The new year began with sluggish January U.S. brokerage sales of 1,567 boats, down from 1,623 in December and 1,639 in January 2014.
The total value of boats sold was $221.1 million, a decline of $21.5 million, or 9 percent, from $242.6 million in the previous January, according to YachtWorld member yacht brokerages reporting in SoldBoats.com.
Consistent with a pattern that was common in 2014, the primary reason for the decline in the dollar value of boats sold was a drop in superyacht sales. This January, the aggregate price of boats sold that were larger than 80 feet was lower by $23.4 million than in the previous January; the total value of all boats sold that were smaller than 80 feet was up slightly, by $2 million, despite 88 fewer boat sales.
Brokers in most segments of the market reported lower sales volume. The exception was among boats shorter than 26 feet, where 466 were sold, up 2 percent from last January. Sales in the other high-volume segments of 26 to 35 feet and 36 to 45 feet were down 5 percent and 3 percent, respectively.
In the 46- to 55-foot range, despite a decline in sales from 127 to 115 boats, the total value of sales increased by $1.1 million to $34.3 million and the average sold price was up 14 percent at $298,495. The 56- to 79-foot range reported a sales decrease from 56 to 37 boats, yet the average sold price increased 47 percent to $982,511.
Average sold prices were down slightly in the 36- to 45-foot segment and the segment of boats smaller than 26 feet, but in the 26- to 35-foot segment the average price was up 22 percent at $68,472.
A more detailed report summarizing recent U.S. brokerage sales will appear in the March issue of Soundings Trade Only.
John Burnham is the editorial director of YachtWorld.com.
