Good news is always welcome, and recently Powersports Business had plenty of good news to report. According to the latest figures released from Info-Link Technologies, personal watercraft have continued their year-over-year sales gains. January’s gain of just over 10 percent bests December’s sales gains, which is a good sign.
According to the report, PWC sales reached peak in September 2013 after a pretty ugly plunge into “negative territory” during the first half of 2013. Since that time, sales have continued on an upward trend since July of 2013.
Undoubtedly, an influx of exciting new products ranging from the budget-friendly, entry-level Sea-Doo Spark which has been the talk of the town, to a virtual tidal wave of top performance machines like Yamaha’s stellar SVHO-powered FZ- and FX-series runabouts and Kawasaki’s Godzilla-horsepower 310-edition Ultras, have lured in new and return buyers to dealerships.
Likewise, Yamaha’s pre-owned certified program – a first of its kind for the personal watercraft industry – has been met with some success, helping equip new buyers with previously owned, studiously-reviewed and certified WaveRunners.
We also accredit a small percentage to “hibernating buyers,” or buyers who have held off purchasing a significant purchase – such as a full-sized personal watercraft – throughout the leaner years during a down economy and have finally decided to make a purchase as consumer confidence has continued to edge upward.
Of course, we’re not out of the down economy woods yet, but enthusiastic buyers have been met with dealers enthusiastic to meet budgetary needs and financing goals to help move new and pre-owned units and that helps.
Life without PWC’s would simply be like life without sex!