Data sourced from the Boats Group 2025 Year-End Market Index. Analysis and commentary by Denison Yachting.

What the Numbers Say About Where the Market is Headed

The global boating market wrapped up 2025 in a place most industry observers would describe as cautiously optimistic. Overall unit sales declined year over year, financing conditions remained a headwind for many buyers, and inventory took longer to move than in years past. But underneath those headline figures, a more nuanced story was developing, one that points toward stabilization and, for buyers paying close attention, a genuinely favorable window of opportunity heading into 2026.

Boats Group, which operates YachtWorld, Boat Trader, and several other major marine platforms, published its 2025 Year-End Market Index drawing on self-reported and contracted sold boat data. Here is what that data shows, and what it means if you are in the market.

See their full report here.

Sales Declined, But the Second Half Told a Different Story

Global boat sales fell 9.0% by unit volume in 2025 compared to 2024, and total value sold dropped from $10.42 billion to $9.97 billion. In North America, unit sales were down 8.5% and the total value of boats sold came in at $6.54 billion.

Those are real declines. But the full-year figure masks something important: the market was recovering momentum as the calendar progressed. Year-over-year comparisons had largely stabilized by Q3, and Q4 finished with modest growth, the first meaningful positive signal in more than a year. That trajectory shift matters more than the full-year total.

What drove the softness? Higher borrowing costs, selective discretionary spending, and buyers who were in no hurry. Consumer interest in boating, measured by global Google search volume, actually rose 1% year over year in 2025, meaning demand did not disappear. Buyers were researching, comparing, and waiting for the right moment. That patience shows up in extended days-on-market numbers and ultimately in a Q4 that closed stronger than the year began.

Pricing Held Firm Across Most Segments

One of the most significant findings in the report is that pricing did not crater despite lower transaction volumes. Average boat values increased in 2025, not just globally but specifically in North America where buyers and sellers interact most directly with Denison’s brokerage operations.

Global average sold price: $215,798 (+1.89% vs. 2024)
North America average sold price: $169,997 (+4.90% vs. 2024)

That 4.9% increase in North American average pricing is notable. It tells you that sellers who priced well and presented their boats professionally were not giving ground. Discounts were not the mechanism that cleared inventory in 2025. Value alignment was. Buyers paid for quality; they simply took longer to pull the trigger.

This is a critical distinction for anyone approaching the market in 2026. Sellers who have well-maintained, accurately priced inventory are in a stronger position than the volume headlines suggest. And buyers should not expect a fire-sale environment, because the data does not support one.

New vs. Used: The Gap Is Widening

Perhaps the clearest structural trend of 2025 was the divergence between new and used boat performance. New boats faced the most pressure, particularly in higher price brackets where financing costs hit hardest. Used boats outperformed new on a relative basis throughout the year, driven by buyers who prioritized value, immediate availability, and flexibility over factory-fresh specifications.

This dynamic showed up directly in days-on-market data. New boats in North America averaged 279 days to sell in 2025, up 50 days from the prior year. Used boats in North America averaged 139 days, up 16 days from 2024. That gap, 140 days between new and used average time on market, reflects a genuine buyer preference shift that is not going away quickly.

For the buyer, this means the used market is where the action is, and where competitive opportunities exist. For the seller of a well-maintained pre-owned vessel, it is a confirmation that demand is present, provided the boat is priced and positioned correctly.

Size Segments: Where Volume Fell and Where It Did Not

Drilling into length-based data reveals some counterintuitive findings, particularly at the extremes of the market.

Boats under 26 feet remained the largest segment by unit count globally and in North America, though volumes declined. In North America, 17,710 boats under 26 feet sold in 2025, compared to 19,610 the prior year. Average pricing in this segment edged up 2.42% to $54,661, holding relatively stable despite the volume pressure.

The 36 to 45 foot range continues to demonstrate resilience. In North America, average sold prices in this segment held near $266,538, up just 0.53% but essentially flat in a year when many segments saw volume pressure. This size range balances cruising capability, manageable operating costs, and enough onboard comfort to attract serious buyers, which is precisely why demand in this bracket remains consistent.

This segment experienced the steepest volume decline globally, down 15.04% by units, and North America followed a similar pattern with a 12.77% unit decline. Average pricing in North America actually dropped 5.01% to $511,817 in this range, making it the one size category where meaningful price softness emerged. Buyers with flexibility in their target size range may find genuine negotiating leverage here.

The superyacht segment bucked the broader trend in a significant way. Globally, the over-80-foot category saw unit sales increase 6.54% year over year. In North America specifically, the numbers were even more pronounced: unit sales grew 12.29% and total value of boats sold jumped 22.37%, rising from $818 million to $1.00 billion. Average prices in the North American superyacht segment climbed 8.98% to $4.98 million.

This segment operates largely independent of the financing headwinds affecting smaller categories. Cash-flush buyers are still transacting, and premium superyacht inventory is moving at a pace that outperformed the rest of the market. For Denison’s superyacht clientele, 2025 was not a soft year.

Age Matters: Buyers Want Modern Inventory

The age breakdown of sold boats in 2025 tells a consistent story: buyers gravitated toward newer used inventory. Globally, the two-year-old category saw a 5.37% increase in units sold versus the prior year, and the three-to-five-year bracket grew 2.99%. Meanwhile, current model year boats declined 17.48% and one-year-old boats dropped a significant 31.50%.

The takeaway is straightforward: buyers in 2025 wanted modern features and updated systems without the premium of buying new. A 2020 to 2023 model year boat sits in the sweet spot of buyer preference right now. If you own one and it is well-presented, you are holding something buyers are actively seeking. If you are buying, inventory in this range will likely continue to attract competition.

Power vs. Sail: Powerboats Lead, Sailboats Hold Value

Powerboats dominated both global and North American markets by volume and total value, continuing a long-running trend. In North America, 32,901 powerboats sold in 2025 versus 3,270 sailboats. Average powerboat prices increased 5.10% to $184,702 in North America, reflecting committed buyers willing to pay for quality.

Sailboats saw steeper unit declines, down 13.79% in North America, but pricing for well-maintained sail inventory held up. The average North American sailboat sold for $141,769 in 2025, up 4.05% from the prior year. The sailboat market is smaller and more specialized, but the buyers who participate are serious and price-disciplined.

What This Means for Buyers in 2026

The Boats Group data suggests the boating market entered 2026 on firmer footing than it had for most of 2025. Q4 momentum, stable pricing, and improving buyer engagement all point toward a market that is recalibrating rather than deteriorating. Here is what that means practically:

The used market remains the most active and competitive segment. Buyers looking at two-to-five-year-old inventory will be shopping in the same category as most other serious buyers in the market. Premium condition matters now more than ever, as sellers who present well are still transacting without discounting.

The 46-to-55-foot range is one area where pricing has softened measurably, and buyers in that segment have more negotiating room than the broader data might suggest. For buyers with flexibility in target size, this represents a genuine opportunity.

At the top of the market, the over-80-foot superyacht segment is running in a different direction from the rest of the fleet. Transaction volume and prices both increased in North America in 2025. If you are looking at this category, the competition is real and qualified inventory at fair market value moves.

Days on market are longer, but that does not mean the right boat is waiting around. Well-positioned inventory is still selling. Buyers who have done their research and are ready to move when the right vessel appears are in the best position heading into what the data suggests could be a firmer 2026.