Traditional powerboat shipments, including outboard, sterndrive and inboard boats, declined 13 percent on a year-to-date basis through October 2007 in terms of unit volume and 11 percent in terms of wholesale dollars, according to the October Monthly Shipment Report (MSR) released by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).
Advanced data available through December 2007 indicates last year ended with traditional powerboat unit shipments down 14 percent and dollar shipments down 9 percent, which NMMA president Thom Dammrich says wasn’t unexpected.
“It’s already been widely reported that our industry experienced double-digit declines in 2007,” Dammrich explains. “However, despite the fact we’re currently staring down what looks to be another challenging year in 2008, there is light at the end of the tunnel; the recent Fed funds rate cut should particularly help, as consumers establish more of a financial foothold and regain confidence in their financial well being.”
NMMA’s MSR tracks manufacturers’ shipments to dealers for both boats and outboard engines using a control group of boat and engine manufacturers. The 2007 boat control group represents about 77 percent of the overall boat marketplace, while the outboard engine control group represents approximately 95 percent of the market.
For more information about NMMA’s October 2007 MSR or to subscribe to the monthly reports, contact NMMA market research manager Vicky Yu at (312) 946-6261; [email protected].
National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters in the United States. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy, market research and data, product quality assurance and marketing communications.By: Lindsey Savin Johnson
