Interesting info from the dealer on what boats are selling.

[robert843]

So went to my local dealer today to walk around a left over 2016 242 limited e serries and a 2017 ar240. Seen a bunch of great deals on left over e series boats and wanted to see if it was worth the extra couple grand even though I sadly admit the more I comb over the forum on the newer model issues it starting to steer my towards an outboard deck boat more and more but that's another subject. They only had one 2017 24ft model there and when I asked when they expected to get more they told me they didn't. They had two left over 16 models and the dealer said in the last two years they have seen a significant change in what is selling and the 19 and 21 ft models have been more requested they said which they admitted was a big change from 2012-15 where the 24ft models were the bigger draw. This makes me wonder if Yamaha had finally started to price them selves out in the 24ft market to where people are looking at other brands more in that size range. I just though it was interesting to here them admit there had been a shift.

 

[props2you]

Interesting... My dealer can't keep the 24's in stock long. They usually sell around 50 per year. I picked up the last 2016 black 242 limited SE they had left over, they have 1 red one left. They gave me a great deal to make room for the 17's, I happily negotiated! They said they'll start taking 17 shipments in April.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

You hit the nail on the head!! 24' prices are crazy

 

[GTBRMC]

So went to my local dealer today to walk around a left over 2016 242 limited e serries and a 2017 ar240. Seen a bunch of great deals on left over e series boats and wanted to see if it was worth the extra couple grand even though I sadly admit the more I comb over the forum on the newer model issues it starting to steer my towards an outboard deck boat more and more but that's another subject. They only had one 2017 24ft model there and when I asked when they expected to get more they told me they didn't. They had two left over 16 models and the dealer said in the last two years they have seen a significant change in what is selling and the 19 and 21 ft models have been more requested they said which they admitted was a big change from 2012-15 where the 24ft models were the bigger draw. This makes me wonder if Yamaha had finally started to price them selves out in the 24ft market to where people are looking at other brands more in that size range. I just though it was interesting to here them admit there had been a shift.

Interesting info. Thanks for posting.

I have been expecting to see signs of this for a couple years now, frankly. My 2008 SX-230 retailed for ~$39K. That's a solid boat for a good deal and well below the competition at the time. The 24 footers now cost well over $50K to start. The competitive value proposition is not what it once was.

 

[robert843]

Interesting... My dealer can't keep the 24's in stock long. They usually sell around 50 per year. I picked up the last 2016 black 242 limited SE they had left over, they have 1 red one left. They gave me a great deal to make room for the 17's, I happily negotiated! They said they'll start taking 17 shipments in April.

If they can't keep them on the shelf why would they knock 10k off the purchase price of a left over model that they should be able to get full asking price for or why would it still even be available? The limited SE is a beautiful boat I will admit I'm attracted to it with the discounts that are being offered right now. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

 

[props2you]

Need room for the 17's coming in, floorspace is a premium. They sell the the limited s the most. Not sure the E series or X sell much there, or anywhere, for that matter, compared to the limited and limited s. I think they only sold 5 X's last year.

 

[swatski]

You guys are confusing me...

What I have heard is that the AR240s outsell all other 24fters by a mile. I guess it could be a local phenomenon though as this is just my dealer talking, not any kind of national stats. But IDK... It made sense to me, as the price diff for E_series or LSs even was too much for me last year.

Regarding the popularity of the 19fters, I am also surprised actually. I thought the price for those, especially 195s is pretty steep as compared to an AR240... Those 195s are pretty amazing, I could easily see myself buying one as "my second boat first", LOL.
In fact, if I had fewer kids I would be riding one right now (and mod-ing the $hit out of it, too).

--

 

[robert843]

You guys are confusing me...

What I have heard is that the AR240s outsell all other 24fters by a mile. I guess it could be a local phenomenon though as this is just my dealer talking, not any kind of national stats. But IDK... It made sense to me, as the price diff for E_series or LSs even was too much for me last year.

Regarding the popularity of the 19fters, I am also surprised actually. I thought the price for those, especially 195s is pretty steep as compared to an AR240... Those 195s are pretty amazing, I could easily see myself buying one as "my second boat first", LOL.
In fact, if I had fewer kids I would be riding one right now (and mod-ing the $hit out of it, too).

--

All they stated was they were selling more smaller model Yamaha's then the 24 ft models in fairness they were lumping all of the smaller models compared to one size. Yamaha probably is the number 1 selling 24ft bow rider but I feel the competition is weak in that category I have yet to find another 24ft model I would buy step up to 25 ft and there are many that I would choose of over the Yamaha but the price also climbs as well.

 

[Papa]

I have replied in the last 6 years of survey that they are pricing themselves out of the middle class market. I want a 24' in the worst way. Even used they are still to much for me. Still love the SX230 though.

 

[Bruce]

Adjusted for inflation the $35,999 MSRP of a 2007 SX230 would be $42,774 today. A similarly equipped 2017 SX240 has a MSRP of $51,499. I believe that due to the switch from high revving MR-1 engines to less complex 1.8s and robot built hulls the cost to build a SX240 is less than that of the SX230.

 

[Bruce]

A decade ago Yamaha was growing their market share and focused on moving units. Today I beleive Yamaha is selling every boat they can build and have shifted focus to maximizing the profit per unit.

