True boat lovers reject the favored saying that the 2 happiest days of a boater’s life are the day they purchase the boat and the day they promote it. For them, happiness is placing the boat within the water and crusing off, unending bills included.
That devotion drove a increase in boat gross sales throughout the Covid pandemic, as many People turned to the water to flee. After seeing a spike in gross sales throughout the disaster, when most different industries struggled, the leisure boating market is now feeling the impression of shoppers’ discretionary spending cuts.
In truth, most boat house owners make lower than $100,000 a yr, typically buying smaller and extra reasonably priced vessels. This makes the business “significantly delicate to shifts in shopper confidence and credit score availability,” in line with IBIS World’s Boat Sales & Repair in the U.S. report.
Based on Deloitte’s State of the US Shopper July 2026 reportdiscretionary spending intentions grew for a 3rd straight month in June; nonetheless, they continue to be under the 2021 baseline.
The total-year 2025 data from NMMA reveal that new boat retail unit gross sales dropped 8.8% yr over yr to 215,237 models, down from 236,070 models in 2024.
Amid these shifts in shopper conduct, the most important U.S. boating retailer, West Marine, recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed 59 shops. Extra not too long ago, the boat retailer confirmed an extra wave of closures.
West Marine closes one other 32 shops
West Marine Inc., the most important boating and marine provides retailer in the US, not too long ago confirmed plans to shut an extra 32 retail areas, bringing the whole variety of shops slated for closure to 91, reported BoatBlurb.
The most recent 32 closures be part of the beforehand introduced 59 closures and are a part of the corporate’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring.
The corporate disclosed a number of components pushing it into chapter 11, together withsupply chain disruptions, excessive climate occasions, and shifts in shopper conduct, in line with its official press release.
West Marine goals for Chapter 11 to assist it strengthen its balance sheetscale back debt, and enhance monetary flexibility.
“We not too long ago made the troublesome resolution to shut choose retailer areas. Whereas this alteration wasn’t simple, our dedication to you hasn’t modified one bit — West Marine is open, stocked and able to assist with every thing it’s good to get again on the water,” the corporate states on the shop closure web page.
West Marine’s whole 91 areas closed:
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Alabama (1)
Cell: 5004 Dauphin Island Pkwy. -
California (7)
Chula Vista: 630 Bay Blvd. Monterey: 2024 Del Monte Ave. Oceanside: 1719 Oceanside Blvd. Pittsburg: 4645 Century Blvd. Redding: 2607 Bechelli Lane Sacramento: 9500 Micron Ave #116 Santa Barbara: 132C Harbor Wy. -
Connecticut (2)
Branford: 33 Enterprise Park Dr.Norwalk: 99 Water St.
