U.S. brokerage boat sales in April improved slightly from the same month last year, but the total price that buyers paid was incrementally lower.
Volume increased by 20 boats to 2,926, a 1 percent gain, and the total value declined $10.8 million, or 2 percent, to $464.2 million, according to YachtWorld member brokerages reporting in SoldBoats, their proprietary database.
Powerboat sales gained 1 percent and sailboat sales slipped by the same percentage as 2,456 and 470 boats were sold, respectively. The total value of powerboat sales was off 3 percent at $428 million. Sailboats brought a total price of $36.2 million, a 7 percent gain from the previous April.
In most length ranges, sales trends from the first quarter remained constant. In the volume end of the market, boats under 26 feet and from 36 to 45 feet continued to gain in unit sales, compared with April 2015.
Boats in the 36- to 45-foot range were in the fastest growth mode, with sales up 7 percent as 598 changed hands. The total price paid in this size kept pace, rising 8 percent with $83.6 million in sales.
The weaker categories were boats from 46 to 55 feet, down 18 percent as 140 were sold, and 56 to 79 feet, which were off 7 percent with 68 sold. Average prices were higher in both categories, however, up 12 and 15 percent, respectively.
Sales of boats 80 feet and longer were strong for April, rising from 18 to 27. However, the total price paid for boats in this range declined $17 million with $178.7 million in sales.
U.S. sales through the first four months of this year were up 2 percent from 2015 as 8,500 boats were sold.
A more detailed report summarizing recent U.S. brokerage sales will appear in the June issue of Soundings Trade Only.
