Missouri Boat Sales Surge in April

Far from slowing boat sales and use, in many parts of the country we have received reports that boating is surging. One example is in the central Missouri boating hotspot Lake of the Ozarks.  Here, dealers are reporting record highs in boat and fuel sales for the month of April. Many people from metropolitan Midwest areas like St. Louis and Kansas City have second homes on the lake and they have opted to stay there to escape COVID-19. One of the biggest dealerships in the area, Big Thunder Marine, reported a revenue increase of more than 30 percent compared to a year ago.

Making Adjustments

Jeremy Anderson, general manager of Big Thunder told LakeExpo.com that the April jump followed a tough March that he described as “unknown.” The shutdowns were just beginning and boat sales dipped. The dealership used the time to change its processes and launch a new website.

The crew at Big Thunder put more effort into social media and did many video walk-throughs for customers. The dealership also increased the frequency of cleaning the boats and the facility. Salespeople wore masks to make customers more comfortably. Others met prospective buyers before or after conventional business hours. For one boat sale, when it was dropped off at the customer’s dock, the salesperson did a video call and walked through an identical boat in the dealership to point out the features.

Record Fuel Sales

At another dealership, Kelly’s Port in Osage Beach, Mo., owner Kyle Kelly called said boat sales in April “far exceeded expectations.” But even more unexpected was the business at the fuel docks. On one Saturday in April, the 44-year-old company broke its all-time fuel sales record for a single day.

In Demand

At Premier 54 Motorsports in Osage Beach, Brad Rozier, majority partner and general manager said April sales were solid, but the biggest increase came in business for the service department. Customers were calling to ask for their boats to be made ready for the season earlier than in past years.

Back at Big Thunder, Anderson said the company’s retail store also experienced a big increase — nearly 50 percent — over last year. He said customers were buying wakeboards, kayaks and paddleboards much earlier than in past years.

Looser Restrictions

One reason why Missouri is experiencing strong sales is that the governor Mike Parson issued a stay-at-home order that didn’t require businesses to close. Following suit, the counties on Lake of the Ozarks only closed restaurant dining rooms and personal care businesses. This meant that recreational boat dealers could stay open and just alter their approach to keep money coming in.