There are a couple of things going on with sailboats. For one, there
are an incredible number of used sailboats floating around at very
reasonable prices compared to new. The vast majority of fiberglass
sailboats ever built are still around waiting to be upgraded. My old
Cal-34 was built in 1968 and is now on it's third life with the new
owners getting a very real bargain even after investing in a paint job
and new diesel aux.

Last but not least, the baby boomer generation is aging and looking
for boats with more creature comforts, e.g., comfortable seating, air
conditioning, queen size beds, microwave ovens, anchor windlasses,
etc. We have all of that on our 33 foot power boat but it would take
a sailboat at least 10 to 15 feet longer to hold it all, and it still
would not be as comfortable. We've had over 10 sail to power
convertees in just my club alone over the last 5 years, and I believe
it's happening elsewhere.
=================================================


On 10 Aug 2003 18:50:11 GMT, (Gould 0738) wrote:
The Washington State Department of Licensing just released sales statistics for
new boat sales between July 1, 2002 and June 30, 2003

The numbers are bleak, as one might expect in a state with one of the highest
unemployment rates in the nation, but one category is absolutely scary.
Sailboats.

Sorted by length, here are the number of new sailboats registered in Washington
State during that 12-month period of time. Note: Federally documented vessels
are still required to pay for a state registration sticker, so the following
numbers should be about as accurate as would be available from any source.

Under ten feet: 2 boats (most sailing dinghies avoid registration because
they are not powered by with a motor of any type)

11-14 feet: 5 boats

15-18 feet: 16 boats

19-22 feet: 13 boats

23-26 feet: 28 boats

27-30 feet: 1 boat

31-34 feet: 3 boats

35-38 feet: 2 boats

39-42 feet: 2 boats

43-46 feet: *no* boats

47-50 feet: 1 boat

In all remaining categories over 50 feet: 2 boats

Total new sailboats sold in a year: 73


OUCH!

(One almost has to wonder if some of the new sailboat sales were misclassified
as powerboats. There are any number of businesses trying to make a living
primarily by selling new sailboats- and if only 8 new sailboats sold over 30
feet
they will all be closing thier doors sooner rather than later)

Compare these numbers to the following powerboat sales figures.

Top category: Outboard boats 15-18' 1,542 sold
Next category: Jet boats under 10' (PWC) 932 units
Third place: Outdrive boats 15-18' 851 units
Fourth place: Outboard boats 11-14' 828 units
Fifth place: Outdrive boats 19-22' 805 units
Sixth place: Outboard boats 19-22' 699 units

The top selling inboard category was 19-22', with 583 units
Other inboard categories were weak, but still dwarf sail figures.

Inboards 23-26' 54 boats
27-30' 27 boats
31-34' 40 boats
35-38' 52 boats
39-42' 39 boats
43-46' 17 boats
47-50' 18 boats

28 new powerboats over 50 feet were registered in Washington State during this
one-year period of time.

I think kayaks are doing to sailing what jet skis have done to powerboating:
diverted the upcoming generations into "alternate" means of aquatic recreation.
It's getting so you can almost walk across Seattle's Lake Union on a sunny
Saturday, simply by stepping from kayak to kayak. :-)