Boat Buyers Buoy Vendors at Show-'Knock on fiberglass,' recession hasn't sunk boat sales

Maine Sunday Telegram ^ | March 15, 2009 | EDWARD D. MURPHY

[SkyPilot]

I'd love to boat in Maine, but I would want someone with me who knew what they were doing.

You're right - tricky.

[SkyPilot]

I think they are. Boating really took a double hit these last 12 months. First, fuel prices went out of sight, then the economic meltdown.

Even in super rich areas of Florida and California, people are trying to bail out of their boats. For many, it is definitely in the "extra nice to have once I pay the bills" category.

[SkyPilot]

Sounds like the kind of press I was seeing fifteen years ago for the small offset printing equipment that I used to live on. Small Mom and Pop printing operations were closing right and left but the trade magazines were running glowing articles about how the market was growing. Based on the magazines I should have been getting rich but I was watching all my customer base shut down operations.

I hear you. It kind of reminds me of the real estate threads that started popping up here on FR back in 2007. Many Freepers were warning things were about to turn nasty in the market, but Freepers who were real estate agents got pretty indignant about the conversation. In fact, it sometimes turned a bit ugly.

I can understand that. If it is your livelihood threatened, you might not want to pile on the bandwagon with bad news. But, to turn a blind eye and say everything is rose petals, when it clearly isn't; is to act as a propagandist.

[SkyPilot]

Thanks for that great post. Very interesting. Since you are a mechanic, you could get yourself the deal and take care of it. I wish I had your skill and knowledge.

Also, I agree people are now looking to get off the land and find someplace else to dwell. I believe that is a direct correlation to King Obama's disastrous reign so far.

I talked to my friend who has a Sea Ray cruiser. Not too old, I think it is a 2002. He said the same thing - never, ever buy a new boat.

We both looked at the 2009 sales brochures and DVD for one dealer, and then looked at the prices with all the options for boats. We both started laughing hysterically.

[spectre]

It's not the Cadillac, that's for sure! LOL.

sw

[SkyPilot]

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.

I don't doubt it. We had a McMansion go up in smoke in a neighborhood about 2 miles from my house.

Finally, it came out in the local paper that the owners torched it. Fire inspectors are very, very good at finding evidence of arson.