On Sep 2, 7:42*am, Tom Francis - SWSports
wrote:
On Wed, 2 Sep 2009 05:20:41 -0700 (PDT), wf3h
wrote:





On Sep 2, 8:08*am, Tom Francis - SWSports
wrote:
in between medical tests yesterday with a couple of hours to kill, so
I decided to drive over to the Nitro/Tracker dealer in Shrewsbury just
to look at boats.

Imagine my surprise when I walked into the showroom and saw....

NOT ONE BOAT!!!!

Zero, zip, nada - not one.

The GM of the place, who I've talked to before, told me that they
aren't getting their 2010 inventory until late October, early
November. *Their other brands, Trophy and Bayliner won't be arriving
until at least December. *Aluminum Trackers are also on the same
schedule.

He said, that I have no reason not to believe him, that the
manufacturers are being very careful about building inventories for
showrooms and at least with his dealership, they are going to have a
limited showroom inventory and probably spend a lot of time having
boats built to order rather than off the floor.

Heard via the grapevine last week (I forgot to mention it), the major
floor plan financier for boats is requiring higher interest and down
payments on inventory boats - so high that it's almost impossible for
smaller dealers to hold much in inventory if any at all.

I wonder if we'll get a Cash for Sinkers program for boats? *:)

Looking around at the used boat sites, it seems like the market is a
little slow there also - maybe folks are holding onto their boats a
little longer than normal. *I've been looking for a used bass boat for
a while and I normally can find deals on a regular basis - not so much
lately.

Interesting.

i actually wanted a used boat and waited until almost the end of the
season here in the NE (NJ). I got a great deal on an older
boat...seems boats are much cheaper now than they were when i bought
my first one 10 years ago.

It's interesting that a lot of the used inventory in dealerships is
almost all consignment with the occasional dealer owned boat taken on
trade. *And the consignment owners are looking for fairly big money
even for lousy boats.

I was looking at a 16' Blue Fin (the old Blue Fin aluminum) Sportster
last week - guy wanted $3,800 for it with a Force 40 two stroke. I
admit, a really clean boat - no doubt about it - kept inside, covered
and very nicely maintained - almost like I maintain my boats in fact.

Still, $3,800 for a 15 year old boat - high retail on it is only $1500
or so according to NADA.

And there are a lot more boats like that out there - high dollar with
no reason for it.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Tom, I've noticed that with Ebay. Usually there will be a low opening
bid regardless of a reserve or not, but any more it seems that people
are pricing them higher than normal with no takers. I dont' know if
they feel their boat is actually worth it or not, or if they feel they
have to have a pay-off for the bank.

BTW, the boat I consulted you about? They still have it. They've tried
to auction it off three times with no takers and won't lower the
opening bid.