Boat Sales Surge During Pandemic
Reprinted from International Boat Industry--
“Sales have exploded over the past four weeks.” That sentiment, expressed to International Boating Industry by Clarks Landing Yachts Sales general manager Dave Patnaude, is seemingly shared by a variety of boat dealers across the US. His two locations in Maryland and one in New Jersey have seen around US$4m in sales in the past month – from a used, US$15,000 runabout to a US$1m Beneteau – despite locations being closed or operating under COVID-19 restrictions
“Customers are saying ‘we’re not going on a cruise, we’re not going on vacation and renting a beach house, so we’re buying a boat to get out on the water as a family’,” Patnaude said.
Running Out of Boats
Out West, in Washington State — an early hit state with strict sheltering rules — Seattle Yacht Sales’ Martin Snyder told KATU-TV interest is high and sales are good.
“Today I was doing a Facetime showing with a client on a 60’ (18.29 m) Ocean Alexander, so this is probably my seventh or eighth showing this week,” Snyder said, adding the challenge of extra cleaning, distancing and face covering requirements have met with an understanding public.
“I think the challenge is… there’s not going to be enough boats,” said Snyder.
At Seattle Boats, Jim Baker is already sold out of some inventory and puts sales on par with last year, and with the increased demand, “we’re getting within two or three percent of our asking price.”
Using today’s communication technology and adding services like home or on-water delivery, sales can be finalized remotely. Customers taking delivery should be expected to wear face coverings.
Continuing Trend
“It’s not quite as friendly a process as we’d like it to be, but customers are willing and understanding,” said Bruce Wright, general manager of Irwin Marine in New England, where the state of New Hampshire enjoys both coastal and inland waters, home of the famed Lake Winnipesaukee. He sees his three-year trend of increasing sales right on track, he told the Laconia Daily Sun.
Julie Marsh, of Winnisquam Marine on Lake Winnisquam expected 2020 to be a poor year for sales, but it has been something different entirely. “Insanity” is how she described the start of her sales season. “We can’t get enough boats. They’re going crazy to get on the water.”
Texler Marine owner Scott Texler has a similar tale to tell. “We are swamped,” he said. “We are understaffed and running way behind. There’s a lot of pent-up demand. We are selling boats like crazy.”
Local and industry media also report a similar uptick in RV sales, as people identify ways to recreate while maintaining safe social distancing practices.