Boat International – August 2019

onthebrokeragemarket,hesays,sowhatisgreat

isgoingfast.Thissellers’marketismakingitan

attractivetimeforownerstosellandtradeupor

down,dependingontheiryachtingneeds.

Inthe50-metrerange,ThomConboy,who

representsHeesenYachtsinthe US,says

brokeragestockislimitedduetotheclosureofa

numberofqualityAmericanandNewZealand

yardsinrecentyears.“Iftherewasafloodoflate-

model50-and55-metreboatsoutthere,we

probably wouldn’thave thesuccesswe’re

having,”hesays.“Thelackofgood-quality

productinoursizerangeisprobablywhywe’re

havinggoodsuccess.”

Refitisanotherareathat’sseeingrobust

growthintheUS.“Thehighsandlowsofrefit

correspondwiththehealthofthebrokerage

Brokerage sales to US owners, by size

market – the US refit market is healthy and

prospects are good, with three new [refit] facilities

under construction in the southeast,” says James

Brewer of Derecktor Shipyards, which has a refit

and repair division. “We see an inherent link

between brokerage and repair/refit given that

many yachts sold between 100ft and 150ft LOA

immediately undergo a cosmetic refit to provide

upgrades and freshening for the new owner.”

Ed Stack, vice president of development for

US sportfish builder Jarrett Bay Boatworks,

agrees that a buoyant brokerage market is directly

linked to a bump in the refit and repair business.

But he adds that there’s a clear opportunity for

domestic new-build yards. “As the US economy

continues to grow, there are more wealthy

entrants for the more costly custom boat market,”

“THIS RUN IS

GOING TO END

AT SOME POINT.

THE QUESTION

WE’RE ALL

ASKING IS:

WILL IT END

GRACEFULLY?”

24-30m30-40m

70m+

40-50m 50-70m

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

72

60

20

2

68

63

21

4

89

75

29

2

108

28

22

13

1

88

21

3

(Jan-April)

boatinternational.com

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