Used Boats For Sale - Sell a Boat - Boating Classifieds - 571-306-BOAT (3326)
It was sunny with temperatures in the 60s on a recent Wednesday. Ken's Sports in Kaukauna sold eight boats.
"You get one nice day ... and this place just goes nuts," said Jay Vander Loop, owner and sales manager. "This season is salvageable, we just need a little bit of consistency in weather."
Despite high fuel prices and a lack of consistently spring-like weather, local boat dealers say 2011 has potential.
Nationally, new boat sales totaled 188,230 in 2010, a decrease of 10 percent over 2009, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. But the drop was far smaller than the 35 percent decline from 2008 to 2009. Sales of pre-owned boats decreased only 2.4 percent compared with 2009.
The soft economy felt in some recreational sectors didn't hurt Northeastern Wisconsin to the same level, some local boat dealers say.
"We're in used boats, pre-owned late-model boats ... and there's a demand for that," said Dave Lange, owner of Green Bay Propeller & Marine in Suamico. "People are always looking for used, so our market has always been good."
Ken's Sports focuses on family fishing boats ranging from $20,000 to $30,000.
"I think gas prices and weather have been a huge factor in retail sales so far this year," Vander Loop said. "Gas prices — we hear that every day on the motorcycles, ATVs, jet skis and boats we sell. People are hesitant."
Vander Loop said retail sales for boats are down about 10 percent so far this year compared with 2010.
"People still want to have fun and go fishing," Vander Loop said. "(Sales) are still good, it's not terrible. ... We're actually doing pretty well. Many places are out of business or down 50 percent and really struggling."
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