LATEST NEWS
July 1, 2004
Boat sales up 20% across America
As the U.S. economy improves, more Americans feel they can afford to buy a
boat. The National Marine Manufacturers Association reports unit sales are up
19.8 percent and wholesale dollars made from boat sales are up 20.8 percent,
comparing first quarter sales figures to the same time last year.


The trade association, which represents companies that manufacture an estimated
80 percent of marine products used in North America, characterized the winter
figures as " positive early indicators for significant growth in the boating
industry in 2004."

"The boating industry will continue to benefit from Americans' renewed emphasis
on spending quality time with family and friends," said NMMA President Thom
Dammrich. "A favorable economy, rising consumer sentiment and continued low
interest rates are also playing important roles in attracting more people to
boating. Increased attendance at major boat shows is another very positive
signal."

There are more than 1.4 million recreational boat registrations in the Pacific
region, compared to 1 million in the Mid-Atlantic states and 2.5 million in the
Southeast.

All segments showed positive gains:

Inboard cruisers up 20 percent;
Outboard boats up 14 percent;
Jet drive boats up 32 percent;
Stern drive boats up 5 percent;
Personal watercraft (Jet Skis and competitors) up 3 percent.
There are about 15,000 boats in the Hawaiian Islands, with roughly 1,000 new
ones sold annually to replace older ones or add to the state roster.

U.S. retail expenditures on boating-related goods and services were
approximately $30 billion in 2003, down one percent from 2002, according to
NMMA.



© 2004 American City Business Journals Inc.

On 12 Oct 2004 01:28:54 GMT, (RGrew176) wrote:

LATEST NEWS
July 1, 2004
Boat sales up 20% across America
As the U.S. economy improves, more Americans feel they can afford to buy a
boat. The National Marine Manufacturers Association reports unit sales are up
19.8 percent and wholesale dollars made from boat sales are up 20.8 percent,
comparing first quarter sales figures to the same time last year.

Yep - it got real hot May/June and part of July, but most of those
were low end or entry level boats and PWCs.

I know some dealers who haven't sold a single boat since July and are
sitting on a ton of used trade, consignment and new boats.

I know one dealer who is still sitting on 2002/03 inventory.

And take a look at the used boat market. It's getting so
overburdened, that unique and interesting boats are getting lost in
the mass of lesser boats.

When I went to look at that Master Marine today, I talked to the
marina owner who told me all the boats up on the hard for sale had all
been there for more than two years and he really hoped I liked this
boat because it had been for sale for three years.

All the best,

Tom
--------------

"What the hell's the deal with this newsgroup...
is there a computer terminal in the day room of
some looney bin somewhere?"

Bilgeman - circa 2004

I wonder why the yacht brokers are doing so much bitching about lack of
business?

LATEST NEWS
July 1, 2004
Boat sales up 20% across America
As the U.S. economy improves, more Americans feel they can afford to buy a
boat. The National Marine Manufacturers Association reports unit sales are up
19.8 percent and wholesale dollars made from boat sales are up 20.8 percent,
comparing first quarter sales figures to the same time last year.


The trade association, which represents companies that manufacture an
estimated
80 percent of marine products used in North America, characterized the winter
figures as " positive early indicators for significant growth in the boating
industry in 2004."

"The boating industry will continue to benefit from Americans' renewed
emphasis
on spending quality time with family and friends," said NMMA President Thom
Dammrich. "A favorable economy, rising consumer sentiment and continued low
interest rates are also playing important roles in attracting more people to
boating. Increased attendance at major boat shows is another very positive
signal."

There are more than 1.4 million recreational boat registrations in the
Pacific
region, compared to 1 million in the Mid-Atlantic states and 2.5 million in
the
Southeast.

All segments showed positive gains:

Inboard cruisers up 20 percent;
Outboard boats up 14 percent;
Jet drive boats up 32 percent;
Stern drive boats up 5 percent;
Personal watercraft (Jet Skis and competitors) up 3 percent.
There are about 15,000 boats in the Hawaiian Islands, with roughly 1,000 new
ones sold annually to replace older ones or add to the state roster.

U.S. retail expenditures on boating-related goods and services were
approximately $30 billion in 2003, down one percent from 2002, according to
NMMA.



© 2004 American City Business Journals Inc.

