Boat sales continue to decline across all segments
MIAMI, Fla. – Unit sales of powerboats 15 feet in length and above dropped about 34 percent during the 12-month period ended April 30, compared to the prior 12 months, according to Info-Link Technologies Inc.’s Bellwether Report, which has been updated through April. The graphs can be viewed at: www.info-link.com/bellwetherreport.asp.
Within the outboard boat segment, unit sales were down about 30 percent during this period, while the sterndrive/jet boat segment sales were down about 43 percent, the personal watercraft segment was down about 31 percent, the outboard sportfishing segment was down about 44 percent and the ski boat segment was down about 35 percent.
All the segments were down slightly compared to last month, when declines looked like they might begin to flatten out and the ski boat market actually showed improvement.
The bellwether report is based on new U.S. boat registrations in geographically dispersed states representing roughly half of the U.S. boat market. With the exception of a couple of slight blips upward, powerboat sales in this category have been trending downward since early 2004 on a rolling 12 month year-over-year basis of comparison.
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