Is it a "buyers" or "Sellers" market for yachts?

Question

For Boats over 40' is it getting harder to sell a boat?

Answer 1

dont know why youd ask me , i dont like the water.

Answer 2

Why don't you know about Boat Trader and Boat Trader Online?... If you have the money to buy a 40 + foot boat, you should know about the best site for finding them.

There are more boats for sale today than I have seen at this time of the year... EVER... but the really nice, luxury boats are just as expensive as ever... it's the boats in the 30 to 35 foot range that are dropping in value... There are some very good values out there in that size range.

Answer 3

There are many more boats for sale than there are buyers.  That makes it a buyers market.

Answer 4

Both and Neither, Depending on which side of the market you are speaking of.  The yacht market has many sides.  The 40 to 70 foot market has remained steady increasing only about 6 to 8% over 2006.  The over 70 foot market in 2007 finished 20% over 2006 numbers.  The smaller boat market 20 to 40 foot and under 100K USD has taken only a small dip in sales (About 12 to 15%).  Oddly enougn the 20 to 30 foot under 20K has spiked in the last 7 months.  I haven't been able to keep enough inventory in this market to cover the need.  We had 14 buyers vying for the same $10,000 19 foot sailboat.  We listed a 28 Cape Dory on January 5 and had an offer in hand January 12 and it closed the 1st of February.  The boat market is NOT affected by the Housing market.  After all a 20 year old boat is not going to depreciate any more.  It doesn't continue to go down in value until nothing is left.  A good example is a 1973-1979 Bertram 46.  Even in 1983 you could buy one for 150K.  That same boat today is, You Guessed it, about 150K.  Ten years ago you could buy a 1966 41 Hatteras in great condition for about 55K.  Today 55K would still buy you a mid 60's 41 Hatteras.  There is no correlation between the two markets.  As for a "buyers" or a "sellers" market.  I could make the argument for both.  It is a "buyers" market because there is alot of inventory on the market as people get financially scared and want that luxury item off of their hands.  There is also a lot of cheap money available if you wish to finance a boat.  It is also a "seller's" market with all the cheap money available, the amazing amount of overseas buyers, and depending on the kind of boat you have to sell.  Bayliner express cruisers, very popular in Sweden,  in the 24K range won't last long.  Any inexpensive sailboat 19 to 35 feet long and under 20K won't last long either.  Decent center consoles under 15K won't last long when advertised properly.  I have been a professional Licensed Yacht Broker for many years now and I have been through similar market swings but I have noticed that folks still want to have fun and will spend money in order to have that fun.  Another thing to consider in the seller's market side is that  right now the Pound is very strong against the dollar.  A 20K USD boat only costs someone from England about 9500 Pounds.  The Shipping is only about $6,600 USD or 3,150 Pounds (As I remember the last boat we shipped).  It makes financial sense for someone from England, Scotland, Norway, or Sweden to buy an American vessel.  He can then keep the boat for a few years and sell it for what he put into it, (Maybe a little more)  I know this was a long answer but I wanted to completely explain the "Real Situation" from someone who is a professional in the field.  I know this answers your question.

Answer 5

If you can afford a yacht does it really matter??

Answer 6

Even 35ft catamarans here in OZ  are becoming cheaper, as the owners put on one h**l of a price tag, but end up not being able to get it, therefore they slowly drop the price until a buyer is got. I must admit some are over the top with their price, especially one with single outboard motor which are very lacking when it comes to manoeuvring the yacht. So yes its a buyers market, but hang on and don't pay ridiculous prices. We got our 35ft Catamaran with twin diesels for $160,000 and it was originally priced over the $200,000 mark.

Answer 7

Putting aside weird deductive reasoning from a broker.

It is clearly a buyers market. Nobody is lining up to pay inflated prices...period.