Boat sales have grown steadily since last year due to the pandemic, as a large number of people with more flexible work environments opted for this lifestyle that allowed them to spend more time enjoying nature and the outdoors.
Vessel sales have not stopped growing due to the pandemic
There is no doubt that sales of pleasure boats and nautical services have grown across the country, leaving most ports on the Costa Brava and the Balearic Islands saturated this summer with long waiting lists for moorings.
The reality is that, with the arrival of the pandemic in 2020, all industry players expected a slowdown in 2021 and were bracing for tough times ahead as the pandemic dampened the economy.
Manufacturers have expanded production capacity
What no one expected was that dealers would struggle to hold inventory and manufacturers would eventually expand production capacity to meet demand.
Waiting times for buyers have gone from a few weeks to several months. Additionally, new buyers are entering the market in greater numbers, a sign that this growth has staying power.
As new fans join the market, there is a domino effect where friends and family are also joining this new craze. In addition, new work-from-home arrangements allow for greater flexibility to carry out activities from wherever and whenever you want. Thus, with the entry of this new segment of buyers, it is considered that a bright future awaits the nautical sector.
In the case of Catalonia, since last summer, the number of purchases and rentals of recreational boats has not stopped increasing. Going out on a boat has become the perfect escape route during this pandemic. That is why, this summer, the ports of the Costa Brava and the Balearic Islands have been saturated and have had to hang the full house sign and open waiting lists, something that has not happened for the last 10 years!
On the other hand, in addition to chartering, there has also been an increase in consumer interest in boat membership programmes such as SailTime Barcelona which appeals to those who do not want to fully commit to buying a boat. This allows them to book their boat whenever they want and sail for a convenient monthly fee that is tailored to the consumer’s needs, paying only for what they sail.
Most shipyards have become saturated
With all this growth in demand for recreational boats, many dealers have found themselves saturated and with limited resources to expand their production capacity.
Industry experts believe that it will be at least two to three years before boatbuilders will be able to fully supply their dealers. Indeed, shipyards are still backlogging orders for this year. Before the pandemic, the average waiting time to get a boat was four to six weeks. Now, the average customer can take up to eight months to receive his boat.
Most shipyards are ramping up production against the tide, not only to meet dealer demand, but also to supply new stocks and fill those that have been depleted.
