Florida boat new boat registrations up 17%
06-24-2014 | 08:43 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Registered
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 11,901
Likes: 1,138
Florida boat new boat registrations up 17%
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/fl-summe...,5198107.story
More people in Broward County are taking to the water in new boats.
Registrations of new boats increased 17 percent in the year ending in March, after jumping 13 percent the year before, according to Info-Link Technologies Inc., a marine industry tracker based in Miami.
The reasons: an improving economy, attractive financing and people who are tired of waiting to buy, marine retailers say.
"We're doing well in South Florida," said Chuck Cashman, vice president of east operations for Clearwater-based MarineMax, the nation's largest recreational boat and yacht retailer with about 55 stores in 18 states. "We're seeing consistent, solid growth. We're pretty well up over last year."
Cashman oversees nine MarineMax stores from Martin to Monroe counties, including sites in Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale. He said sales of new boats in particular are "going very well."
The rebound is a relief to an industry that weathered tough years after the recession. New-boat registrations in Broward County totaled 1,350 in 2008, but the numbers declined for three years after that.
The total number of recreational boats registered in Broward still has not recovered. It fell from 40,668 in 2012 to 40,208 last year.
Boat and supply dealers say the industry seems to have bottomed out. Both big and small boats are in demand this year, they say.
Dusky Marine in Dania Beach has seen an upswing in sales of its custom-built offshore and shallow-water sportfishing boats in the past two months, after a slower start to the year due in part to the lingering winter.
Just recently, two boats were sold, and more orders are rolling in.
"We're backed up three to four months," said Michael Brown, vice president and owner of the nearly 50-year-old business. "I can't build them fast enough."
Still, highly customized boats with luxury trimmings, priced from $55,000 to $70,000, are what people are buying most, Brown said.
"We build them from scratch to finish," Brown said, noting that Dusky is one of only a few boat builders in Florida. "We're a Florida boat built in Florida."
Nationwide, sales of new boats are forecast to rise 5 percent to 7 percent in 2014, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, a trade group based in Chicago.
As estimated 166,800 new powerboats and sailboats were sold in 2013, an increase of 2.2 percent from 2012, the group says. Florida led the nation in sales of new powerboats, motors, trailers and accessories last year, with $1.93 billion, up 14 percent from 2012.
As the economy improves over the summer — a peak selling season for boats — the NMMA expects to see continued growth, President Thom Dammrich said.
He attributes part of that to boat makers trying to make new boats more versatile and appealing to entry-level boaters.
Last year was the first time since 2009 that new-boat sales began to close the gap with used, the NMMA said.
Sellers of small boats, boating accessories and other supplies say they're riding the wave, too.
"We're seeing a lot more traffic in the last six weeks or so, with more and more folks over the weekend," said Erik Rimblas, southeast U.S. regional vice president for West Marine, a specialty chain retailer of boating supplies and accessories— the largest in South Florida.
The retailer, based in Watsonville, Calif., has about a half-dozen stores across Broward and Palm Beach counties, including its largest company store: a 50,000-square-foot superstore at 2410 S. Andrews Ave. in Fort Lauderdale.
"Fort Lauderdale is doing pretty darn well, and overall [sales] growth has been good," Rimblas of the nearly 3-year-old superstore.
Hot sellers in recent weeks have included small inflatable boats, stand-up paddleboards and fishing kayaks — "anything to do with recreation on and around the water," Rimblas said
More people in Broward County are taking to the water in new boats.
Registrations of new boats increased 17 percent in the year ending in March, after jumping 13 percent the year before, according to Info-Link Technologies Inc., a marine industry tracker based in Miami.
The reasons: an improving economy, attractive financing and people who are tired of waiting to buy, marine retailers say.
"We're doing well in South Florida," said Chuck Cashman, vice president of east operations for Clearwater-based MarineMax, the nation's largest recreational boat and yacht retailer with about 55 stores in 18 states. "We're seeing consistent, solid growth. We're pretty well up over last year."
Cashman oversees nine MarineMax stores from Martin to Monroe counties, including sites in Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale. He said sales of new boats in particular are "going very well."
The rebound is a relief to an industry that weathered tough years after the recession. New-boat registrations in Broward County totaled 1,350 in 2008, but the numbers declined for three years after that.
