Second-hand market back to pre-covid levels
After a few years of euphoria following the covid crisis and the difficulty for new boatyards to meet market demand due to supply tensions, the pre-owned market is beginning to feel the reversal of the trend. For Jonathan Boutboul, founder of pre-owned boat broker Cap Océan, the main problem lies with recent boats: "Overall, we're seeing used boat prices return to pre-Covid levels. The problem is for recent boats, because the new boat sector is having problems, with a lot of stock. Dealers are going to have to lower their margins, which will bring them closer to second-hand. Today, we refuse warrants on boats under warranty."
Maintain profitability and hold on to the market
At the same time, like all sectors, brokers have had to contend with inflation. Between falling boat prices and rising charges, Jonathan Boutboul explains his decision to increase his network's commissions: "We've just gone from 8% and 10%, respectively for exclusive and classic mandates, to 12% and 15%. As an indication, we have 100 port places, which have taken an average of +14%. To do our job well, it costs money, but customers understand that if we bring things to the table, by explaining what we bring to the table: the sales protocol, with boats we've always visited, the strength of the network... By doing this, I hope to pull the broker market upwards to preserve it, and that this will help to hold down the price of used boats. We've seen a lot of people enter the market since Covid, without necessarily knowing anything about boats. The difficulties should also clean up the sector."
