SSI: Canadian Motorhome Sales Off 2.2% in Nov.

Year-over-year Canadian motorhome sales edged down 2.2% in November while registrations fell 3.5% for the 11 months, according to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc.

Forest River Inc. was the Canadian motorhome sales leader through November, capturing a 22.7% market share, followed by Thor Industries Inc. (21.1%) and Winnebago Industries Inc. (15.4%).

November Class A registrations dropped 13.9% from the year prior and declined 6.1% year-to-date. Thor was No. 1 in the category for the first 11 months with a 22.9% market share, ahead of Fleetwood RV Inc. and Winnebago, tied for the No. 2 position with a 16% share, and Tiffin Motorhomes Inc. with 11.4%

In the Class C segment, sales gained 44.4% for November and were flat for the 11 months, off just 0.6%. Forest River held the top spot year-to-date with a 34.7% market share followed by Thor (19.3%) and Winnebago (14.7%).

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

 

SSI: Canadian Towable Sales up 38.3% For Nov.

Year-over-year Canadian retail sales of towable RVs increased 38.3% in November and 0.7% for the first 11 months, according to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Statistical Surveys noted that Quebec was added for the first time in October while the 2011 data was incomplete due to processing issues at the province. Data showed:

• Sales in the travel trailer sector rose 41.7% in November and 2.8% for the first 11 months.

• Fifth-wheel sales grew 31.3% for the month and edged up 0.8% year-to-date.

• Folding camping trailer registrations were up 4.2% in November but declined 17.2% for the 11 months.

• Recreational park trailers jumped 82.4% for the month, but fell 17.8% year-to-date.

Thor Industries Inc. was the overall Canadian towables sales leader through November with a 40.7% market share, followed by Forest River Inc. (14.5%) and Jayco Inc. (12.1%).

Thor was also the leader in travel trailer sales for the 11 months with a 33.7% market share while Jayco was No. 2 with a 17.2% share, followed by Forest River with a 15.8% share.

Thor held a commanding lead in the Canadian fifth-wheel sector through November, capturing a 47.2% market share, with Forest River at No. 2 posting a 16.8% share followed by Palomino RV at 9.2%. Thor was also No. 1 in park model sales with a 48.8% share followed by Forest River (14.1%) and General Coach (9.8%).

Forest River led Canadian folding camping trailer sales for the 11 months with a 32.3% market share while Jayco posted a 28% share and Forest River’s Coachmen RV division held an 18.5% share.

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext. 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

 

SSI: Towable Sales Flat in Nov., Grow 8.3% YTD

Year-over-year retail towable sales were flat in November, up 0.2%, while year-to-date registrations increased 8.3%. According to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc., results showed:

• Sales for the high-volume travel trailer sector edged up 2.2% in November and rose 11.3% year-to-date.

• Fifth-wheel registrations grew just 1% for the month and 6.1% for the 11 months.

• Folding camping trailer sales declined 19.2% in November and 10.9% year-to-date.

• Park model sales declined 34.6% for November and 17.1% for the 11 months.

Thor Industries Inc. was the towable sales leader year-to-date with a 36.6% market share, followed by Forest River Inc. at 21.4% and Jayco Inc. with a 11.8% share.

By segment for the first 11 months, Thor was No. 1 in travel trailer sales with a 33.2% share, ahead of Forest River (22%) and Jayco (13.6%). Thor held a commanding lead in fifth-wheel sales, capturing a 53.6% market share, while Forest River posted a 17.4% share and Jayco had a 6.1% share.

Forest River was the folding camping trailer sales leader for the 11 months with a 44.4% market share while Jayco (18.8%) held the No. 2 position followed by Forest River’s Coachmen RV division (10.9%). In the park model segment, Thor was No. 1, posting a 27.8% market share, with Kropf Manufacturing Co. at No. 2, holding a 10.8% share, and Skyline Corp. third at 8.7%.

