Yacht sales firms in the U.S. sold 1,670 used boats and yachts in November 2012, a decline of 152 boats or 8% compared to the year previous, and a drop in powerboat sales was the clear reason. According to YachtWorld member brokerages, powerboat sales were down 14%, from 1,457 to 1,257 boats sold. Catching a late-season tailwind, perhaps, sailboat sales moved in the opposite direction, gaining 13% from 365 boats to 413.
Despite the significant decrease in powerboat sales, the aggregate price paid for those powerboats sold actually increased by 1 percent, from $182 to $184 million. Among the sailboats sold, total price rose 28 percent, from $29 million to $37 million, and for all boats sold, the figure was $220 million, 4 percent higher than in November 2011.
The main slowdown in the market took place in smaller boat sizes. Among boats under 26 feet, sales were down the most, from 488 a year ago to 401 in November. In the category 26 to 35 feet, sales declined 8%, with 666 boats sold. In both categories, however, while the volume of sales was lower, the average price paid per boat increased. This was not the case with average prices in the 36 to 45 foot category, where sales fell slightly, from 432 to 426 boats sold, but total value declined 16 percent, from $59 million to $50 million.
Among the larger sizes, while a similar number of boats were sold year over year, the aggregate price paid on all sales increased. In November 2011, 182 boats over 46 feet sold for $101 million. In November 2012, 177 boats sold for $123 million.
With 11 months of 2012 sales reports on the books, total brokerage sales were up 3 percent, with 27,941 boats changing owners in the U.S. market The total value of the boats sold was down 8 percent, with $2.5 billion paid.
Source: John Burnham // YachtWorld Editorial Director
