Global Marine Brokerage once again participated in the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and we had another great year. There was a lot of excitement and activity at the show this year and we enjoyed being a part of it.
Excellent Show for Everyone
Compared to prior years, this show demonstrated the highest consumer confidence that we’ve ever seen. We met with buyers from across the country but there were fewer international buyers, which reflects the strong US economy.
Our Global Marine team brought four yachts to the show: an 84 footer, a 70 footer, a 64 footer and a 57 footer. Three of these boats went under contract during the show, which is unheard of. At a typical show, if we brought four boats, we would get a lot of leads and maybe sell one boat. This year was a banner year for our team and we enjoyed matching new owners to their dream boats.Â
One of the things that really stood out as different this year was that the people attending the show were qualified buyers ready to purchase a boat. Usually people come to these boat shows to pick the model and year of the yacht that they want, knowing that they are a year or two out from actual purchase. Instead, those who attended this year were ready to make decisions and buy. Many paid cash for their boats, rather than finance these purchases, which also made this a unique show.
This year my team and I also had a different plan for this show. Normally we spend a lot of time focusing on the wholesale purchase side of the business during this event, but our goal this year was to liquidate our current inventory so we can start 2020 from scratch. Overall, we were successful in selling our inventory down and next year I look forward to opportunities to rebuild it.
New Yachts on the Market
We were curious to learn more about Galeon yachts, which are relatively new to the market. Ranging from 40 to 70 feet, with great styling and maneuverability, they have stepped in to fill the void for boats over 40 feet that was created when SeaRay stopped manufacturing these larger yachts. Our overall impression was positive and we look forward to more experiences with these yachts in the coming years.
My team and I had another fantastic experience at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and are already looking forward to next year’s event. But you don’t have to wait to find your perfect boat. If you are looking to purchase or sell a yacht, contact us today to learn how we can manage this process fast and hassle-free.   Â
