What is the true state of the U.K Boat industry ?

[paul salliss]

When I started out we were based in a very busy marina that had a load of dealers and brokers on site and there were owners upgrading and buying new boats all the time, but for some years have been in a marina that has none of those types of business on site, and other than a trip to Germany have not been attending boat shows either.

I have lost whatever feel I had for where the industry is.

Are people buying new boats??, used boat prices seem to suit a buyers market perhaps?

Where is the industry today and are people getting into motor boating??

I went quite big on tuition in the first two years, are the training schools busy with new people coming in to it

 

[volvopaul]

I think there are 2 answers to this question depending who you speak to , I know my view .

 

[petem]

Sunseeker, Fairline and Princess all seem be selling and making lots of boats, even making a bit of a profit. Looks like much of this is going abroad though. Good quality used boat stock is thin on the ground. And UK marinas still seem to be full so it can't be all doom and gloom.

Despite that, my fender sock and boat name turnover seems to be down from last year. I don't know if customers are buying elsewhere or not buying at all.

 

[paul salliss]

I think there are 2 answers to this question depending who you speak to , I know my view .

. What is your view then??

 

[rubberduck]

What effect is leaving the EU going to have on boat exports ?
The guy I used for survey this time is booked up for weeks to come, so someone must be buying.

 

[paul salliss]

What effect is leaving the EU going to have on boat exports ?
The guy I used for survey this time is booked up for weeks to come, so someone must be buying.

I am not suggesting that people are not buying. I just don't have a clue. I go to the boat and I go out and have fun, and then go home. All my mates are motorcycle racers and none of them own boats so I just don't know. Your comment is encouraging though so that's good news

 

[[2068]]

From a non-representative observation of just one marina, the occupancy is "up" compared to 5 years ago.
But the average size of boat has shrunk: there are plenty of smaller, newer boats with outboards, Merry Fishers and so on.
There are fewer 30-45ft boats from what I can see.

 

[paul salliss]

From a non-representative observation of just one marina, the occupancy is "up" compared to 5 years ago.
But the average size of boat has shrunk: there are plenty of smaller, newer boats with outboards, Merry Fishers and so on.
There are fewer 30-45ft boats from what I can see.

That is very interesting as thought you would say the opposite, it just seemed to me that there were loads of 50 foot boats around and lots of big Princess's , if you are correct that people are buying smaller boats then that's good as they are " in the system" for possible upgrades I suppose

 

[[2068]]

That is very interesting as thought you would say the opposite, it just seemed to me that there were loads of 50 foot boats around and lots of big Princess's , if you are correct that people are buying smaller boats then that's good as they are " in the system" for possible upgrades I suppose

I suspect it might be a different story at other Marinas - anything 50ft plus would be a bit of a handful where I am.

 

[Firefly625]

I have been watching 3 used boats, (the only three boats for sale in the UK that I would currently change Tulana for). 1 has been for sale over a year, one of them over 2 years but then it is a tad specialist and the other for about 5 months... just hope the one that's been for sale over 2 years is still for sale next year...as I really quite fancy it.

For me, the lack of quality used boats to give me any sort of choice is the biggest headache.

Not sure what that tells of the marine industry, but with our business we expect a tough year and last 3 months has not changed our view.

 

[paul salliss]

I was told today that the Mallorca Axopar dealer has sold 65 Axopars in the last two seasons, not very relevant to my OP but thought if true it was interesting, as that a big number. Suspect many will be open style not cabin style like mine

 

[jrudge]

I don't really know the UK market but to follow on re Mallorca.

Last year visitors berths were very hard to find. This has not previously been the case in the 5 years I have been there.

The marinas as full. Berths can be found but they are a bit tricky.

Boats.co.uk seem to drive round in nice cars so they seem to be making a few quid and discount levels are well down from 2014 when I last bought.

The main manufacturers seem sold out ( quirk due to the pound de-valuation) but I suspect also that production is maybe a bit down as well so selling out becomes a bit easier ( I have no numbers to back this up - just a feeling).

I suspect that the small broker in the Marina who takes terrible pictures ( like the recent thread) and lets face it there are a lot of them out there who forum posts seem to regularly say make no effort at all must be suffering in a world where people expect a quality on line presence and customer service in line with Ebay and Amazon.

If you service is good I suspect you are doing well. If you take weeks and weeks to give someone a price for something then you probably are not ( which reminded me to chase a certain boat manufacturer who has still not come back to me even after I told them who supplied the items !) and your reputation in forums like this will suffer.

 

[Firefly625]

I was told today that the Mallorca Axopar dealer has sold 65 Axopars in the last two seasons, not very relevant to my OP but thought if true it was interesting, as that a big number. Suspect many will be open style not cabin style like mine

I keep seeing them around so can believe it.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

What is the true state of the U.K Boat industry ?

