Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/147181
launch Analysis, data, solutions, news and perspectives to move your business forward. The suddenly resurgent jet boat market With BRP's exit from the jet boat market last year and decision to license its jet propulsion technology, it was probably only a matter of time before other boat builders decided to give the market a go. Chaparral and Rec Boat Holdings announced within days of each other that they would be doing just that. Both companies will be using the BRP Rotax inboard jet propulsion system to power their offerings. "It is clear there is an opportunity out there," said Rec Boat Holdings Group President Roch Lambert, citing the "thousands" of boats BRP was selling before exiting the market. The segment has been dominated in re- cent years by just two companies – Yamaha and BRP. Lambert said Rec Boat Holdings – which builds Four Winns, Glastron and Wellcraft boats – can bring a boat builder's perspective to the segment and noted that many of BRP's Sea-Doo boats had not been redesigned in years. Rec Boat Holdings will be introducing the boats in late summer or early fall. Most of its jet boats will be built under the Scarab name, which has existed as a small line of fishing boats under Wellcraft, but will now be a standalone brand. Two jet boat models will also be launched under the Glastron brand and the company is evaluating options for Four Winns. "In the case of Scarab, we wanted to come up with a brand … that would appeal to the BRP dealers and our existing dealer base," Lambert said. "At some point in our debates we realized we had the Scarab name that was underutilized and yet there was still F s l t a C i B hot spots Jet boat market popular across the U.S. With Rec Boat Holdings and Chaparral Boats, Inc., each recently announcing their entry into the jet boat market, there's no doubt the segment is growing. Though the market is currently small based on unit growth, it's one of the fastest-growing segments in the industry, reported Tom Walworth of Statistical Surveys. Walworth shared the top seven jet boat markets, based on two-year percentage of growth. They're spread far across the country, from the West, to the South and even the Midwest. S W 52.9% Adrian, MI San Luis Obispo, CA Denver, CO c g 71.4% Harrison, AR 87% 52.5% 59% I S Las Vegas, NV 51.3% Las Vegas has seen a huge spike in jet boat growth over the past two years, though areas throughout many regions of the U.S. are seeing popularity in that market as well. T t n s U i L Lufkin-Nacogdoches, TX 49.7% Brownsville-Harlingen, TX f 8 | Boating Industry | July 2013 P08x10-BI13JUL-Launch.indd 8 www.BoatingIndustry.com 6/5/13 9:27 AM