Record demand for boats, water craft as sales soar
WELLINGTON: The marine industry suffered a big decline in sales earlier this year, but now it is scrambling to keep up with record demand for boats.
In the past three months, sales of boats and other water craft, such as paddle boards, have doubled compared with last year, the Marine Industry Association says.
At least 1.7 million recreational boat users are expected to be out and about on New Zealand’s waters this summer.
Association chief executive Peter Busfield said international travel used to be the boating market’s biggest competitor but now, many seemed to be spending their money on water sports instead.
New Zealanders could not travel overseas because of border restrictions and many seemed to be spending their money on boats instead, he said.
Boat builders are also employing apprentices at record levels; 170 people have been signed up for apprenticeships in the past four months compared with just 40 in the same period last year.
Christchurch boat builder Griff Simpson said things had been tough earlier in the year, but now he was selling every boat he could find.
‘‘Yes the market is bouyant and yes we are pretty much selling everything we can get our hands on. We are getting far greater sales than what we have previously.’’
He put the spike down to families wanting to make the most of their own backyard since the lockdown earlier in the year.
The boom was great, but would need to be long to make up for the boats the company could not build in April and May, he said.
Boat sales dropped 95% from April to June, but in recent months they had reached record levels; this year was already ahead of 2019 in terms of sales, and orders were filling up for next year, he said.
Maritime New Zealand sector engagement manager Baz Kirk said the high sales suggested there could be a lot more people on the water this summer who were new to boating.
He urged people who were new to water sports to learn the ropes.
‘‘Whether it’s a paddle board, dinghy, kayak, small boat — it’s all the same thing. You have got to think about what you are doing before you do it. Prep your boat, check your gear, know the rules and weather.’’
To monitor the activity on the water, 18 regional harbour masters would be on patrol across the country over summer, he said.
Fourteen people have died in recreational boating accidents in New Zealand so far this year.
Maritime New Zealand warned key risk factors for recreational boat users included failure to wear life jackets, inability to communicate for help, failure to check the weather forecast, and alcohol use. — RNZ