May 2015 Yacht Brokerage Sales Decrease

The U.S. yacht brokerage market saw a decrease in sales volume and total boat values in May with 3,586 boats reported sold at a total price of $400.3 million.

The number sold was 2% lower than in May 2014 and the total value was 10% lower, according to YachtWorld member brokerages recording sales in SoldBoats.com, their proprietary database.

A drop in sailboat sales was largely responsible for the volume decline. The number sold for the month decreased from 629 to 557.

Powerboat sales were virtually level, down three boats from 3,032 to 3,029. The total value of sailboats sold dropped 21% from $49.6 million to $39.3 million; the total powerboat sales value declined 9% from $395 million to $361.1 million.

Weaker sales in the bigger-boat segments were responsible for much of the decline in market value. In the superyacht segment (80’+), compared with the previous May, sales were down from 21 boats to 16 and the total value declined proportionately to $78.4 million from $103.5 million, a drop of 24%. Among boats 56′ to 79′, sales decreased 14% with 83 boats sold and the total price paid was down $11 million, or 15%, from $75.7 million to $64.6 million.

By length, the strongest segment of the market was boats 26′ to 35′, a range that is typically the highest-volume portion of the brokerage market. Sales increased 1% in this category, with 1,419 boats sold; the total price paid was down 1% with sales of $84.8 million.

Powerboat sales in this range were 4% higher with 1,142 boats sold. Sailboat sales declined 12% as 277 were sold.

Source: John Burnham, YachtWorld.com