Three quarters of dealers responding to a new survey say they’re waiting at least a month for new outboards, and 40 percent say they’re waiting more than 90 days to get their orders filled.
Only 25 percent of dealers said their wait time was a month or less.
“Not having motors and props,” said one dealer who responded to a survey question about what is not working.
Several dealers who responded to a survey conducted by Baird in conjunction with the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas and Soundings Trade Only say they are also having a hard time receiving new boat inventory, which negatively impacted sales.
“Slow to receive product for just about all items needed, not just motors,” said one dealer. “Product quality is suffering because manufactures are pumping out too much product.”
“Fed raised rates, which only slightly hurt business,” said another dealer. “If I had the inventory I could sell it.”
Generally, the measures were positive, according to Baird, with dealers being more optimistic about short-term and long-term conditions than in June.
“While the industry backdrop is favorable, we expect company-specific events — spin-offs, acquisitions, new products — to be larger drivers of stock performance,” the report says.
One respondent says the buzz on 2019 products has helped sales; tow boats, PWC, pontoons and Yamaha sportboats were also highlighted in comments from dealers weighing in on what was working.
“Minn-Kota’s new spot lock trolling motors are a selling like hot cakes,” said another.
