Sales, attendance brisk at Lake Union Boats Afloat Show

SEATTLE, Sept. 14, 2007 – Strong attendance, warm weather and plenty of boats to choose from are contributing to brisk sales for Northwest yacht brokers at the 2007 Lake Union Boats Afloat Show in Seattle. 

With 1,673 boating enthusiasts exploring some 340 power and sail boats on Friday, attendance has now topped 4,126 for the first three days of the largest floating boat show on the west coast.

 “We’re seeing extremely good numbers at the Boats Afloat Show,” said Greg Mustari, a Certified Professional Yacht Broker with SkipperCress Yacht Sales in Anacortes, Wash.  “This is the time of year when people are thinking ahead to next year,” said Mustari, who has represented boat buyers and sellers in the Northwest for seven years.  “(The Boats Afloat Show) is a great place for people to compare boats and form a relationship with a broker that can help them.”

During the first three days of the show, sales of power boats are showing signs of strength.  “Our sales are up significantly over the last two Boats Afloat Shows,” said Ron Meng, president of Islands Marine Center on Lopez Island, Wash., a dealer of Ocean Sport and Pursuit lines of premium cruising and fishing boats in the under 40-foot range.  Meng, who has been exhibiting at Seattle’s boat shows since 1972, reports sales of six boats in the first three days of the Lake Union show with a total estimated value of $1.4 million. 

Sailors are also experiencing strong results early-on.  “We wrote three contracts worth a total of three quarters of a million dollars – all on the first day of the show,” said Robbie Robinson, CPYB, president of Signature Yachts, which has offices in Seattle and Bellingham, Wash.  “Our new boat sales are amazingly close to last year – and 2006 was a record for us,” added Robinson, who traditionally sees his strongest sales in the third quarter.  “What we’re seeing in the local economy is exciting.  Despite the rest of the country struggling, we’re in great shape.”

During the second quarter of 2007, traditionally the strongest quarter for sales of recreational boats, sales of new and previously owned recreational boats in Washington State increased just over $51 million or 18.6 percent over the same period in 2006.  During April, May and June in 2007, new and previously owned sales reached $326,016,819 compared with $274,792,023 in 2006.  For the quarter ending June 30, 2007, 22,861 boats changed hands, up 1,700 units or eight percent from second quarter 2006.

Saturday’s Boats Afloat Show activities for the entire family include free life jackets for the first 400 kids, free sailboat rides and an opportunity to meet hydroplane drivers and have your picture taken in the cockpit of an unlimited light hydroplane.

With over 340 boats on the water, the 30th annual Lake Union Boats Afloat Show is the largest floating boat show on the west coast.  The show, which runs through Sunday, Sept. 16, is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekend.   Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under and available online at www.BoatsAfloatShow.com or at the gate.

The 2007 Lake Union Boats Afloat Show is sponsored by Fireman’s Fund Insurance

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About the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association
The Northwest Yacht Brokers Association www.nwyachtbrokers.com is a non-profit marine trade group founded in 1988 consisting of over 340 marine brokers, dealers and other industry professionals representing over 230 marine-related businesses in the Pacific Northwest. Subscribing to the strictest code of ethics, NYBA members are committed to bringing integrity and professionalism to the buying and selling process of new and previously owned pleasure craft. NYBA plays an active role in marine youth and education programs and is active in creating a greater interest in the welfare and safety of the boating public. Along with the Northwest Marine Trade Association, NYBA's January and September Boats Afloat Shows connect thousands of boating enthusiasts with marine professionals and the finest pleasure craft the Northwest has to offer.