July boat sales show slight improvement
MIAMI, Fla. – Unit sales of powerboats 15 feet in length and above were down about 33 percent during the 12-month period ended July 31, compared to the prior 12 months, according to Info-Link Technologies Inc.’s Bellwether Report, which has been updated through July. The graphs can be viewed at: http://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 40 percent, the personal watercraft segment was down about 31 percent, the outboard sportfishing segment was down about 40 percent and the ski boat segment was down about 35 percent.
Although all segments were down compared to the prior 12 months, each of them – except PWC, which was down slightly – were either just up or flat compared to month previous, with the sportfishing segment making the steepest gain.
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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