Miami boat show: After two poor years, sales prospects looking up
(In past years, a couple of the high end boat shows have been good venues for selling high end real estate…. It will be interesting to see how this years’ show goes… bc)
Boat dealers always say they’re optimistic before a big boat show. And after two years of the worst new boat sales in recent history, this year that eternal optimism may be better founded.
The 69th Annual Miami International Boat Show & Strictly Sail Miami, which offers a dizzying range of power boats, sailboats, motors, electronic equipment and accessories, runs Feb. 11-15. Show organizers and dealers alike believe that, despite the weak economy, buyers are ready to come back to the market thanks to pent-up demand for new watercraft, heavy discounts on boats and equipment and an uptick in sales at boat shows held in recent months.
“People were waiting in line to look at boats at the New York show,’” said Rick Levy, general sales manager for SunDance Marine, a South Florida dealership that sells Regal, Silverton and Formula boats as well as other lines, and plans to have more than 25 boats at the Miami show.
The New York City show, which was held Jan. 20-24, is viewed as a kickoff to the larger Miami event.
“People in South Florida live here for outside activities and sun and fun, and there will be buyers,” Levy said. “Pricing is never going to be better than now.”
Retail sales of new boats were off about 30 percent nationwide last year, said Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the Chicago-based trade group that organizes the Miami event and other boat shows throughout the United States and Canada.
via Miami boat show: After two poor years, sales prospects looking up – South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com.