A sharp drop in new yacht sales
The new boat market is going through a difficult period. According to the latest figures from the French Nautical Industries Federation (FIN), registrations of new boats fell by 23.1% in 2023-2024. The decline is particularly marked for small motorboats under 7 m and monohull sailboats from 9 to 16 m, with decreases of 27% and 28% respectively. The sector, which had enjoyed a post-Covid upturn, now seems to be at a crossroads. While the 12-16 m multihull and rigid powerboat segments are making slight progress, the question remains: is this one-off upturn enough to halt an overall downward trend?
A second-hand market that's holding up, but for how long?
At the same time, the second-hand market showed resilience, with 56,324 units traded, despite a 10% fall on the previous year. This decline, though moderate, may conceal underlying weaknesses. If pre-owned boats continue to attract new yachtsmen, is this choice due to their genuine appeal, or to declining confidence in new boats, deemed too expensive or less accessible in a tense economic climate? The second-hand market could well be an indicator of the sector's difficulties in renewing its offer and attracting new customers.
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A wide range of water sports, but a lacklustre summer season
Despite an unfavorable economic and climatic context, with a rotten month of July, some boating segments are doing well. Sailboat rentals recorded a slight increase, mainly for multihulls, especially on weekly rentals, while emerging activities such as wingfoil continue to gain in popularity. Nevertheless, the Grande Plaisance (yacht) business remains under pressure, with restrictions such as the anchorage ban for boats over 24 m in Corsica forcing some to turn to Sardinia and Italy. Will they return to France this winter? The 2024 summer season, while positive in certain respects, failed to make up for the difficulties encountered at the start of the year.
2025: a challenging year for the French boating industry
The outlook for the marine sector in 2025 is complex. Between a global economic slowdown, persistent inflation and a tense geopolitical context, uncertainties are multiplying. While the autumn boat shows and a fine off-season give us hope of a revival, professionals are cautious. The market seems to have to adapt to new realities, both in terms of business models and yachtsmen's expectations, particularly in terms of the environment and technological innovation.
Boat shows: a sufficient response to today's challenges?
The FIN is banking on events such as Nautic Paddle (December 1, 2024) and Nautic en Seine (April 1-6, 2025) to revitalize the industry, but will these initiatives be enough to breathe new life into the sector? The announcement of the development of an area dedicated to powercats at the Multihull Show bears witness to a willingness to innovate, but those involved in the boating industry are entitled to wonder whether these efforts really address the current concerns of professionals and yachtsmen alike. Between the ecological transition and new uses, expectations are evolving rapidly, and the question arises as to the sector's ability to keep pace.
As the French yachting industry faces a period of uncertainty, it must reinvent itself to meet new challenges. The 2025 season will be decisive in determining whether the sector is ready to bounce back and adapt to these transformations.
