boat.