US market: boom of imported boats from our continent

Data from the U.S. sailboat and charter market continue to be positive for the third year in a row, as illustrated by research “The sailing market 2014. The state of the industry” just released: production of U.S.-built boats grew by 5 percent in 2013, and the market for skippeless charter boats grew by 15.4 percent. But a boom is expected for 2014: up 36 percent. And it’s record imports: up 55 percent from 2012 among which 35 percent are multihulls.

THE MARKET FOR BOATS BUILT IN THE USA
The number of boats sold increased from 5,456 in 2012 to 5,745 in 2013, up 5 percent. The increase is concentrated in a specific segment, that of boats between 36 and 55 feet. The market value of sales increased by 18% from $411,344,444 in 2012 to $484,349,323 in 2013. The most surprising figure is for megayachts over 80 feet, which had an increase of 355%.

THE MARKET FOR “IMPORTED”
The study involved 48 importers offering sailboats from thirteen different nations, including Italy. The U.S. market absorbed 55 percent more boats over 20 feet (6 meters) from 195 sales made in 2012 to 303 in 2013. The division of sales by length range is interesting: in 2013, 101 foreign boats from 20 to 35 feet were sold; 93 boats between 36 and 45 feet; and as many as 109 over 46 feet. All these segments have positive signs compared to 2012. Multihulls over 20 feet, accounting for 35 percent of imports, stood at 105 units in 2013, 37 more than the previous year. The analysis makes a forecast for 2014 of a very positive sign, a +23% estimating a boom for foreign boats in the 20′ to 35′ range where the estimate is to go from 101 boats in 2013 to 133 in 2014.

THE MARKET FOR UNMANNED CHARTER BOATS
The research involved 58 U.S. operators and includes global market leaders. The number of rental weeks increased by 2869 compared to 2012, from 18,626 to 21,495, an increase of 15.4% concentrated mainly in the winter months(+23% with more than 1000 weeks booked). Driving the growth were destinations outside the United States particularly the Bahamas and the Caribbean, which saw a 25 percent increase. The surprising figure is that the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico account for 70 percent of the destination market with 12,301 weeks booked). The charter sector reached a value of $84.9 million in 2013, growing 30 percent over 2012.

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