New-boat sales in all categories continued to decline last month, according to preliminary data compiled by Michigan-based Statistical Surveys.
Preliminary registration data in early reporting states show that sales for all fiberglass boats fell 5.3 percent, while aluminum sales were down six percent in July. The report is based on data from 20 states, or 47 percent of the U.S. market, and includes the big boating states of California, Florida, Michigan and Texas.
"Early data on July shows a continuation of the slow sales trend for new boats in 2006," said Dick Dumont, vice president/watercraft division at Statistical Surveys. "There wasn't much positive news in the data, with almost all of the states reporting declines."
Fiberglass boats in the popular lengths of 15 to 30 feet fell 7.1 percent in early reporting states.
Aluminum boat sales, which had been doing better than fiberglass this year, dropped 6 percent in July. For the year to date sales are down 0.5 percent.
PWC sales fell 1.8 percent in the month, and have declined 0.4 percent for the first six months this year.
