Has Superstorm Sandy ended the "Buyers Market"?

Well, the production of new boats has been very very low since 2009, so the used market is also fewer as there are very few 2009-2011 used yachts around. A lot of the used boats have also been bought by out of the country buyers, so I would agree that there are fewer used inventory. But there are still deals to be had at least down here in Florida.

I suspect that after the first of the year, there will be NY and NJ buyers coming into the used boat market having finally settled with their insurance carriers. Being a broker here on the Chesapeake - I'm looking forward to those buyers showing up here to look at our "low salt" upper Chesapeake Bay inventory, many of which are shed kept and in beautiful condition. It's still a buyers market as the low asking prices have, by now become the new normal.

Why look at it that way. Take the boat back from FL on the ICW, take your time, and even leave it for a week here and there. It is a beautiful trip and will be the trip of your lifetime, that you'll probably never have another reason to do again...... Just make sure it's with diesels.....LOL

I've been saying just this for the last five years. Also factor in that some of the boat owners who lost their boats with notes to the storm may no longer be credit worthy enough to get a new loan to fund a new purchase.

Do we have numbers of losses yet. From all the press reports and photos of marinas devastated I would have thought that there will be a bonanza once the insurers pay up for:

1) New boat sales - hopefully the Us manufactures can gear up to avoided these all being imports.

2) Brokerage market with what few boats still left

3) Scavanger market for people looking for buying up insurance write offs


Sad to say, but could be the best news for the US recreational boating trade for the next ten years or so.

Unfortunately I think ppl who lost boats often also lost many other things so maybe they will be focusing their finances and spirits elsewhere? I hope joyful is correct in his assumption however...

79OceanSS,

How bad did Wildwood get hit by Sandy? Back in the 50's and 60's my family used to vacation there every year. My grandparents had a summer place about four blocks from the north end of the Boardwalk. I think it was on 14th Ave.

By the way, do you remember the Pink Flamingo? It was a converted PT boat that did cruises up and down the Wildwood coast. You could hear that boat from a long ways off and it sounded really cool.

Thanks for the update. I'm glad most of it came out OK.