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04-27-2020, 02:01 PM
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#1
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Member
City: Danvers
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 6
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When Will Boat Prices Drop?
Buying a trawler at this time is difficult given hazards of air travell, meeting with sellers, brokers, and surveyors; and most importantly, is now the time to give over some serious cash.
What's the thinking on this forum for where the market is heading, and when?
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04-27-2020, 02:09 PM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,129
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Welcome aboard. It is a brand new experience. This is something that almost nobody has seen before. My mother will be 100 next month and even she wasn’t around when the Spanish Flu was going around. Only time will tell what will happen with boat prices.
__________________
Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.
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04-27-2020, 03:32 PM
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#3
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Valued Technical Contributor
City: Litchfield, Ct
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,775
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I think that there is no question that boat prices (and real estate) will drop over the rest of this year. My take is that the 15-20% unemployment that we are experiencing now will drop to about 10% by the end of the year and slowly go down after that. But it will probably take at least two years to return to sub 5% levels.
With less money in the hands of buyers due to unemployment, sluggish growth and unemployment holding down wage increases, there will be fewer buyers. And some of those unemployed will need to sell their boats to stay afloat so overall demand will be down and supply will be up, thus prices will drop. My guess is 10-15% by next spring.
David
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04-27-2020, 03:52 PM
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#4
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TF Site Team
City: Seneca Lake NY
Vessel Name: Bacchus
Vessel Model: MS 34 HT Trawler
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,808
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My initial thoughts were similar to others re many large recreational purchases.
I saw a video by a multi- dealer motorhome dealership across the US that presented an interesting and though provoking position. His contention is that there will be a significant shift in travel & recreation habits and that international / long distance travel & destination vacations will be largely replaced by RVs - where owners can still travel (various distances in N America) and enjoy the safety of their own travel, eating and sleeping accommodations under their own control.
Obviously, if this does happen, it won't be immediate but the current owners may not be compelled to bail out immediately either.
I'm wondering if there isn't a similar situation with boats providing an opportunity for couples and families to vacation together without risking and relying on transportation, vendors and destinations to ensure their safety at "common use" facilities.
I'm sure the market environment will certainly impact large new purchases and those underwater (pun intended) on their discretionary / recreational assets.
__________________
Don
2008 MS 34 HT Trawler
"Bacchus"
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04-27-2020, 04:45 PM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,129
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bacchus
My initial thoughts were similar to others re many large recreational purchases.
I saw a video by a multi- dealer motorhome dealership across the US that presented an interesting and though provoking position. His contention is that there will be a significant shift in travel & recreation habits and that international / long distance travel & destination vacations will be largely replaced by RVs - where owners can still travel (various distances in N America) and enjoy the safety of their own travel, eating and sleeping accommodations under their own control.
Obviously, if this does happen, it won't be immediate but the current owners may not be compelled to bail out immediately either.
I'm wondering if there isn't a similar situation with boats providing an opportunity for couples and families to vacation together without risking and relying on transportation, vendors and destinations to ensure their safety at "common use" facilities.
I'm sure the market environment will certainly impact large new purchases and those underwater (pun intended) on their discretionary / recreational assets.
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This could happen and also the fire sale on boats could happen. Only time will tell.
__________________
Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.
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04-27-2020, 05:04 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Mississippi
Vessel Name: ADAGIO
Vessel Model: CHB Present 42 Sundeck
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 919
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Here's hoping Mr. Baccus/Don is correct on this one
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04-27-2020, 05:07 PM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,129
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FoxtrotCharlie
Here's hoping Mr. Baccus/Don is correct on this one
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+1
__________________
Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.
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04-27-2020, 05:15 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Great Lakes
Vessel Model: OA 440
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 904
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The market will crash when we put our boat up for sale. So, if you can wait a couple of years...
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04-27-2020, 05:17 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
City: St Petersburg
Vessel Name: Knot Fast
Vessel Model: Great Harbour GH37
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 243
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My guess is that there will be many fire-sale boats available; I see a couple on our marina's dock now. But they are not the nicer, well maintained boats. Nice, well-maintained boats are immediately available to take their owners on a safe and fun boating adventure. Safe and fun travel adventures are presently in short supply.
I agree with Bacchus that a significant part of the destination travel spenders' have nowhere to safely go. They have money looking for alternatives. Cruising, to me, is journey travel spend - not so much about the destination. Given the few good travel alternatives, why would someone with a nice boat sell it now?
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04-27-2020, 05:18 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
City: myrtle beach
Vessel Name: Jubilee
Vessel Model: Marine Trader 36 Sundeck
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 215
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I haven't seen any price drop yet, but I sell more catamarans then power boats and that market is pretty steady. I did lose one sale due to Covid-19, but that same boat went back under contract in under a month. We're talking 200K plus range. If you happen to have a boat, be it sail or power, and that boat is in demand, you're kinda insulated when it comes to market movement. If you're holding something more run of the mill or dime a dozen, then I believe the market is going to slowly slide down and then recover.
__________________
USCG 100 Ton Captain Near Coastal
ASA Certified Instructor
Yacht Broker
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04-27-2020, 06:08 PM
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#11
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Master and Commander
City: Vallejo CA
Vessel Name: Carquinez Coot
Vessel Model: penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,559
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I've always pictured boat acquisition as an expenditure/write-off and not as an investment.
