Slowing of wakeboat market?

[GMLIII]

I was at our dealers holiday party 2 weeks ago and he told me they have already sold every 210, 230 and G21 build slot they have for 2019. Couple of takeaways. I am in Dallas where two things are true. The economic opportunities are endless right now so everyone seems to have extra cash, or at least live like it, and second, Buxton is one of the top sales dealership YOY. I do find it interesting that the three lowest price point models in the lineup are sold out first. Could be a supply issue, they just have more GS and G23 slots, but also could be a little hesitation to spend such a large amount on the other models. I am a happy camper sitting in a 2018 210 that they know is always for sale if they can make the deal work for me, haha.


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I would think there would be more slots for the GS and G23 simply because there is more demand for these models vs the other models in their lineup

[SoCal G-Man]

Not seeing a slowing in the NW at all. Dealer can't get their hands on enough G's. Judging from how hard it is to get allocation, sales on Nautiques must be strong elsewhere as well.

Tallredrider - There has always been something weird about the Utah boat market. We couldn't find a G23 anywhere in the NW a couple of years ago - or even order a new one. Lot's of inventory in Utah, and prices were about $10-15k less than what we would expect to pay here on a sub 30 hour almost new loaded boat. Drove our G23 11 hours home from Draper (originally a St. George boat). Seems like you guys have a few people that like to buy a boat for a trip or two to Powell and then sell them and get a new one.

Every dealer I have met has told me that there is no allocation limit, and if a customer orders a Nautique, they will order and build it. However, there may dealers who will tell customers that to pressure a sale.

[GMLIII]

Every dealer I have met has told me that there is no allocation limit, and if a customer orders a Nautique, they will order and build it. However, there may dealers who will tell customers that to pressure a sale.

You are probably correct

[Tallredrider]

Every dealer I have met has told me that there is no allocation limit, and if a customer orders a Nautique, they will order and build it. However, there may dealers who will tell customers that to pressure a sale.

Interesting. So then is it first come, first serve? And it seems the factory is near max production capacity, so someone who decides they want a new 2019 in April, might get a 2020 in September?

[Bevostein]

I think the truth is somewhere in between. My understanding of how it works. I think Nautique pushes dealers to commit to build slots at the beginning of a model year. For high demand boats, I think there are commitments on all build slots going into a model year. However throughout the year dealers who don't have firm sales and don't want more showroom inventory will relinquish build slots thereby freeing up slots other dealers could grab. SO a dealer who is "fully allocated" can likely get another slot once another dealer lets one go.

[Wayward]

As far as I know, Nautique is one of the few companies that isn’t running at capacity..... but that is only because of a recent major expansion of the factory. They were running near max capacity prior to the completion of that major expansion. Local dealers around here aren’t indicating any difficulty getting build slots anymore. MC and Supra/Moomba is a different story. They both have several models that are sold out for ‘19 already.

[GMLIII]

As far as I know, Nautique is one of the few companies that isn’t running at capacity..... but that is only because of a recent major expansion of the factory. They were running near max capacity prior to the completion of that major expansion. Local dealers around here aren’t indicating any difficulty getting build slots anymore. MC and Supra/Moomba is a different story. They both have several models that are sold out for ‘19 already.

Wayward do you happen to know the approx annual manufacturing boat numbers for Nautique, MC, Malibu and Supra/Moomba? Not concerned about models just total boats out the door by the manufacturers. I was just curious

[Wayward]

Wayward do you happen to know the approx annual manufacturing boat numbers for Nautique, MC, Malibu and Supra/Moomba? Not concern about models just total boats out the door by the manufacturers. I was just curious

MC and Bu are pretty easy. It’s public info. They will finish out around these numbers, based on last years sales, and first quarter filings for 2019.
MC is on track for a total of about 3200-3300 2019 boats
Malibu is on track for about for about 2400 “Malibu” boats, and about 1100 “Axis” boats.

MC will also build about 2000 NauticStar boats, and Bu will build about 2200 Cobalts.

Notice anything about that?? Bu plus axis sales used to be way out in front. They aren’t anymore, and I don’t wonder why there hasn’t been any recent fancy market share graphs from Bu. MC is very close to matching sales for Malibu+Axis.

Supra/Moomba has been pretty much building them as absolutely fast as possible, and can’t keep up. Last I heard, they were pushing 1300-1400 boats per year. That is a huge increase for a company that used to only build 400-500 boats a year. That is just regurgitated info from a friend that works in sales at a Supra/moomba dealer. He had just come back from dealer meetings.

i have no idea on Nautique, but I am guessing they are up there in the 2500ish range, or more.

[GMLIII]

Didn’t realize MC and Malibu were that much larger in boat sales than Nautique but since Nautique is not publicity trade, who knows the numbers with plus 6 boat brands.

[Wayward]

Didn’t realize MC and Malibu were that much larger in boat sales than Nautique but since Nautique is not publicity trade, who knows the numbers with plus 6 boat brands.

That number I threw out on Nautique was an educated guess, based on market share data from late 2016, and an assumed guess on typical growth since then. At that time (late 2016 when the last market share data was public info), Nautique was tied with MC in market share, with the centurion and supreme production included. So, Nautique branded boats were a little less, but I don’t know how much less, because I don’t know the numbers on centurion+supreme. 500 per year maybe? I’m not sure.

[Bevostein]

As far as I know, Nautique is one of the few companies that isn’t running at capacity..... but that is only because of a recent major expansion of the factory. They were running near max capacity prior to the completion of that major expansion. Local dealers around here aren’t indicating any difficulty getting build slots anymore. MC and Supra/Moomba is a different story. They both have several models that are sold out for ‘19 already.

That might explain something. My 2019 that I ordered with a 12/13 build date is already done and at my dealer. Maybe explains how they got ahead of schedule. My dealer also said that this time of year dealers will relinquish build slots if they don’t have firm sales.

[SoCal G-Man]

Good info Wayward. Thank you.

[GMLIII]

That number I threw out on Nautique was an educated guess, based on market share data from late 2016, and an assumed guess on typical growth since then. At that time (late 2016 when the last market share data was public info), Nautique was tied with MC in market share, with the centurion and supreme production included. So, Nautique branded boats were a little less, but I don’t know how much less, because I don’t know the numbers on centurion+supreme. 500 per year maybe? I’m not sure.

Thaks good info

[GMLIII]

That might explain something. My 2019 that I ordered with a 12/13 build date is already done and at my dealer. Maybe explains how they got ahead of schedule. My dealer also said that this time of year dealers will relinquish build slots if they don’t have firm sales.

Yeah I think some of the build slots in December have some of the shortest time windows until delivery. When I received a build slot in late Dec, my boat was at my dealer by the 2nd week of Jan.

[cedarcreek216]

I would think there would be more slots for the GS and G23 simply because there is more demand for these models vs the other models in their lineup

Not if what is being discussed here in this thread is in fact true and the market is indeed slowing. I agree the slots designated for G and GS boats are certainly more plentiful, but find it ironic they are selling out of all of the lower priced models first, regardless of build slot quantities. From the sounds of this board the past couple of years, people were dead set on the 210 and 230 line being discontinued because of the success of the G line.