Boat sales power ahead

  • By Bryan Corliss / Herald Writer
  • Sunday, September 12, 2004 9:00pm
  • Business

For Nelson Swartz of Camano Island, this was the year.

The 26-foot Regal powerboat he and his wife had purchased was too small for comfortable cruising with the whole family on board, so this year they upgraded, buying a 32-foot diesel-powered Nordic Tug.

“We just wanted something we could take the kids out in and be comfortable,” he said, talking on his cellphone while anchored in Victoria, B.C.’s harbor last week.

The Swartzes aren’t alone in cruising in new boats this year.

Statewide, the number of boats sold during the second quarter of this year increased 7 percent over 2003, while the dollar value of those boats jumped 18 percent, the Northwest Marine Trade Association reports.

That reflects the national trend. The National Marine Manufacturers Association reported manufacturers delivered 8.8 percent more boats to dealers in June compared to last year, and the dollar value of those deliveries rose 18.5 percent.

Locally, boat dealers in Snohomish and Island counties saw healthy increases in the period April through June, according to the Northwest trade group. Snohomish County dealers sold 361 new boats, a 12 percent jump over the second quarter of 2003.

Total sales – new and used boats sold by dealers and private parties – were up 7.3 percent, for a total of 2,301, the association said.

And in Island County, total sales increased 25 percent, to 368.

“It’s just people coming in writing checks,” said Kalee Craig, a service writer at Performance Marine in Everett. “We can’t explain it.”

On a state and national level, observers point to two factors: low interest rates through most of the summer and a slowly improving economy.

That played a part in the increased sales locally, said Kirk Benson, manager of Olympic Boat Centers’ Everett store.

“Boeing not announcing every day that they’re laying people off is a big factor,” Benson said. “People are feeling a bit more comfortable that they’re going to have a job.”

And unseasonably good weather in the early spring – which continued through the summer – also played a part, by getting Puget Sound residents thinking about getting out on the water, said Dan Hatch, co-owner of Bayside Marine in Everett. “That’s always a big factor.”

Add the two together, and Washington residents spent nearly $35.7 million on new and used boats from April through June, the Northwest Marine Trade Association said.

Sales were up in all categories of powerboats, according to the association’s figures. The most popular were what the industry calls an entry-level boat – 15-foot to 18-foot fiberglass hulled boats with outboard motors. New, those sell for around $11,000 at Olympic, Benson said. Used, they can go for as little as $3,000, Hatch said.

Washington residents bought 926 of them in the second quarter, a 25 percent increase. The next best selling segment? The next biggest segment of boats – 19- to 22-footers. Sales there totaled 916 boats, an increase of 21 percent.

But the biggest percentage gains came among the bigger boats, the statistics show. Sales of 35- to 38-footers were up 77 percent, to 13. Sales in the 39- to 42-foot category were up 60 percent, to 10 purchases.

Sailboats made up about 1 percent of total boat sales statewide, but even though only 35 were sold, that was still a healthy increase over the 20 sold in the second quarter of 2003, the marine trade association reported.

Sailing is the only way to go – in the Caribbean, Swartz said.

“We’d been sailors for years and years, and we were tired of being cold,” he said. And on Puget Sound, it seems, “there’s never any wind going the direction you’re going.”

That’s what eventually persuaded them to buy a “stinkboat,” he said.

But the new Nordic Tug, which is built in Skagit County, reminds them of a sailboat, he said.

“It has that feel – lots of wood on the inside,” Swartz said. And “it’s not real fast. It doesn’t go more than 10 or 15 knots.”

Reporter Bryan Corliss: 425-339-3454 or corliss@heraldnet.com.

Herald file photo

Strong sales at March’s Everett Boat Show carried over into the summer, according to industry reports.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

A closing sign hangs above the entrance of the Big Lots at Evergreen and Madison on Monday, July 22, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Big Lots announces it will shutter Everett and Lynnwood stores

The Marysville store will remain open for now. The retailer reported declining sales in the first quarter of the year.

