Interesting numbers about small boat sales

Similar article in an earlier thread:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/02/style/boat-sales-summer.html

Locally, there's also been an increase in sales:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/brit...ng-sales-amid-covid-19-restrictions-1.5593838

Anecdotally, there's an increase in the sales of crappy anchor out boats on Craigslist. 5 or 6 of the boats that are always around False Creek and Kits Point - evading the anchoring restrictions - have sold in the past couple months.

I haven't seen them, but apparently there are 2 or 3 new PWC rental places, so if the weather improves I'm sure those will be out causing havoc on the bay.

I'm sure they'll appreciate your wake to play in though. lol. "62 percent of boaters have an annual household income of $100,000 or less.
With the retail price of a new aluminum boat package averaging $36,000, and new 3-passenger personal watercraft (PWC) averaging $12,000"
As our waterways become more crowded at the same time our health and lives depend on maintaining distance PWC seem like a smart and affordable option. Could even be the future of small boat boating. More thrilling, versatile and affordable than bigger boats. Also easier to take care of an 8' toy in your yard than a 36' money pit in a marina. You also don't have to work as long and hard to afford them, which people are starting to see the value in after spending more time with their families during the pandemic. When I was growing up most people in my area had prams and 12'-16' boats. There were a few rich guys with 35'ers and a couple of 45'ers. Quite frankly small boats are more fun. One of my best memories was running my friend's 9' hydroplane doing about 45mph. Felt like 400mph in that little boat. So yeah, I could see the market go back to smaller boats and especially PWC. It's an easier market for manufacturers to gear up for and keep up with too.

Not what we all thought a few months ago. A broker recently told me small boat sales were red hot, they are everywhere. Agree on the PWC's, rentals come in coveys of 6 t0 15 and generally oblivious of no-wake zones or rules of the road.

I've been amazed at how few late model, big -- 35' to 42' -- center consoles are for sale on Yachtworld right now. Any priced attractively are "pending" or the listings have been removed. A yacht broker friend said high-quality, recent motor yacht listings are selling briskly as well.

People on the fence about buying a boat, now realized that their cruise ship and airline flight vacations have vanished for the forseeable next year. They realized a boat is the perfect way to have fun and social distance with your family, so they've taken the plunge and bought a boat. Here in Fort Lauderdale, the ICW on weekdays is as busy as it usually is on weekends. On weekends (this is our slower season) it looks like it does on major holidays. Tons of boats out there. Also fuel is cheap right now.

Same with the used motoryachts. I've heard there's a super long wait on new ones due to factories being shut down etc. etc., so more people want them now and are buying used in the meantime. Sportfish seem to be lagging and dealers of one top manufacturer seems to be trying to unload them at any cost as there's a lot of them in stock and less demand.