Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
Interesting they picked an opener from someone who wants to be "More Comfy".......
Boats are selling again, dealers say
By Michael Pollick
Staff writer
Published: Friday, April 20, 2012
SARASOTA - Matthew Stokes was exactly the kind of guy Chris-Craft was hoping would show up at the Suncoast Boat Show on Friday.
Stokes used to have a 42-foot racing boat, but he dumped it in the Great Recession because it was too expensive to maintain.
Now, however, he is itching to get back on the water -- and in something a little more comfy.
"For the last two years, we've been wanting to get back into boating," Stokes said. "I want something like this just to go out and have fun with the kids."
Jerry Ipjian, who owns three Chris-Craft dealerships, including one in St. Petersburg, spent the show extolling the virtues of a 29-foot center-console Chris-Craft Sun Tender to potential customers like Stokes.
The boat is not for the faint of checkbook, however: It lists for just under $200,000 -- though that price includes twin 250-horsepower Mercury outboard motors.
Show Management of Fort Lauderdale's fifth Florida boat bazaar held this winter also illustrates that the economic recovery has spread to various parts of the Sunshine State
Company spokesman Daniel Grant said the industry is making a steady recovery -- albeit one akin to boat speed in a "no wake" zone -- after being swamped by the recession and lack of available credit. "It seems that overall the industry is rebounding," he said. "It is slow, and buyers are returning cautiously, but they are returning."
Chris-Craft, which makes its boats in Manatee County, came out this winter with two new models that are among their largest ever -- a new 32-footer and a 36-footer. The latter sells for about $500,000.
Like Chris-Craft, Sarasota-based Panga Marine came up with a similar answer to the recession's ennui. Its new vessel is a foot longer than the Aventura, its previous top of the line.
The 29-foot Horizon tied off at Marina Jack had a buyer lined up even before Panga put it in the water.
"The high-end market, those guys have always had money, but they've been reluctant to spend it," said Panga President Robert McDaniel. "They're spending it now."
Panga's Horizon retails for around $100,000, and while it comes with outboards, buyers have to spend more to equip the vessel with electronics.
Still, Panga's offering looked like a positive bargain compared with other boats at the show.
Marine Dynamics, of Englewood, featured four boats in its Everglades line -- retailing from $200,000 to $500,000.
Sales manager Claude Soucy was hoping to attract those unable to spring for a nearby 66-foot Viking enclosed-cockpit yacht from Galati Yacht Sales, of Anna Maria Island. Its pricetag? $4.13 million.
"My Sarasota people who want a quality boat, they're saying 'I'm not going to spend $4 million this year, but I'll spend $400,000 on a nice boat,' " Soucy said.
"Maybe his investments aren't as good as they used to be, but he still has money, still wants to play in the new-boat market," Soucy added.
To further entice boat show attendees, Marine Dynamics was offering its 29-foot Everglades boat -- suggested retail price $264,406 -- at a discounted $224,900.
Entire article
Boats are selling again, dealers say | HeraldTribune.com
Boats are selling again, dealers say
By Michael Pollick
Staff writer
Published: Friday, April 20, 2012
SARASOTA - Matthew Stokes was exactly the kind of guy Chris-Craft was hoping would show up at the Suncoast Boat Show on Friday.
Stokes used to have a 42-foot racing boat, but he dumped it in the Great Recession because it was too expensive to maintain.
Now, however, he is itching to get back on the water -- and in something a little more comfy.
"For the last two years, we've been wanting to get back into boating," Stokes said. "I want something like this just to go out and have fun with the kids."
Jerry Ipjian, who owns three Chris-Craft dealerships, including one in St. Petersburg, spent the show extolling the virtues of a 29-foot center-console Chris-Craft Sun Tender to potential customers like Stokes.
The boat is not for the faint of checkbook, however: It lists for just under $200,000 -- though that price includes twin 250-horsepower Mercury outboard motors.
Show Management of Fort Lauderdale's fifth Florida boat bazaar held this winter also illustrates that the economic recovery has spread to various parts of the Sunshine State
Company spokesman Daniel Grant said the industry is making a steady recovery -- albeit one akin to boat speed in a "no wake" zone -- after being swamped by the recession and lack of available credit. "It seems that overall the industry is rebounding," he said. "It is slow, and buyers are returning cautiously, but they are returning."
Chris-Craft, which makes its boats in Manatee County, came out this winter with two new models that are among their largest ever -- a new 32-footer and a 36-footer. The latter sells for about $500,000.
Like Chris-Craft, Sarasota-based Panga Marine came up with a similar answer to the recession's ennui. Its new vessel is a foot longer than the Aventura, its previous top of the line.
The 29-foot Horizon tied off at Marina Jack had a buyer lined up even before Panga put it in the water.
"The high-end market, those guys have always had money, but they've been reluctant to spend it," said Panga President Robert McDaniel. "They're spending it now."
Panga's Horizon retails for around $100,000, and while it comes with outboards, buyers have to spend more to equip the vessel with electronics.
Still, Panga's offering looked like a positive bargain compared with other boats at the show.
Marine Dynamics, of Englewood, featured four boats in its Everglades line -- retailing from $200,000 to $500,000.
Sales manager Claude Soucy was hoping to attract those unable to spring for a nearby 66-foot Viking enclosed-cockpit yacht from Galati Yacht Sales, of Anna Maria Island. Its pricetag? $4.13 million.
"My Sarasota people who want a quality boat, they're saying 'I'm not going to spend $4 million this year, but I'll spend $400,000 on a nice boat,' " Soucy said.
"Maybe his investments aren't as good as they used to be, but he still has money, still wants to play in the new-boat market," Soucy added.
To further entice boat show attendees, Marine Dynamics was offering its 29-foot Everglades boat -- suggested retail price $264,406 -- at a discounted $224,900.
Entire article
Boats are selling again, dealers say | HeraldTribune.com
