Recession batters the boat industry

Despite some improvement in December 2010 sales, economic hard times swamped the boat industry for most of the year, according to the Info-Link Technologies Inc. Bellwether Report. In summer 2009, losses tracked by the report reached their worst point, with mixed or modest recovery since. Sales of powerboats 15 feet in length or above were down 14 percent for 2010 compared to the previous 12-month period. Outboard boat sales were down approximately 8 percent, stern drive/jet boats down 28 percent, personal watercraft down 13 percent, outboard sport fishing down 28 percent and ski boat sales down 25 percent. The Bellwether Report is based on new U.S. boat registrations in geographically dispersed states representing half of the U.S. boat market.