U.S. brokerage sales topped 3,000 boats for the fifth month in a row in August, finishing 9 percent ahead of the same month a year earlier.
Aggregate totals from YachtWorld member brokerages reporting in SoldBoats.com, their proprietary database, were 3,066 boats sold — 256 more than in August 2012 — and $312.5 million changing hands, an increase of $65.9 million.
The power and sailboat sides of the market showed growth with power up 9 percent at 2,510 boats sold and sail gaining 11 percent to 556. The increase in aggregate price came largely from powerboat sales, which rose 31 percent to $272.6 million. The price paid for sailboats increased 4 percent to $39.9 million.
Brokers for boats between 46 and 79 feet did much stronger business this August than they did a year earlier. The 46- to 55-foot segment grew by 16 percent with 168 boats sold and the total value of sales increased from $36.2 million to $50.2 million, a gain of 39 percent.
In the 56- to 79-foot range, sales were up 26 percent, from 54 boats sold to 68, and the total value increased in step, rising 25 percent to $34.5 million. Superyacht sales rose from 10 to 16 boats and they sold for $59.9 million, a hefty 139 percent increase.
Sales of boats under 26 feet rose 13 percent with 957 boats sold and the total value increased from August 2012 by 29 percent to $22.2 million. The smallest gains were made in the next size segment, boats 26 to 35 feet, which is also the highest volume part of the market. Sales of this size boat were up 3 percent to 1,183 and the total value of the sales was 2 percent lower at $60.2 million.
For 2013 through eight months, U.S. brokerage sales were 4 percent higher with 23,488 boats sold. The aggregate price paid, year to date was $2.82 billion, up 25 percent from 2012 for the same period.
A more detailed report summarizing recent U.S. brokerage sales will appear in the October issue of Soundings Trade Only.
— John Burnham
YachtWorld.com editorial director
http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/home/526632-brokerages-sales-continue-gains-in-august
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