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.

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.

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.


The end of September was pretty much the end of the small powerboat
season on LI Sound in Connecticut when my father was a boat dealer, and
he did everything he could do to clear out his showrooms of new boats
and motors before October, and would not accept deliveries of new boats
and motors until March, a couple of weeks before the "spring" boat shows
in New Haven and Hartford. Other than a couple of new leftovers, and
usually sold, what he had in his showrooms over the winter were used
rigs he had taken in on trade.

It seems that was a better business model than today's heavy duty
floorplanning, which really eats into profit.

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.

On Sep 2, 8:27*am, H the K wrote:
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.

The end of September was pretty much the end of the small powerboat
season on LI Sound in Connecticut when my father was a boat dealer, and
he did everything he could do to clear out his showrooms of new boats
and motors before October, and would not accept deliveries of new boats
and motors until March, a couple of weeks before the "spring" boat shows
in New Haven and Hartford. Other than a couple of new leftovers, and
usually sold, what he had in his showrooms over the winter were used
rigs he had taken in on trade.

It seems that was a better business model than today's heavy duty
floorplanning, which really eats into profit.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

interesting view of a new boat dealer...i was really debating whether
i wanted to wait until people were ready to shrink wrap and then make
a deal for a used boat...but i just bought mine about 2 weeks ago, and
the price was so low that it was hard to resist. of course i'll have
just a few weeks until the end of october to use it, but i'm really
gonna beat it to death over the next few to get my money's worth.
besides, hotel prices on the jersey shore are absolutely murder in the
summer and slip fees really pay for themselves compared to hotel
prices if you spend alot of time at the shore.

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.

On Wed, 2 Sep 2009 07:44:05 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

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.

Probably the latter. A lot of people are upside down on their boat
loans and don't have the cash to close it out cleanly.

On Wed, 2 Sep 2009 07:44:05 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

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.

I agree with Wayne - it's most likely that folks are upside down on
their boat loan and want to get out of it to break even.

When you look at relative values on boats, folks are asking much more
than they are truly worth.

Which is fine - but don't expect to sell it. If you have to short
sale and take the hit, it's better than sitting on something that's
just going to **** you off over time.

On Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:58:39 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Wed, 2 Sep 2009 07:44:05 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

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.

Probably the latter. A lot of people are upside down on their boat
loans and don't have the cash to close it out cleanly.

Totally agree with that.

On Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:59:44 -0400, Gene
wrote:

On Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:08:50 -0400, Tom Francis - SWSports penned the
following well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

|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.

As I have noted, we have local dealerships that have either lots of
boats or NO boats. The one conspicuous thing is: there are no boats
over about 21 feet.....

Dealers around here have SOME boats - mostly in the +23 foot category
so that kind of synchs with your area.