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Manufacturers of twin-hulled powerboats, popularly known as catamarans, are claiming significant increases in sales despite its small share of the overall market. Companies such as Grady-White Boats, Kevlacats, World Cat, Glacier Bay, Twin Vee Boats and Comet Boats plan to maintain their share by focusing on a specific market niche. Power catamarans are popularly used as fishing boats or diving platforms.

Members of the National Marine Manufacturers Assn. and the Marine Retailers Assn. of America are urging the entire boating industry to step up efforts to attract people to boating. They stress that the industry has lagged behind other sports and recreational activities in terms of sales growth and consumer participation. They also asked boating executives to keep existing boaters loyal to the sport and for boat maintenance firms to improve their services.

A strong economy has helped buoy up sales of cruiser motorboats in 1997. This is surprising because the boating industry has seen reduced sales for the year. According to Dave Northrop, manager of Pier 33 in St. Joseph, MI, cruiser sales have gone up by 60% since 1995 and 31% since 1996. He says that low interest rates make it easier for consumers to buy bigger boats that are more than 30 ft. long. Lately, there has been a surge in the sales of cruisers less than 30 ft. long due to the introduction of new models that ride and feel like the bigger boats.

Byline: Dennis Caprio HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CONSUMING DECADE, AS SEEN IN "MOTOR BOATING." START WITH THE BABY BOOMERS CLOSING IN on their peak earning years, sprinkle liberally with the growing […]

NEW YORK -- Marine footwear is getting a makeover. While the classic leather boat shoe has long dominated the marine-footwear market, in the past two years a select group of [...]

American boating companies are infiltrating the growing Japanese bass boat market. American brands such as Champion, Ranger, Nitro, Javelin, Stratos, Astro and Steeker are dominating the market even in the presence of local brands such as Yamaha, Yanmar, Suzuki, Nissan and Tohatsu. Ranger Boats based in Flippin, AR, which distributes its products through Texas-based International Boating Center Inc and Skeeter Products of Kilgore, TX, has the largest share of the Japanese bass boat market.

The boating industry will witness an increase in sales of 18- to 20-footer fiberglass bass boats as more fishers seek for bigger boats. A survey on 10 dealers around the country showed a strong demand for dual consoles for use as a family boat because they have bigger space and are more stable during bad weather conditions. The fish and ski models have the largest share of the market. However, single consoles remained as the top choice of tournament fishers.

Small boat dealerships operating in the Florida Keys complain that the entrance of major dealers such as Dusky Marine has deprived them of a large share of the area's booming marine market. They lament that major dealers have enough financial clout to sell products at very low prices, therefore attracting the customer base of smaller dealers. Dusky Marine owner Ralph Brown counters that he can afford to sell his products at lower prices because of the large volume with which he purchases marine products, therefore enabling him to obtain large volume dealer discounts and rebates.

'Everyone is doing a little less than they were projecting, but I wouldn't say people are hurting. The big-boat business is strong--in the last few days, we sold a yacht [...]

The impact of boat imports from the United States on market share of Australian boat building sector, despite increase in boat sales, is discussed.

EDITOR'S NOTE: During October, Power Products Marketing of Minneapolis conducted a season-ending survey on behalf of Power-sports Business on the U.S. PWC market. The survey included 150 PWC dealers augmented [...]

A growing number of countries are venturing into yacht-building, especially less-developed ones with low-cost labor. Among those that are, of late, seeking to capture a bigger market share are Brazil, Egypt, the Philippines, Russia and Turkey. These five have at least two megayachts under construction as of Oct 31, 1998. Meanwhile, low-cost labor countries Argentina, China, Croatia, Indonesia and Spain are building one megayacht each as of the same date. Taiwan was the leading low-cost labor country in the yacht-building sector until the last few years, when wages and standard of living rose sharply., Low-cost labor countries seek to expand their market share. America is the world's biggest builder of megayachts, the lavish pleasurecraft that are at least 80 feet (24 meters) long. But [...]

Yamaha Marine Group intends to increase its market share in the freshwater fishing boat segment, according to Mike Walker, a spokesman for the diversified Japanese manufacturing company. In targeting the [...]