Sales of brokerage boats in the United States rose in October to 2,318, a 4 percent gain from the same month a year earlier.
Powerboat sales were key to the increase with 1,861 boats changing hands, an increase of 7 percent, according to YachtWorld member brokers reporting in their proprietary database SoldBoats.com. Sailboat sales fell 6 percent as 457 boats were sold.
The aggregate price of boats sold during the month increased to $289.5 million, a 19 percent gain that substantially outpaced the rise in unit sales, indicating a higher average sale price than in the previous October.
The total price paid for powerboats rose 23 percent to $252.9 million, lifting the average price from $119,000 to $136,000. The total price paid for sailboats declined 1 percent to $36.7 million, but the average price paid climbed from $76,000 to $80,000.
The bulk of the market’s volume gains were in the 26- to 35-foot segment, which rose from 888 boats sold to 975. Among boats 36 to 45 feet, sales were up 3 percent with 539 boats sold; sales of boats under 26 feet increased 1 percent to 589.
Among larger boats, the 56- to 79-foot segment showed the only growth year over year, but it was substantial at 20 percent with 54 boats sold. The 46- to 55-foot range was down 11 percent with 150 boats sold and sales of superyachts over 80 feet were even with the previous October as 11 boats were sold.
Valuations tell a different story for the larger and smaller halves of the market. Average prices were down slightly among boats 35 feet and smaller, but they increased in all size ranges above 35 feet. The largest gains in aggregate price were among superyachts, up 46 percent, with sales of $70.8 million, and boats 56 to 79 feet, up 61 percent, with sales of $38.6 million.
– John Burnham