Good question actually. If you believe the big 3 UK builders (and the big Italian builders) they are all sold out for months and business is booming but on the other hand, Broom and Aquastar have recently gone out of business and I know for a fact that Hardy are struggling to sell their bigger boats at least. I think jrudge is right in that production capacity has been much reduced since the financial crash so selling out is much easier than it was and whilst deals are not as generous as they were, large discounts are still on offer, at least judging by the offers I've had recently. Personally I think this speaks of a market in which there is moderate demand but all that demand is being gobbled up by the big builders with their marketing campaigns, active dealers and discount driven deals leaving, the smaller builders with few if any buyers

In the long run of course the motorboat market, at least for big planing hulled motorboats, is finished because environmental regulations will hammer the use of diesel engines and ever rising fuel costs will make moving 40t of plastic with 2 monster diesel engines at 25kts unaffordable for everbody except the mega rich. If petrol/diesel cars are to be banned from being sold in the UK and elsewhere some time in the next 25 years, it is not conceivable that a motorboat industry based on selling boats powered by fuel guzzling internal combustion engines can continue in business, at least not in the USA and Europe. Lets hope that somebody in the boat building industry is thinking about alternative means of propulsion

 

[Firefly625]

apart from wind....

 

[Whitelighter]

Lets hope that somebody in the boat building industry is thinking about alternative means of propulsion

There are options but no one will want to invest because its (in reality) a pretty niche market.
Looking at the weight and space my two diesels take up I could stack 4 100KWh tesla battery packs in each side for the same(ish) weight and dimensions.
Not going to go very far on plane I grant you but you could do it (800KWh on board) but the options at displacement (espcially hooked up to a fast displacement hull) should be quite good
I'd love some one to develop a system (musk will sell you the bits) but I don't expect it to happen.

I know how you feel about cars Mike, I can only imagine your horror at a leccy boat....

 

[Whitelighter]

apart from wind....

I think as and when we are bored with Seralia our next boat will be sail but with a big motor. Probably a catamaran but I could see us in a large (50ft +) deck saloon something or other.
I still have the Moody 54 DS on my want list...

 

[Nigelpickin]

I think as and when we are bored with Seralia our next boat will be sail but with a big motor. Probably a catamaran but I could see us in a large (50ft +) deck saloon something or other.
I still have the Moody 54 DS on my want list...

We’re wondering why we didn’t go the catamaran route two boats back......

Engines good for 8kts but relaxed and economic at 6kts - we are lucky in that we have the time for that.

Currently zero regrets with our 450 but we’re still in the homeoon period.

Re the OP and touching on what Deleted User has been saying for a while, there’s not a great deal of inovation going on, where’s the sports utility boat, where’s the lifestyle trawler and where’s the catamaran? Such a huge opportunity missed imho...all they seem to focus on is headroom in the midships master and volume in the saloon - that’s not of the moment for an awful lot of folk.

 

[alant]

When I started out we were based in a very busy marina that had a load of dealers and brokers on site and there were owners upgrading and buying new boats all the time, but for some years have been in a marina that has none of those types of business on site, and other than a trip to Germany have not been attending boat shows either.

I have lost whatever feel I had for where the industry is.

Are people buying new boats??, used boat prices seem to suit a buyers market perhaps?

Where is the industry today and are people getting into motor boating??

I went quite big on tuition in the first two years, are the training schools busy with new people coming in to it

On a recent programme featuring "Mega Yachts", seems like there is a huge Brit input, in terms of skippers/crew/designers/interior decorators/fancy goods suppliers, but most built in Netherlands.
How this translates to 'normal' yachts is difficult to know, but the industry at that end is growing rapidly.

 

[rafiki_]

In the long run of course the motorboat market, at least for big planing hulled motorboats, is finished because environmental regulations will hammer the use of diesel engines and ever rising fuel costs will make moving 40t of plastic with 2 monster diesel engines at 25kts unaffordable for everbody except the mega rich. If petrol/diesel cars are to be banned from being sold in the UK and elsewhere some time in the next 25 years, it is not conceivable that a motorboat industry based on selling boats powered by fuel guzzling internal combustion engines can continue in business, at least not in the USA and Europe. Lets hope that somebody in the boat building industry is thinking about alternative means of propulsion

I am going to be on the more optimistic side Mike, as when diesel car demand for fuel eases off, and there is a glut in availability, prices should reduce. The car industry will still be supplying petrol and diesel cars for many years, but with increasing hybridization, so smaller, cleaner and more economical. The Eu has struggled to supply sufficient diesel over the last few years, and has been importing from the USA, where their gas/diesel mix is very different from ours. Diesel should be cheaper than petrol soon, assuming the HMRC numpties are sensible about taxation.