Brunswick, Genmar, Bombardier maintain market leadership

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Brunswick Corp. remained the retail market share leader in traditional fiberglass boats, Genmar Holdings Inc. continued as the leading aluminum boat builder and Bombardier maintained in retail market share leadership in personal watercraft (PWCs) during the third quarter of last year, according to Statistical Surveys Inc., an independent market research firm.

Brunswick, builder of Bayliner, Sea Ray and several other fiberglass boat brands, saw its dealers retail 8,825 of its units during the July-through-September portion of 2003, which provided Brunswick with the leading 18.3 percent share of the retail market for fiberglass boats 14 feet and longer, Statistical
Surveys reported.

The 8,825 Brunswick-built units sold by dealers during the third quarter of 2003 represents a 3.9 percent increase over the number of Brunswick-built units retailed during the same portion of 2002.

Meanwhile, Genmar, builder of Four Wins, Glastron, Larson and several other fiberglass and aluminum boat brands, saw its dealers sell 7,071 of its fiberglass units during the third quarter of 2003, which represents a 14.6 percent market share.

However, retail sales of Genmar-built fiberglass boats declined by 0.7 percent when the third quarter of 2003 is compared with the same portion of 2002.

In aluminum boats, where Genmar has a leading 20.4 percent retail market share. Its dealers sold 6,309 Genmar-built units during the July-through-September portion of 2003, a 2.4 percent increase over the third quarter of 2002.

The No. 2 aluminum boats producer is Tracker Marine, which had a 16.4 percent retail market share during last year’s third quarter. Tracker’s dealers sold 5,088 of its aluminum boats during the third quarter, a 3.3 percent increase over the same portion of 2002.

In the PWC market, Bombardier had a 40.3 percent retail market share during the July-through-September portion of last year. Its dealers sold 13,579 units during the three-month period, only a 0.1 percent increase over the number of Bombardier PWCs retailed during the third quarter of 2002.

Yamaha remains No. 2 in the retail market with a 24.9 percent share. Its dealers sold 8,390 of its PWCs during the last year’s third quarter, a 4.3 percent increase over the year-earlier period, Statistical Surveys reported.

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— Jeff Kurowski