"Tom Francis" wrote in message
...

A Bellwether Report issued last week by Info-Link confirms industry
reports that boat sales have been slow this year. According to
Info-Link's director of sales and marketing, Jesse Wells, "We estimate
that August year-to-date numbers represent 84 percent of all the
registrations that will occur in this calendar year, so the remaining
new boat sales activity isn't likely to have a significant impact
overall. Therefore, it looks like the decline this year over last will
be somewhere between 5 percent and 10 percent, at least for the total
15 ft-plus powerboat market." Wells did report that some segments,
such as ski boats, had better than average performance (see chart at
www.info-link.com/bellwetherreport.asp).

In related news, a report issued this week by independent training and
consulting firm, Spader Cos., shows net profits for the average boat
dealership were down nearly 20 percent during the eight months ended
August 31, compared to the same period in 2005. As of the end of
August, the average dealer earned a net profit of 5.2 percent of
sales, compared to 6.5 percent of sales in 2005.


It has to be a soft (buyers) market now for both used and new boats. I
believe Chuck or Harry reported that the big boats are still selling well
though.