George Montemor poses for a photo in front of his office in Lynnwood, Washington on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Despite high mortgage rates, Snohomish County home market still competitive

Snohomish County homes priced from $550K to $850K are pulling in multiple offers and selling quickly.

Henry M. Jackson High School’s robotic team, Jack in the Bot, shake hands at the 2024 Indiana Robotics Invitational.(Henry M. Jackson High School)
Mill Creek robotics team — Jack in the Bot — wins big

Henry M. Jackson High School students took first place at the Indiana Robotic Invitational for the second year in a row.

The computer science and robotics and artificial intelligence department faculty includes (left to right) faculty department head Allison Obourn; Dean Carey Schroyer; Ishaani Priyadarshini; ROBAI department head Sirine Maalej and Charlene Lugli. PHOTO: Arutyun Sargsyan / Edmonds College.
Edmonds College to offer 2 new four-year degree programs

The college is accepting applications for bachelor programs in computer science as well as robotics and artificial intelligence.

FILE — Boeing 737 MAX8 airplanes on the assembly line at the Boeing plant in Renton, Wash., on March 27, 2019. Boeing said on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, that it was shaking up the leadership in its commercial airplanes unit after a harrowing incident last month during which a piece fell off a 737 Max 9 jet in flight. (Ruth Fremson/The New York Times)
Federal judge rejects Boeing’s guilty plea related to 737 Max crashes

The plea agreement included a fine of up to $487 million and three years of probation.

Neetha Hsu practices a command with Marley, left, and Andie Holsten practices with Oshie, right, during a puppy training class at The Everett Zoom Room in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Tricks of the trade: New Everett dog training gym is a people-pleaser

Everett Zoom Room offers training for puppies, dogs and their owners: “We don’t train dogs, we train the people who love them.”

Andy Bronson/ The Herald 

Everett mayor Ray Stephenson looks over the city on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2015 in Everett, Wa. Stephanson sees  Utah’s “housing first” model – dealing with homelessness first before tackling related issues – is one Everett and Snohomish County should adopt.

Local:issuesStephanson

Shot on: 1/5/16
Economic Alliance taps former Everett mayor as CEO

Ray Stephanson will serve as the interim leader of the Snohomish County group.

Molbak's Garden + Home in Woodinville, Washington will close on Jan. 28. (Photo courtesy of Molbak's)
After tumultuous year, Molbak’s is being demolished in Woodinville

The beloved garden store closed in January. And a fundraising initiative to revitalize the space fell short.

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, Advanced Manufacturing Skills Center executive director Larry Cluphf, Boeing Director of manufacturing and safety Cameron Myers, Edmonds College President Amit Singh, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, July 2 celebrating the opening of a new fuselage training lab at Paine Field. Credit: Arutyun Sargsyan / Edmonds College
‘Magic happens’: Paine Field aerospace center dedicates new hands-on lab

Last month, Edmonds College officials cut the ribbon on a new training lab — a section of a 12-ton Boeing 767 tanker.

Gov. Jay Inslee presents CEO Fredrik Hellstrom with the Swedish flag during a grand opening ceremony for Sweden-based Echandia on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Swedish battery maker opens first U.S. facility in Marysville

Echandia’s marine battery systems power everything from tug boats to passenger and car ferries.

Helion Energy CEO and co-founder David Kirtley talks to Governor Jay Inslee about Trenta, Helion’s 6th fusion prototype, during a tour of their facility on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
State grants Everett-based Helion a fusion energy license

The permit allows Helion to use radioactive materials to operate the company’s fusion generator.

People walk past the new J.sweets storefront in Alderwood Mall on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Japanese-style sweets shop to open in Lynnwood

J. Sweets, offering traditional Japanese and western style treats opens, could open by early August at the Alderwood mall.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.