U.S. yacht brokerage sales volume was down 1% in March 2012 compared to a year earlier, with 2,560 boats changing hands across the United States, but the aggregate value of the boats and yachts sold increased significantly. According to YachtWorld.com member yacht brokerage reports, the total price tag came to $370 million, a 47% increase from March 2011.
Boats over 55′ accounted for most of the $117 million gain in value. 92 yachts were sold in this category during the month, up from 66 a year earlier, and they brought in $189 million, an increase of $114 million. The 19 superyachts (over 80′) that were sold in March 2012 brought in $128 million on their own.
Much smaller boats also sold well. Among boats shorter than 26′, 924 were sold for a total value of $19 million — $2 million more than the 837 boats that were sold in that size range in 2011.
In another high-volume category for yacht brokers — boats 26 to 35 feet — March 2012 sales were weaker than they were the year before. Only 905 boats were sold in that category, down 120 boats from March 2011, and the total value of those sales decreased from $57 million to $50 million.
A detailed report summarizing recent U.S. brokerage sales will appear in the May issue of Soundings.
Source: John Burnham, Dominion Media