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext. 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

’12 Sales Reflect Comeback for Boating Industry

It’s official: 2012 was a comeback year for the recreational boating industry.

Soundings Trade Only reported that industrywide sales rose 9.4% to 196,519 boats, and sales in the main powerboat segments climbed 11.2% to 121,789 compared with the previous year. The totals represent 26 early reporting states that represent 64% of the nation’s boat market, according to Statistical Surveys Inc.

Sales were weak during the traditionally slow month of December, but that did little to dispel the notion that the industry has forged a potentially enduring recovery. For the year, sales of 11- to 40-foot outboard fiberglass boats rose 12.9% to 35,257 in the early reporting states and sales of aluminum pontoon boats rose 20.9% to 32,934.

Pontoons and aluminum fishing boats were sales leaders throughout the year. Fishing boat sales rose 9.1% to 36,402.

Unless the economy suffers a shock in 2013, “I really think we’ll continue this slow, moderate growth,” said Ryan Kloppe, national marine sales manager at Statistical Surveys.

Slowed by the aftereffects of Hurricane Sandy, Kloppe said, the industry didn’t have much to celebrate in December. Industrywide sales rose just 1.1 percent to 3,351 in the early reporting states and sales in the main segments rose only 1.3 percent to 2,285.

“The full amount of relief hasn’t come to [the areas affected by Sandy],” he said.

December sales traditionally represent only about 2 percent of the year’s total volume.

SSI: Class B Sales Rise 5.6% in Nov., 31.4% YTD

Year-over-year Class B motorhome sales increased 5.6% in November and 31.4% for the first 11 months, according to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc.

Through November, Roadtrek Motorhomes Inc. retained its lead in Class B sales, owning a 36.4% market share, while fellow Canadian builder Pleasure-Way Industries Ltd. was second with a 19.6% share.

Thor Industries Inc. was the top U.S. manufacturer for the 11 months, holding the No. 3 slot with an 18.2% market share, followed by Winnebago Industries Inc. at 16.2%.

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext. 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

SSI: November Motorhome Sales Flat, Fall 0.4%

Year-over-year motorhome registrations were flat in November, down just 0.4%, while sales for the 11 months increased 7%, according to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc.

Winnebago Industries Inc. (20.4%) edged out Thor Industries Inc. (20.1%) for the No. 1 spot in year-to-date motorhome registrations, followed by Forest River Inc. (12.1%) and Fleetwood RV Inc. (11.5%).

In the Class A category, November sales edged down 2.2% compared with 2011 and were up 5.9% for the 11 months. Winnebago led the category through November, posting a 22% market share, while Tiffin Motorhomes Inc. held a 19.5% share and Thor was No. 3 with an 18.7% share.

Class C sales grew 2.9% for the month and 8.5% year-to-date. Thor led the category for the 11 months with a 21.9% market share, followed by Forest River (18.4%), Winnebago (18.3%) and Forest Rivers Coachmen RV division (18.1%).

A low volume of rental registrations, all Class C sales, rose 67% in November.

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

SSI: Trailers, Fifth-Wheels Drive October Gains

Year-over-year retail towable sales increased 8.2% in October and 8.5% year-to-date. According to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc., results showed:

• Sales for the high-volume travel trailer sector gained 8.8% in October while year-to-date registrations rose 11.6%.

• Fifth-wheel registrations grew 10.2% for the month and 6.2% for the 10 months.

• Folding camping trailer sales declined 8.1% in October and 10.7% year-to-date.

• Park model sales declined 6.5% for October and 16.3% for the 10 months.

Thor Industries Inc. was the towable sales leader year-to-date with a 36.5% market share, followed by Forest River Inc. at 21.5% and Jayco Inc. with a 11.9% share.

By segment for the first 10 months, Thor was No. 1 in travel trailer sales with a 33.1% share, ahead of Forest River (21.5%) and Jayco (13.7%). Thor held a commanding lead in fifth-wheel sales, capturing a 53.6% market share, while Forest River posted a 17.3% share and Jayco had a 6.1% share.

