Boat Sales Are Slumping

[SANonTellico]

I live near the Master Craft factory and last week the local news reported that they laid off a large part of their workforce and reduced daily production from 20 boats to 10 boats. This week I received an email from Nautique saying:
“With thousands in savings, now is the best time to purchase the Nautique of your dreams! Now through July 31st, contact your local dealer to inquire about in-stock 2023 Nautiques available for purchase.”
Throughout Covid the manufacturers couldn’t build boats fast enough, now there seems to be surplus inventory.
Looks like this could be a good time to get a good deal on a new Nautique!
Of course, if you have to finance it…..good luck with those interest rates!

[Waveslayer]

Watched the news on MC. Seems like people are discounting more and more... not a good sign.

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[bturner]

All 3 of the top inboard dealers are having special events and had holiday sales up in my area. If I were in the market I would wait until September/October to make my deal. Not many dealers actually own their stock so they'll be making payments on them after the season ends which will make them more open to offering a better deal.

I've noticed the used market seems to be really slowing as well. Lots of boats with lowered pricing on FBMP and tons of inventory on Only Inboards. What goes up eventually comes down.

I'm looking for a ski and will be making my deal either this fall if I go used or at the boat show in the spring if I go new. The local ski dealers have been advertising "blow out" sales since June. This typically doesn't happen until August/September. I'm sure they'll be plenty of 23 model year skis at the show next year.

[bionaraq]

Last year the pricing pushed me into my Sport 216. I really wanted a 200 open bow but just could not stomache the 70k pricing people were putting on them. That and the tower seemed to be a really rare option. Now i'm seeing 40's to 60's for the same boats.

Oh well, i've got a paid off 216 that does 90% of what those boats do. i'll bide my time and see how the family sport changes over the next few years.

[Scooter G]

All 3 of the top inboard dealers are having special events and had holiday sales up in my area. If I were in the market I would wait until September/October to make my deal. Not many dealers actually own their stock so they'll be making payments on them after the season ends which will make them more open to offering a better deal.

Good start of a thread SANonTellico.
I get emails everyday from boat trader and only inboards watching the used inventory start to dump out on price. Good news, bad news, means we spend less but sell for less. I've watched my G drop $10 to $15k in value from purchase 18 months ago. I thought this would of happened sooner, but I'm with Turner on timing. I have a boat dealer (pontoon & fishing) in one of my commercial rentals, I know the "financing the inventory floor" song. When dealers start paying interest out of their own pockets it's a large nut to crack, and they start making deals. Anyone need a pontoon boat? lol.
We might be a 2 boat Family come September and hold over until the Spring to unload one. I tyically buy in January, but won't ever buy a boat again without a test drive.
Might look new, might hang on and see where this goes...

[mgs917]

I can't see why sales would slow; rising interest rates, MSRP continue to jump multiple times a year, used boat market has increased volume. /S

There is a 2023 S23 on onlyinboards for 220,000. That blows my mind. That boat was released in MY2022 for 154,000 MSRP. I was trying to buy one and tracked the almost monthly jump in prices. Too bad the dealer didn't take my offers seriously. I really liked the boat when I demo'd it, but I think Nautique priced it too high when you compare features to the G. You get way more features and boat if you buy a 1-2 year old G vs a new S. You could still get a few years of warranty as well.

Overall, with the high interest rates and ever increasing prices I see new sales slowing over all brands. And, watching the used market closely it seems resale prices are starting to slide as well.

[charlesml3]

There is a 2023 S23 on onlyinboards for 220,000. That blows my mind. That boat was released in MY2022 for 154,000 MSRP.

The pricing on the S23 has never made sense to me. It was supposed to replace the 230 but it was $100,000 more. I just don't see it.