Yacht brokers in the United States reported selling only 2,203 boats in March. While that was 501 more boats than in February, it was a decrease of 11% compared to the previous March.
Yacht brokerage firms in SoldBoats.com, reported the total value of March boat sales were $321 million, which represented a 20% increase from March 2014 numbers.
Largely responsible for this increased valuation was the recent sale of higher-price superyachts; in the market segment over 80′, the volume of sales rose by 2 boats from one March to the next, but the total price reported paid more than doubled, from $52 million to $111 million.
Exclusive of the superyacht market, the sold prices of brokerage boats was also a strength. While the total price of all boat sales under 80′ declined by 2%, the average sale prices increased 10%, from $88,000 to $96,000.
The number of powerboat sales in March decreased 11%, down 234 boats to 1,811, compared to the previous March.
Thanks to superyacht sales, the total value of the boats sold climbed 24%, from $235 million to $292 million. The decline in the volume of sailboat sales was less, by 6%, with 392 boats sold, but without a “superyacht effect”, the total value of the boats that were sold also decreased—in this case by $29 million, or 10%.
Power and sailboat sales were lower by double-digit percentages in all market segments below 45′ in March. The total value of boats sold increased by 4% in the smallest category, boats under 26′, but declined by 10% in both the 26′ to 35′ and the 36′ to 45′ ranges.
Among larger boats, sales volume improved in March.
Volume and values were up not only among superyachts but in the 56′ to 79′ bracket, in which 61 boats were sold, a 5% gain, and the total price paid for boats sold was $48 million, a 17% increase. In the 46′ to 55′ range, which had been stronger recently, sales were up 4%, with 127 boats sold, but the total price paid decreased 3% to $36 million.
Source: Dominion Marine Media, John Burnham
