Boat Sales

[fasttoons]

http://www.boating-industry.com/output.cfm?id=2645965

[Mark75H]

Within the outboard boat segment, unit sales were down about 8 percent during the same period (up from 10 percent down in July),

This was the only "up" in their "mixed" results ... all the other results were sales decreases were even greater than last year. Could it be that sales were so low in 2009, that it was almost impossible to be a lot less in 2010? Let's make a number example of what these stats really say.

2008 is the base year they are comparing against (it was not a good year by any means) Let's say 500 boats were sold in August 2008 ... in 2009 10% fewer were sold ... 450; in 2010 8% fewer than 2009 ... 414, but they are saying this is good news because in July 2010 405 boats were sold (if roughly the same number were sold every month ... if July 2008 or 2009 was a bad individual month ... the actual sales numbers could be much worse). I suspect sales are probably 10% of what they were 10 years ago ... imagine that ... the sales of a whole year are close to the best single month years ago.

If you are still in this line of business, hang in there ... there has to be a bottom somewhere

[Tom Foley]

Still looking for the bottom of the bottom .....Unemployment figures hold the key to a change ...with 11-14 % unemployment around FL ...boat sales will be limited to those with a real income...a good trade in with equity .....or a stable financial future . that leaves mainstream recreational America out of the loop . That person just happens to be my core customer group .

[RobF]

First people need to feel comfortable spending money, then the banks need to loosen up and start lending some money out again.

I think the boating industry is has still not reached rock bottom in regards to new boat sales

[Mark75H]

First people need to feel comfortable spending money, then the banks need to loosen up and start lending some money out again.

Or people could do it the old fashioned way and save up until they can afford to buy. I'm afraid most american consumers do not recall this possibility and feel that they are "entitled" to credit ... the banks should lend money. The days of easy credit are likely far off.

[afr]

all you guys are right on the money speacial what tom posted im in the same boat there
and i only had one new boat sale in the last three years and it was priced at a give away price
and the boat was sold as a total blank project hull and in reallity if i didnt get the hull the way i did i would have lost over 16 grand on it as it was i only lost three
you wont find me building any more boats without a order and a deposit

[albypine]

Or people could do it the old fashioned way and save up until they can afford to buy. I'm afraid most american consumers do not recall this possibility and feel that they are "entitled" to credit ... the banks should lend money. The days of easy credit are likely far off.

i usally stay away from this kinda of stuff, but to save up and buy new. lol you can buy a house cheeper then a new truck or boat. IMO everything is way over priced to what the pay rate is..not to many good jobs left. someone working for burgerking or walmart can not afford to buy a house,new car,and toys. all the big industries beat feet and moved out of the us because of taxes or epa crap. to many people come to the usa with there hand out and they get picked for the jobs and everything else... all the arabic people buy gas stations and other companys that are tax free for so many years then give to next family member to have same tax deal.10 years ago in my town there was allways someone looking for worker's but now with a major change in the population 90 % that dont speak english there is no job's a lot of companys closed there door's and the ones that are still open are not owened by americans.

[JR IN JAX]

Or people could do it the old fashioned way and save up until they can afford to buy. I'm afraid most american consumers do not recall this possibility and feel that they are "entitled" to credit ... the banks should lend money. The days of easy credit are likely far off.

I agree fully. I am saving and am going to operate [Lord Willing] on a no-finance basis from now on. It can delay your first purchase but actually ends up allowing you to purchase more, faster. This way you don't have to carry the bank on your back......

[RobF]

saving up and buying a boat is fine when you are talking a 21 footer, not many people can buy a $200k+ boat in cash

[Mark75H]

If you can afford a $200k, you can