From: Short Wave Sportfishing

And take a look at the used boat market. It's getting so
overburdened, that unique and interesting boats are getting lost in
the mass of lesser boats.

I would have to agree, there are thousands of used boats for sale here, it's a
buyers market that is certain.

Gene Kearns wrote:
On 12 Oct 2004 01:48:55 GMT, (JAXAshby) wrote:


I wonder why the yacht brokers are doing so much bitching about lack of
business?



For once, you are correct.

If you have one of the "newly created" jobs, you are probably making
50% or less of your last job. If you are driven to boat, that PWC
looks achievable where that 20 foot Bayliner may not be....

The yacht broker is making 50% of what he was making and the net
result will be seen in the diminishing coffers of the tax man....

Look for an increasing spiral.... of economic problems....

...witness the cyclic nature of reality...


Indeed. We have a spineless, worthless piece of crap in the White House
who is spending us into oblivion and has no idea of how we're going to
pay the bills he's run up.

A president of courage, FDR, went to Congress at the start of WWII and
said he had to raise taxes in order to help defeat the Axis. He got a
standing ovation.

The Bush-****ter is living in a dream world and our grandchildren will
be paying for his fantasies.

Gene Kearns wrote:
On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 22:30:37 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

snips

Harry,

I'd rather make the comment without the political rhetoric, but being
employed in the capacity to retrain those displaced by recent economic
events....

...I can tell you from personal experience, this is not a good economy
to be (1) rehired or (2) seek a promotion expecting more $$$.

This is truly a global problem that will require very clever bean
counters and politicians to extricate us from what surely appears a
slide into the global ghetto.....


Oh, I don't think it will be easy to rebuild the US economy to the point
where there are enough decent jobs to go around. As a society, we are
regressing in many, many ways.

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 01:44:37 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

.... he really hoped I liked this
boat because it had been for sale for three years.

That's got to be one of the most ignorant things a salesman could say.
With an attitude like that, it's no wonder he's got a lot full of
boats that aren't selling.

bb

When I went to look at that Master Marine today, I talked to the
marina owner who told me all the boats up on the hard for sale had all
been there for more than two years and he really hoped I liked this
boat because it had been for sale for three years.

All the best,

Tom


I'm casually looking for a used Four Winns Fling-type jet boat for our
kids to use when we "old folks" are out w/ our Carver. Called a Great
Lakes' dealer earlier this week on a posting he had on the Internet.
During our conversation he mentioned that the boat had been sitting in
their inventory for over two years! I'm thinking a snowy day in late
November might be a good time to make an offer!

Coff

On 12 Oct 2004 06:18:36 -0700, (Coff) wrote:

When I went to look at that Master Marine today, I talked to the
marina owner who told me all the boats up on the hard for sale had all
been there for more than two years and he really hoped I liked this
boat because it had been for sale for three years.

I'm casually looking for a used Four Winns Fling-type jet boat for our
kids to use when we "old folks" are out w/ our Carver. Called a Great
Lakes' dealer earlier this week on a posting he had on the Internet.
During our conversation he mentioned that the boat had been sitting in
their inventory for over two years! I'm thinking a snowy day in late
November might be a good time to make an offer!

If you can get an owner who is reasonable. Some of these owners don't
want to sell any less than 1% under their asking price.

But to give you another example, I decided a two months ago that if I
couldn't find another boat in the 23/24 foot range that I liked, I'd
sell my 2000 20' Ranger CC and buy a new 2300 Ranger.

My 20 footer has been for sale for two months, has had over 3,000
views on boats.com and not a bite.

Here's the kicker - T-top, full electronics, trailer, up-to-date
engine mods - it's up for $18,500 - I'm giving the freakin' thing
away.

3000 views and not a bite. None.

If I can't sell that Ranger for $18,500 (that's a dump it figure also
- it's insured value is $26,000), there's something wrong.

Later,

Tom
-----------
"Angling may be said to be so
like the mathematics that it
can never be fully learnt..."

Izaak Walton "The Compleat Angler", 1653

When I went to look at that Master Marine today, I talked to the
marina owner who told me all the boats up on the hard for sale had all
been there for more than two years and he really hoped I liked this
boat because it had been for sale for three years.

With salesmanship like that, little wonder.