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 U.S. Sailboat Brokerage Market : Summer Sales Slip, But Still Ahead for 2010 Throughout the first half of 2010, the U.S. sailboat brokerage market recorded gains in both unit sales and sales valuation compared to the same month a year earlier. However, sales results from July to September, as reported by yacht brokerage members of YachtWorld.com, reversed that trend. Unit sales dropped 8 percent from 1586 boats sold in those months in 2009, to 1459 boats in the same months in 2010. Sales valuation also slipped from $111 million to $101 million. Sales were fairly flat compared to 2009 in both July and August, but fell markedly in September, particularly among boats 26 to 35 feet long and also among boats 46 to 55 feet long. In both those categories, sales had been slightly ahead earlier in the summer, but ended the quarter down from 798 boats to 757 and from 75 boats to 72 boats, respectively. Total valuation of sales fluctuated during the summer months compared to the summer of 2009—down $5 million in July, up $5 million in August, down $10 million in September. Although units sold were relatively stable, the most volatile category for valuation was the 36 to 45-footers, which were on a bit of a roller coaster and ended down nearly $6 million in September. Compared to the overall brokerage market, the 8 percent drop in sailboat sales was more than twice the combined power-and-sail market, which fell from 8350 boats to 8042, or 3.6 percent. The 9 percent drop in total valuation of sailboat sales also compared unfavorably to the 2.5 percent decrease for the overall market from $761 million to $742 million Until September, sailboat sales were on par with the overall market, well ahead of 2009. They are still well ahead with September’s results included, but the overall market is up 11.3 percent in unit sales, while sail’s portion is up just 10 percent. In valuation, the overall market is ahead by 17.4 percent; sailboat sales are up 15.7 percent. —John Burnham, Editorial Director, YachtWorld.com Sail America has teamed up with YachtWorld.com to provide a report of sailboat brokerage sales. Each month Sail America will distribute a report of the previous month’s activity and annual trends. For further information contact John Burnham at jburnham@yachtworld.com or Jonathan Banks at jbanks@sailamerica.com.
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