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
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04-27-2020, 06:19 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
City: Offshore
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 253
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markpierce
I've always pictured boat acquisition as an expenditure/write-off and not as an investment.
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Yes, boats are expenses, not investments. :-)
__________________
Simplicity, is the ultimate sophistication.
Leonardo Da Vinci
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04-27-2020, 06:27 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: AZZURRA
Vessel Model: Ocean Alexander 54
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,280
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Are we taking low end boats or high end boats. Higher end boats usually take longer to sell. Being on the market for a year is not uncommon. It will probably take 6 months for us just to figure out which way the market is going. Boats are selling now, coved-19 might have slowed the traffic but good boats priced right are still selling quickly. Bad boats priced poorly never have sold and still don’t
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04-27-2020, 06:36 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Nanaimo
Vessel Name: former owner of "Pilitak"
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 37
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,703
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My crystal ball says...........
As of now, all of it is speculation. I hope Bacchus is correct!
However, I fear that we are heading for some economic "bad times" and that at least for the short term we could experience a number of business bankruptcies and accompanying much higher unemployment levels, as well as some investments dropping. If that does come to pass, then I would expect real estate prices to drop and certainly things purchased with disposable income like boats to drop as well due to a lesser demand accompanied by a larger than usual supply.
One thing I do know for sure, we are in uncharted waters economically, socially, and health wise as well, and overall impacts are yet to become clear!
I also fear that we are globally headed for some much higher inflation levels due to all of the "stimulus" packages basically adding huge amounts of money into circulation. Something has to give????
Hope not!
It seems like we need to get back to work ASAP to get the economy going again, but it must be in a manner that does not increase the spread of this very contagious disease or all of our economic pain to this point could be for naught. Sounds easy doesn't it????
__________________
Tom
Nanaimo, BC
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04-27-2020, 07:23 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
City: Solomons MD.
Vessel Name: Sun Runner
Vessel Model: 1985 Mainship 34 Trawler MK III
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 488
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Probably the used boat market will get more competitive. A buyers market. Good boats will hold their value better than poorer boats. The ones that have to go, won't be getting much maintenance. I'd expect a lot more trailer size boats to come on market than trawlers.
Something else... Being retired this hasn't affected us very much. Still the same income coming in. Sure our investments have dropped but we don't live off them. Other than not making trips to town and sensible precautions not much has changed.
Wish everybody was in the same situation..
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04-27-2020, 07:28 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
City: Offshore
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 253
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Nobody really knows when these times may lower boat prices significantly. It may be a year of round two of Coronavirus and November going into the next flu season before we have enough financial impact for a surplus of used boats on the market, (which will lower their prices.)
__________________
Simplicity, is the ultimate sophistication.
Leonardo Da Vinci
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04-27-2020, 08:01 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: Oconto, WI
Vessel Name: Best Alternative
Vessel Model: 36 Albin Aft Cabin
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,145
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Like the old adage goes. "Significant price drop Tomorrow, Free beer tomorrow also"
Seriously, I think it is starting to happen right now and I also think it will be steeper than Baccus anticipates.
pete
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04-27-2020, 09:24 PM
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#18
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Moderator Emeritus
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,263
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My opinion the more expensive the boat, the least it might be affected by the pandemic.
Generally speaking, if you can afford a few hundred thousand or more for a boat, you are well off enough that this is not going to be a big deal in the overall scheme of things. You are probably not a single income source dependant person.
Also many larger boats are owned by retired folks, and their income hasn’t been affected.
Yes there will be for examples where I’m wrong, like an airlines pilot, but in general I think higher net worth folks are not as affected.
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04-27-2020, 10:00 PM
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#19
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Veteran Member
City: Wildwood NJ
Vessel Name: Lit'l Bee
Vessel Model: Mainship 350 Trawler
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Northend
Buying a trawler at this time is difficult given hazards of air travell, meeting with sellers, brokers, and surveyors; and most importantly, is now the time to give over some serious cash.
What's the thinking on this forum for where the market is heading, and when?
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I doubt you’ll see much changes in this market sector.
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04-29-2020, 09:26 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
City: Detroit
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 268
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Boat prices were already dropping in a very good economy.
I don't think it is as much a matter of the economic downturn that is going to be caused by Covid-19, but that the younger generations are simply not interested in boating at the rate that they once were. There will be a shortage of buyers for larger boats. The younger people are buying center consoles, pontoons, and jet skis. No or low maintenance, a quick booze cruise and tie it up and go home. If you ask any person under the age of 35 "where is the starter on the engine?" I would guess 1 in 10 could answer the question. I agree that the really high end boats will hold value better because there are so few of them. You can buy a 42 Bertram for $40,000 with 800 hour Detroits in it. Six years ago it was $125,000 and 10 years ago it was $175,000. Granted this is one boat model, but I think it says much of where things are headed. Most of the younger kids also don't like the idea of pumping the carbon of two big diesels or big block gassers into the environment. At the current rate of carbon increase we are all going to need a boat sooner than we think. Many of the marinas in my area are closed due to high water. Big shortage of wells.
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