Forest River was the folding camping trailer sales leader for the 10 months with a 44.6% market share while Jayco (18.8%) held the No. 2 position followed by Forest River’s Coachmen RV division (10.8%). In the park model segment, Thor was No. 1, posting a 27.4% market share, with Kropf Manufacturing Co. at No. 2, holding a 10.8% share, and Skyline Corp. third at 8.8%.

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext. 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

SSI: Oct. Motorhome Sales Notch 5.1% Growth

Year-over-year motorhome registrations increased 5.1% in October and 7.3% for the first 10 months, according to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc.

Thor Industries Inc. ranked as the motorhome sales leader year-to-date with a 20.2% market share, followed by Winnebago Industries Inc. (20.1%) and Forest River Inc. (12.1%).

In the Class A category, registrations in October were up 4.1% compared with 2011 and 6.2% year-to-date. Winnebago led the category through October, posting a 21.8% market share, while Tiffin Motorhomes Inc. held a 19.7% share and Thor was No. 3 with an 18.6% share.

Class C sales grew 6.7% for the month and 8.6% year-to-date. Thor led the category for the 10 months with a 22.2% market share, followed by Forest River’s Coachmen RV division (18.4%), Forest River (18.3%) and Winnebago (17.9%).

A low volume of rental registrations, primarily Class C sales, fell 33% in October.

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

Baird: October Powerboat Sales See 22% Gain

Editor’s Note: Following the release of the boating retail report from Statistical Surveys Inc., the investment firm of Robert W. Baird & Co. distributed a routine advisory note to its investors. Highlights of that note follow.

October powerboat retail bounces. U.S. powerboat retail jumped 22% in October, according to Statistical Surveys. October typically represents 4% of annual sales. Stronger growth continues in lower-priced areas of the market, with aluminum powerboats and fiberglass outboard (both +25%) drive the increase. Through October, retailers are on pace to sell 156,000 powerboats in 2012 (+12%).

• U.S. powerboat retail up 22% in October. U.S. powerboat retail jumped 22% in October — the most robust growth in over six months. The month of October falls in the offseason for boat sales, and accounts for 4% of the annual market. U.S. powerboat retail remains up 12% YTD in 2012.

• Smaller fares better. Smaller boats continue to perform better than larger boats, consistent with our expectations. Notably, sales of 14-30 foot fiberglass sterndrive units grew 18% following several months of declines. We believe consumers have more equity (or less negative equity) in smaller boats, driving better trade-in activity.

• Sandy destruction. Early assessments indicate as many as 65,000 boats were damaged in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, one of the most destructive storms on record.

To subscribe to this and other Baird reports, contact Craig R. Kennison at ckennison@rwbaird.com.

SSI: Canadian Retail Sales Decreased in Sept.

Retail sales of towable RVs in Canada in September fell 12% from September 2011, Statistical Surveys Inc. (SSI) has reported.

By segment travel trailer sales were off 10.6%, fifth-wheels sales dropped by 13%, camping trailer sales fell 26.5% and park model sales decreased 12.3%.

Thor Industries Inc. remained the top-selling towable brand with a 35% market share. Forest River Inc. was second with an 18% share.

Year-to-date, towable sales are flat, up a scant 0.2% through September compared to the first nine months of 2011.

For the first time ever, the Canadian towable report includes retail sales from the province of Quebec.

On the motorized side, all motorhome sales were off 27% in September. Class A sales were down 29.7% and Class C sales were off 22.1%.

Forest River was the overall market leader with a 34.7% share. Thor was second with a 17.6% share.

Year-to-date, retail sales were down 3.3% through September.

To subscribe to this or other SSI reports, contact Scott Stropkai, national RV sales manager, at (616) 281-9898 ext. 128, or (616) 446-8179 (cell).

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