Posted on 03/15/2009 4:37:56 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
PORTLAND — There may be financial turbulence outside, but inside the Cumberland County Civic Center on Saturday, it was smooth sailing.
Boat sales are holding up despite the ups and downs of the stock market, according to Sean Brogan, a salesman for Port Harbor Marine who was one of his company's representatives at the Maine Boat Show, which wraps up a four-day run today.
"People that are coming out aren't talking about a recession, they're talking about boating," Brogan said, noting that he sealed one deal as soon as the doors opened at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Brogan said the foot traffic at the show seemed down this year, but many of the visitors are there for more than just a look at the latest in fishing boats, pontoon boats and yachts.
"They're serious buyers, rather than people just coming to kick the tires," he said.
Brogan said Port Harbor Marine has had a busy spring. He said the company sent several salespeople and boats to the Boston boat show recently, which usually yields a handful of sales. This time, he said, they came back with 18 orders.
The key, Brogan said, is that a lot of Mainers are avid boaters who aren't going to let news about financial crises, bankruptcies and rising foreclosures keep them from getting out on the water during the state's brief summers.
"People that are out there to boat and recreate are still going to do it," he said. "They're going to do it regardless of a recession or the price of fuel."
Steve Arnold, owner of Yarmouth Boat Yard, agreed.
"People want to go boating. They are going to go boating," Arnold said. "The sun's going to come up tomorrow."
Arnold admitted that his outlook wasn't very bright just a few months ago, when he forecast that his sales would drop by 30 percent this year.
Instead, sales are up about 10 percent, he said, "knock on fiberglass," tapping the hull of the largest boat he had at the show: a 35-foot, $350,000 Prowler outfitted with twin V-8 outboards.
It was sold before the show, Arnold said.
Jim Boyle admitted he's not likely to add to Arnold's bottom line anytime soon.
Boyle, who was at the show with his son, Jared, said this isn't the time for someone who's in real estate to sink thousands into a boat.
"If it turns around, maybe next year," he said.
Still, the idea of selling his own house and moving onto a boat had some appeal, Boyle said, until he thought about what it would do to his business if others followed his example.
"I've got to start selling the water," he said.
Nearby, Steve and Megan VanRensselaer were checking out the latest models with their daughter Ashley, 5, but admitted they weren't in the market for what was parked on the floor of the Civic Center.
Steve VanRensselaer said it's nice to look at the new boats, but if the family decides to buy something, it's likely to be an older model.
"I don't know if any time is a good time to buy a boat, but the prices for used boats are attractive," he said as Ashley scampered around an $28,000 outboard.
Besides, thinking about boating made for a nice diversion from the still-frigid weather outside, VanRensselaer added.
"It's nice just to get out and do something other than shovel snow," he said.
What? Sea Ray and Bayliners are all over the marinas here on the Jersey coast.
The Atlantic Ocean must be a pretty big lake.
Even taking those dealers as a moot point and a throw away - boats sales are way down and financing is almost impossible these days. Pick your dealer or manufacturer.
Things are not good for the industry, and they guy who wrote this article sounded like a cheerleader with a stake in the game - not an objective or realistic source.
0bama hears about this and I imagine some huge luxury taxes coming.
This article is pure bunk. Many of the brokers in our area (southern California) are going out of the business. I talked to a broker who said he hadn’t sold a boat in 4 months.
Many dealers in both commodities were in modest facilities 20 years ago, but they built new digs that were often pretentious to the point of absurdity, and then they inventoried up to the gills (so to speak). A lot of them are now frantic, and they can't whistle past the graveyard as loudly as this article does.
Mr. niteowl77
I was looking for a project boat last year, something over 35’ down in Florida that I could live on during the winter months, of course it would stay there year round as my home and work is in Alaska.Something cheap that needs TLC, I can do it all, engines, fiberglass, whatever.
I found a 1968 41’ Hatteras C or convertible model, the owner was asking $25k for it, owner financed zero interest and the down was negotiable. It was in need of interior finish work, the original Detroit Diesels were replaced with smaller Perkins engines so it had great fuel economy, however I was unable to fly down at the time to check it out and it was sold.
Last week I was again cruising Craigslist and I see it was re-listed, the new buyers are now asking $10k OBO.
And recently a very well kept 58’ Hatteras YF was on Ebay for $75K, its worth twice if not triple that easily. A friend of mine that is willing to take almost any offer and I mean literally no down and just a monthly payment is willing to sell me his 58’ Hatteras TC, its in Tennessee but needs some extensive starboard engine work, and thats not cheap as its a 12V71 Detroit, I know because I am a diesel mechanic. That would be the boat for me, I’m not interested in sailing around the world.
There are deals every day for yachts worth $300k selling for less than one third, problem is that these are also 20-39 year old boats. Most are well kept and are dependable cruisers though its the insurance thats almost prohibitively expensive now.And renting dock space requires insurance.
