It is pretty clear that, over the past few weeks, people have been looking for things to do outside that are safe and away from their daily routine.  Many have turned to boating, and we’re seeing that across the industry.  So far, in 2020, 34% of boat purchases have been by first-time boat buyers.  The interest in boating is significant right now, with Google reporting an increase of over 200% in the search term “Boats for sale”.

Sam Fulton, CEO of Boats Group, comments “Nearly half of the consumers we see entering the funnel through YachtWorld.com and our other portals are new, and more importantly, highly engaged and ready to buy. The surge in traffic and leads is added proof that the shift away from travel and crowded entertainment venues has turned new people towards brokers and dealers. Our soldboats.com data reflects that the majority of boats are selling within 30 days of being listed, so this is an audience that is eager to get on the water.”