Sales of powerboats in the main segments grew 6.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 in all 50 states, and 5.2 percent in 2017, according to new data released by Statistical Surveys Inc. today.
This story by Reagan Haynes originally appeared in Trade Only Today.
There were 273,251 total units sold on a 12-month rolling basis in 2017, with 179,859 in the main powerboat segments including pontoon, aluminum fish, outboard-powered fiberglass boats, sterndrive and inboard fiberglass boats, yachts, cruisers and tow boats.
“This is our strongest year since 2008 with unit counts,” when 279,692 vessels were sold, SSI sales director Ryan Kloppe told Trade Only Today. “The industry touted early last year it thought it would grow 4 to 6 percent, and we’re right in that alleyway. It’s a good strong closing quarter.”
The pontoon segment continued its upward sales trajectory with year-over-year growth of 14.3 percent in the fourth quarter and 7.8 percent growth for the year in 2017.
The ski and wake segment saw 15.9 percent growth in the quarter and a 7.1 increase for the year on a year-over-year basis, the data showed.
Outboard-powered fiberglass boats had 5.8 percent growth in the fourth quarter and a 6 percent increase for the year.