The types of boats that sell in any given locality is likely to be highly dependent on both how the locals use them and the relative income in the area. A $70K boat is cheap in some markets but several times the value of the average boat in my area.

 

[robert843]

A decade ago Yamaha was growing their market share and focused on moving units. Today I beleive Yamaha is selling every boat they can build and have shifted focus to maximizing the profit per unit.

The types of boats that sell in any given locality is likely to be highly dependent on both how the locals use them and the relative income in the area. A $70K boat is cheap in some markets but several times the value of the average boat in my area.

I agree completely. In my local market I maybe run across one other Yamaha jet boat a year on the water and they usually are from somewhere else and towed it down for vacation. The most popular boats I see here are 18-21ft center consoles and I'm guessing that is price driven as you mentioned as most of those people when you talk to them would rather have a larger center console. My closest dealer anymore is Charleston about 100 miles away and I would bet they only sell 20-30 boats total a year across all size ranges but once again not a popular option down there as well most of the boats I see on the water down there are 25ft + center consoles I would bet the median boat price in Charleston exceeds the Yamaha price but here in Myrtle it probably doesn't.

 

[Matt Phillips]

Out here in CA, the two dealers I've spoken to say they sell EVERY Yamaha they order...and they will be gone by the end of June. They say the biggest restriction we have out here is the CARB certification as Yamaha only makes a certain number of those per year. As such, there's not a lot of negotiation on them. Additionally, my dealer told me that Yamaha only typically throws in YES to help dealers move prior-year models.

 

[Mainah]

My dealer told me that the gray white 2015 242 ls was the hot seller in 2015 and that e/x boats were the hot sellers in 2016. I guess it really varies by market and what the dealer has for other product lines. My dealer also sells a bunch of other brands of boats including 2 V drive brands and said 2016 was their best year all around. Sales of recreational vehicles, boats, etc have been on the increase so no doubt the price increase trend will continue. Yamaha's pricing strategy seems to work for them in that they get a ton of orders at full price and then offer incentives for a few leftovers. The smart money is on buying a leftover or buying second hand. I waited too long last year and bit the near full price bullet to get what the wife and I really wanted.

 

[Ronnie]

My local dealer here in Ca sells all of the Yamaha boats they get every year. Sometimes they are sold while still in transit sight unseen based on the expected color alone.

People must have or be willing to borrow the money. I see a lot of new 240 and 242 owners here. My observation is that the price of a 2010 242 ls was $49k now a 242 ls sells for around $63k, $73l for the x model. Although there are some new features on the current models I don't think the $14k to $24k difference in price is justified. As such, unless Yamaha releases an affordable cabin cruiser my 2010 ls is the last bow rider, Yamaha or otherwise that I will ever own.

 

[robert843]

My local dealer here in Ca sells all of the Yamaha boats they get every year. Sometimes they are sold while still in transit sight unseen based on the expected color alone.

People must have or be willing to borrow the money. I see a lot of new 240 and 242 owners here. My observation is that the price of a 2010 242 ls was $49k now a 242 ls sells for around $63k, $73l for the x model. Although there are some new features on the current models I don't think the $14k to $24k difference in price is justified. As such, unless Yamaha releases an affordable cabin cruiser my 2010 ls is the last bow rider, Yamaha or otherwise that I will ever own.

A cabin cruiser doesn't really fit my boating lifestyle but I will tell you what on the resell market they are some of the best values out there a lot of boat for the money. It seems like they take a huge hit in depreciation in the first year or two compared to other boats and I'm not really sure why most of the newer ones are beautiful.

 

[Pirana]

Interesting, because its exactly what happened to me...at the price (and zero haggling) they were asking for a 242X, I decided to look at other brands.

 

[Bruce]

A big difference in perspective comes from the $51,733 median household income where @robert843 lives versus vs $92,094 where @Ronnie lives. I know both of you guys earn way above the average for your areas but with 80% greater median income in Ronnie's census area it is much easier to sell $70K boats.

 

[Benny Sibbitt]

When I was boat shopping I notice any good 24 ft boat started about 45-50k

 

[Ronnie]

A big difference in perspective comes from the $51,733 median household income where @robert843 lives versus vs $92,094 where @Ronnie lives. I know both of you guys earn way above the average for your areas but with 80% greater median income in Ronnie's census area it is much easier to sell $70K boats.

Something else to consider in California is that Yamaha can't yet sell the 192 or the fsh here, at least when I last checked when the 2016s were released, there were no Ca versions of those boats being manufactured. Also my local dealer told me that they were only getting 3 new 242s and the gray one was sold while in transit, this was just the first of three to four shipments they were expecting for the year and all were supposed to be for about the same amount of boats. Maybe it's just my dealers way of assuring that he doesn't have any left over inventory at the end of each season.

Funny, I didn't know what the median income was for my area until @ Bruce mentioned it but I can say with certainty that if my household income was that low I couldn't personally afford or justify the boat I have now and I got it used for a good price. I realize that I may just cheap/frugal bcause I remember when things weren't so good income wise and I'm determined never to be house, car or boat poor but damn that 242x is a really nice boat.