Are The Good Times On Their way Back?

Positive movement in the financial markets suggests the time may be right for boat buying.

We’re on the cusp of an economic recovery. This means prices are still at downturn levels while the lack of buying over the last year or so has many boatyards bursting at the seams. There was no Cash for Clunkers Program for the boating industry.

As the bottom approaches, there are signs people are starting to buy luxury items again. The four-day Seattle Boat Show earlier this month attracted more than 7,000 people to Shilshole Bay Marina, far exceeding attendance expectations for the event. And people were actually buying.

The weak U.S. dollar has made the larger luxury boats more affordable for overseas clients. With the Euro trading at about twice the rate of the dollar, for example, there is great value to be had in the foreign purchase of yachts from American brokers.

And the experts are saying the prices are right now, but next year it might be a different story.