Yacht Sales Report: February 2012 – Sold Boats Report

Yacht brokerage sales in the U.S. increased again in February 2012 as 1,908 boats and yachts sold for an aggregate of $231 million USD. According to YachtWorld.com member yacht brokerage firms reporting in their proprietary database, Soldboats.com, the volume of sales rose 13%, compared with February 2011, and the total value of the boats was up 25%.

For the year to date, 3,452 boats have been sold for an aggregate price of $425 million. Those represent 8% and 17% increases, respectively, from sales volume and valuation in January and February of 2011.

Sales of big boats and superyachts have dominated the headlines for much of the last year, but boats under 26′ sold well in February; 639 changed hands, a 16% increase from 2011.

Sales of boats 36′ to 45′ increased 11%, to 370 boats. Even the 26′ to 35′ boat category, which lagged in January 2012, saw improved year-over-year sales in February — a 10% increase, to 714 boats. Collectively, 1,723 boats under 45′ changed hands, a 12% increase, and they sold for $102 million, an 11% gain.

Not to be outdone, yacht brokers selling boats over 55′ closed 147 deals in February, a 32% increase from the same month in 2011. The yachts involved sold for 43% more, totaling $177 million in boat and yacht sales. Sales of 16 superyachts (boats over 80′) accounted for $56 million of the total, which was more than double the total price paid for the 9 superyachts that were sold a year earlier.

Source: Dominion Marine Media editorial director, John Burnham