There is no way I would ever be able to afford a new boat, unless its a canoe, even most small fishing boats are overpriced and as far as a retirement type of liveaboard the new ones are over a million.
And liveaboard is being phased out across Florida slowly, marinas are being converted to condos, on several forums I frequent the trend now is to get a trawler type of boat or sail power, something thats less dependent on fuel, and always is the talk about getting completely free from land, laws and politics.Solar and wind energy systems are the fad.
People are getting ready to leave the US, If I were to do anything I might get an old woodie Cris Craft or a Pacemaker over 30’ or so and hide out in the Sacramento Delta in CA, its literally possible to live on the water there year round and nobody would bother you, I grew up there in the mid 60’s, hundreds of miles of inland waterways, canals and sloughs. I could have bought again just recently a 33’ Cris Craft that the owner could not support for $500. The deals are out there if you are in the right place and the right time, many times I have even seen free boat listings. Then again my dreams have all been dashed to pieces with CA imploding. My choice appears to be dim, I might consider Hawaii now, several times I have seen these desperation sales, people not making income to support the boat, the boat has to go.
But buy a new boat? NO WAY
You had mentioned 20-30 year old boats. At what time was wood pretty much gone, and fiberglass took over? I had a little Glaspar that was made in the '70's. My friend had a 50' Bristol made about then.
LOL! Perfect!
It ain't just the price of the boat. There are loads of other expenses that go along with it. Boating is expensive--period. That said, it's great family recreation if you can afford it and don't mind the maintenance-intensive aspect of it.
Boating is our primary form of recreation and most of our friends are boaters. We're always looking for the next boat...mostly looking.
A small woody I might consider but it would have to have a good history of maintenance, many boat lifts won’t pick up a big one say 55’ unless its been surveyed recently.
Fiberglass is my choice because if built right will last near forever, Hatteras boats are well known for the thickness of their fiberglass hulls, they have had some blistering of certain year models, my friends constantly complain about the cheapness factor of the new boats, thin hulls, poorly designed stringers and from the bottom up are not better built than an average RV as far as wiring.
Not that I’m saying that real quality boats are not out there, the good quality ones are priced so far above what an average person can afford its unreal. Those big boats are for those that have the big money, just fuel alone is hundreds of dollars an hour.
My dreams of a boat that I can enjoy by both working on and cruising in warm waters must wait awhile, perhaps as soon as we get a new tenant in the Whitehouse then everything will settle down, currently half the world is taunting the US and I’m afraid my favorite Florida playground may become a battleground.
Being a diesel mechanic, what's your opinion of the Cummins 450 Diamond series engine?
I’m not familiar with that one, I have a fleet of OTR tractors and concrete mixers, most use Cummins ISM, L10 and the 400 Big Cams, I have great respect for the 3406 Caterpillars and the newer C series. The only flaw I have seen and heard about the new diesels on the market is that they are maxed out horsepower wise and they are having a shorter period between overhauls. I would say if want the scoop on that engine try out some of the yachting forums.
I heard an interesting interview from a guy who specializes in big ship recoveries and insurance fraud. He expects more boats to disappear, burn, scuttle, or be stolen. Many of the owners can no longer afford the operational costs and can't sell them.
No doubt you’ve heard of the next emission control strategy for diesels; urea injection into the exhaust and particulate filters. Wonder what this will add to the tab ?
You nailed it, boats are expensive to maintain and care for.
Break Out Another Thousand.....BOAT
We have owned a 40 ft sailboat for about 10 yrs and I could not even begin to tell you the money we have sunk into it. Water destroys......period.
What are the two happiest days in a boat-owners life?
1. The day he buys the boat.
2. The day he gets rid of the boat.
If I had to live under some clean air ruling then I would get a refilter system like they use on underground diesel units.
However that would be the least of my worries, I love the diesel for the multiple types of fuel you can run in it, ideally I would go for some bio diesel blends I could get cheaply at my own shore base, have a boat like a trawler or a cat with a pair of Perkins.
Hopefully technology will advance sometime soon to the point where we can use more electric, like a hybrid car in boats, or a fuel cell. If I knew anything about sailing then my path would take a different tack, and it might just go that way. Then all I would need is a small engine for maneuvering. Several things in the last couple of years has hit boaters hard is one the increased amount of ethanol in gas, it does not agree with older fiberglass fuel tanks, it most definitely does not store well in high humidity as it soaks up moisture and of course the sky high cost of fuel.
I’m expecting more people that live near water may leave their homes and become more gypsy like in the near future, too much property tax, highway tax, its going to make people walk away from a lot of things.
Thanks for responding. One of the best forums is boatdiesel.com by the way. The newer generation of diesels with common rail systems sound really nice but you’re absolutely right about squeezing too many HP out of an engine. It shortens the life. I currently have 310 HP 454 ci gassers; bullet proof engines but a bit on the thirsty side.
“YOU’RE NOT GIVING AWAY OUR WATER PIK!!!!!”
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