I see used boat prices (1985-1999ish) prices rising some and boats coming off of the market that have been on the market for two years. Boats for sale for the last two seasons are being priced $2-3K more than they were in the past and they're selling. People generally seem more willing to come off of their money right now while we're riding the peak of this "rebound."

I don't think that this rings true for $100K + boats. I've seen them drop in value as well.

I feel all of that is going to go down the toilet when things get as bad as they were last year (or worse). It's going to be an odd cycle when the DAQ is usually high right now and its in the tank instead.

As for energy prices and strength of business, that's scary.

IMO it's a good thing that the printing press has stopped for a while. This country needs to spend less not more. We just have to get the govt. on board with all of this. They're still operating under the belief that you can spend your way out of debt, and dig yourself out of a hole...

My issue, however, is that banks won't write notes that should be almost guaranteed! I don't get it!... When I recently wanted to buy an investment property. I could afford to pay for it in cash, but I didn't want to wear myself thin. I was going to buy an already foreclosed property, put 50% down on it, and they still wouldn't lend on the property... reason being... the final loan amount was too small. That doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever... They didn't want to write any loan below $50k regardless as to how much cash someone wanted to put down on the property.

lending standrds are really nuts. I started a post about how my ex is looking for a mortgage and cant get one because she bought a business as an asset sale instead of a stock sales (the only smartthing to do) and now b/c it's a new corp she doesnt have tax returns for 2 years. The business has been profitable for 17 years. Prior to her buying that biz her and I had a very successful biz together for over 10 years. It's a no-brainer. 20% down, 1.1m appraisal on the home. Bank short sale at 750K. she's got a 750 beacon and less than 40% dti. crazy she can't get approved.

I agree but my fear is that because of all the printed money, the only choice that we have is when the economy starts to rebound we are headed for massive inflation. Not like they can do much with rates now they are basically at zero.

New boat sales increase, best case scenario: 2012.

An increase would not be over 2008 or 09. Every other prediction is smoke and mirrors.

The levels of '01 through 07 will never be seen again. ever. I see the perf segment reaching 25% of the last peak and the rest of the industry 40-50%...maybe

Perhaps. But we said the exact same thing in the early 90s.

Not if performance boating takes off in China!:party-smiley-004:

Yeah but we are kind of running out of things to bubble.... If gas and basic utilities go thru the roof again, a green bubble might start, but thats doubtfull

It is sad when MB sells more S class cars in China than the US. The point being is that we are in a losing battle that is gonna get worse. The US has been on the wrong path for quite some time.