The total number of recreational boats registered in Broward still has not recovered. It fell from 40,668 in 2012 to 40,208 last year.
Boat and supply dealers say the industry seems to have bottomed out. Both big and small boats are in demand this year, they say.
Dusky Marine in Dania Beach has seen an upswing in sales of its custom-built offshore and shallow-water sportfishing boats in the past two months, after a slower start to the year due in part to the lingering winter.
Just recently, two boats were sold, and more orders are rolling in.
"We're backed up three to four months," said Michael Brown, vice president and owner of the nearly 50-year-old business. "I can't build them fast enough."
Still, highly customized boats with luxury trimmings, priced from $55,000 to $70,000, are what people are buying most, Brown said.
"We build them from scratch to finish," Brown said, noting that Dusky is one of only a few boat builders in Florida. "We're a Florida boat built in Florida."
Nationwide, sales of new boats are forecast to rise 5 percent to 7 percent in 2014, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, a trade group based in Chicago.
As estimated 166,800 new powerboats and sailboats were sold in 2013, an increase of 2.2 percent from 2012, the group says. Florida led the nation in sales of new powerboats, motors, trailers and accessories last year, with $1.93 billion, up 14 percent from 2012.
As the economy improves over the summer — a peak selling season for boats — the NMMA expects to see continued growth, President Thom Dammrich said.
He attributes part of that to boat makers trying to make new boats more versatile and appealing to entry-level boaters.
Last year was the first time since 2009 that new-boat sales began to close the gap with used, the NMMA said.
Sellers of small boats, boating accessories and other supplies say they're riding the wave, too.
"We're seeing a lot more traffic in the last six weeks or so, with more and more folks over the weekend," said Erik Rimblas, southeast U.S. regional vice president for West Marine, a specialty chain retailer of boating supplies and accessories— the largest in South Florida.
The retailer, based in Watsonville, Calif., has about a half-dozen stores across Broward and Palm Beach counties, including its largest company store: a 50,000-square-foot superstore at 2410 S. Andrews Ave. in Fort Lauderdale.
"Fort Lauderdale is doing pretty darn well, and overall [sales] growth has been good," Rimblas of the nearly 3-year-old superstore.
Hot sellers in recent weeks have included small inflatable boats, stand-up paddleboards and fishing kayaks — "anything to do with recreation on and around the water," Rimblas said
06-24-2014 | 08:53 AM
#2
Thread Starter
Registered
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 11,901
Likes: 1,138
That being said.......I live in the area, work for a lot of wealthy people. I have seen 2 new boats in the last year both 20 ft. and under. One was a first time purchase, guy bought a new CC, the other was a 2nd boat for inshore fishing (owner has a big quad engine CC). I do know of another new triple engine 35 CC that has been bought/paid for but they are waiting for the dock to be finished before taking delivery.
In years past I have seen countless new boats from yachts to sportfishes, etc. but contrary to what this article states I don't see the surge in new stuff......I can't remember the last new SeaRay, Formula cruiser type I have seen/heard about.......forget about new go fasts or even performance CC's haven't seen a brand new one of those in my area in years.
At one point we had 5-6 82 Viking Sportfishes in the area, an OL 47 GTX, a few new TG's, a Skater, pair of 38 Powerplays.........I can't think of any of them still being here.
In years past I have seen countless new boats from yachts to sportfishes, etc. but contrary to what this article states I don't see the surge in new stuff......I can't remember the last new SeaRay, Formula cruiser type I have seen/heard about.......forget about new go fasts or even performance CC's haven't seen a brand new one of those in my area in years.
At one point we had 5-6 82 Viking Sportfishes in the area, an OL 47 GTX, a few new TG's, a Skater, pair of 38 Powerplays.........I can't think of any of them still being here.
06-24-2014 | 12:44 PM
#3
Registered
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,296
Likes: 3
From: Lake Travis ,Texas
Bet if you did research on the amount of millionaires moving to south florida within the same period it would be right around the same amount of increase.. More money moves in,,more boats,cars,and houses get sold.. Doesnt mean market is better ,,just that more of it is moving away from other places and into south florida. I know of one friend of mine personally that has done just that within last twelve months and just bought a new Cig this year.
