Boat registrations in October were up 1.1 percent year-over-year in the main powerboat categories, driven largely by aluminum fish and ski and wake boats, which saw increases of 4.8 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively. Personal watercraft experienced the biggest jump in unit sales across all categories.
This story by Reagan Haynes originally appeared in Trade Only Today.
Sterndrive-powered boats between 14 and 30 feet also saw a 3.6 percent boost to 228 units, according to new data released by Statistical Surveys, a Michigan firm that tracked early registration data from 30 states, representing about 58.24 percent of the market.
“It’s only [up] eight units, but it was nice to see sterndrives up,” SSI sales director Ryan Kloppe told Trade Only Today. “PWCs had a big month.”
PWC sales led growth for the total industry with a 26.6 percent increase over October 2017, with nearly 1,500 units sold.
All other categories outside of the main powerboat categories were down, including sail (minus 43.5 percent), jet boats (minus 9.1 percent), and electric boats (minus 40 percent).
Outboard-powered fiberglass boats saw another decline in October, sliding 1.3 percent to 2,440 units from 2,472 last year.