Yachts Sales Report 2012: Flat Sales, Strong Value Gains

Yacht sales volume was down 1% in March 2012 compared to a year earlier, with 2,560 boats and yachts changing hands across the United States, but the aggregate value of the boats sold increased significantly. According to YachtWorld member yacht brokerages reports, the total price tag came to $370 million, a 47% increase over March 2011.

Boats over 55′ accounted for most of the $117 million value gain. There were 92 boats of this size sold during the month, up from 66, and they brought in $189 million, an increase of $114 million. In particular, in the upper reaches of the over-55′ category, the 19 superyachts (over 80′) sold in March brought in $128 million on their own.

Boats also sold well at the low end of the boat-sales spectrum; among boats shorter than 26′, 924 boats were sold for $19 million, which was $2 million more than the 837 boats sold in the size range a year earlier.

In another high-volume category for yacht brokers, boats 26 to 35 feet long, March 2012 sales were weaker than in the year before. Only 905 of these boats were sold, down 120 boats, and the total value of these sales decreased in step, from $57 to $50 million.