Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/264625
LAUNCH www.BoatingIndustry.com March 2014 | Boating Industry | 9 HOT SPOTS Detroit, MI 18.1% Fort Myers, FL 18.7% Atlanta, GA 21.6% Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 27.7% New York, NY 9.5% The outboard market is on an upswing, with Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla., seeing a 27.7 percent increase in two-year market growth numbers. Outboard market grows in many regions The outboard market is surging, making it the fastest growing propulsion segment in the industry, according to Tom Walworth of Statistical Surveys. It's no surprise, then, that outboards have grow in nine of the seg- ment's top 10 markets when looking at two- year market growth. Little Rock, Ark., is the only region in the top 10 to see a decrease, down 2.3 percent. During the same period, Atlanta, Ga.; Miami- Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and Tampa-St. Peters- burg-Clearwater, Fla., were each up more than 20 percent. Collectively, the market grew 11.1 percent. Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL 22.4% Jacksonville, FL 15.7% Houston, TX 18.9% Three of the biggest publicly traded ma- rine companies all reported year-over-year growth, highlighting the strength of 2013 for the marine industry. Brunswick Corp. — parent company of Mercury, Sea Ray, Bayliner and more – increased net sales 5 percent for 2013 versus 2012. Earnings and margins were also up over 2013. The company's gross margin of 26.1 percent was the highest annual level since 2000, said CEO Dusty McCoy. Revenue growth continues to be driven by outboard boats and engines and the ma- rine parts and accessories division. Sales of fi- berglass sterndrive and inboard boats, and of sterndrive engines were down again in 2013, McCoy said. Overall, sales of the Brunswick Boat Group's 14 brands were up 17 percent in the fourth quarter year over year and up 4 per- cent for the year for the United States, with smaller gains in the rest of the world. For the fourth quarter, the boat segment reported a $21.9 million operating loss. The Mercury Marine Group reported a 5 percent gain for sales in the fourth quarter, with international sales down about 4 percent. The company is forecasting 5 to 7 percent revenue growth in 2014. Brunswick is expect- ing 3 to 5 percent growth in the powerboat segment and mid-single digit growth for the engine segment. MARINE PRODUCTS CORP. Marine Products Corp., parent company of Chaparral and Robalo, reported a 15.8 percent increase in sales for the fourth quarter of 2013. Unit sales increased 8 percent, due pri- marily to significant increases in sales of Robalo fishing boats, said CFO Ben Palmer. Average price tag and margins were also up, with a 6.3 percent increase in average sell- ing price as the company sold more of its higher-priced, larger Chaparral models. "On a relative basis, we sold fewer of our lower-price Chaparral H20 this quarter and Source: Statistical Surveys Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX 2.7% Little Rock, AR 2.3% BRUNSWICK, MARINEMAX, MARINE PRODUCTS CORP. REPORT GROWTH Continued on page 10 P08x13-BI14MAR-Launch.indd 9 2/7/14 10:38 AM