The effects of the pandemic were reflected in new-boat sales and wholesale shipment data for the third consecutive month.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association reported that wholesale shipments doubled in July from June as boatbuilding gained momentum in every segment.
“Manufacturing has steadily been ramping back up, with production at 92 percent of where it was last year as manufacturers continued filling back orders to meet the surge in demand for new boats,” NMMA business intelligence director Vicky Yu said in a statement.
New powerboat retail sales also increased, rising 22 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis compared with the same month a year ago, the NMMA said.
“Personal watercraft, outboard boats and jetboats drove growth in July — both wholesale and retail — reflecting the high demand from new-boat buyers,” Yu said.
Wholesale shipments of PWC leapt 271 percent in July compared with June on a seasonally adjusted basis. Outboard boat shipments returned to prepandemic levels, rising 7 percent compared with June. Jetboats climbed 176 percent. Every high-volume powerboat segment saw increases between 5 and 10 percent.
Retail sales of cruisers, freshwater fishing boats, pontoons and towboats have recovered from early pandemic-related losses, and in July reached their highest monthly sales totals since 2007.
