How COVID-19 Has Changed The Way Boats & Yachts Are Sold

COVID-19 has affected every aspect of our lives, and that’s true for the yacht transportation industry too. We work closely with dealers, yacht brokers, and private yacht owners to move and transport yachts – and because of this, we’re very aware of the new trends and changes that have affected boat dealers and yacht brokers.

Read on, and get some insights into how COVID-19 coronavirus has changed the way that boats and yachts are sold in 2020 – and how it may change the sales and marketing process forever!

Many Boat Shows Have Been Canceled Or Postponed In 2020 & Beyond

In the past, many boat and yacht dealers relied on large boat shows to help them sell their products – which is no longer possible in the era of COVID due to concerns about crowds.

Many boat shows such as the Dubai Boat Show were canceled in 2020 and may be postponed or canceled in 2021 as well – the 2021 Miami International Boat Show, for example, has already been canceled.

Given that the US continues to see very high rates of COVID infection, it’s likely that many boat shows will need to be canceled in 2021 – or changed dramatically to ensure the risks of COVID-19 are addressed properly throughout the event.

Yacht & Boat Dealers Have Implemented New Sales Strategies Due To COVID-19

Boat shows were a big source of interest in yachts and other sport boats – and in-person tours also used to be a major part of the sales process. But with many boat dealerships operating at restricted capacities and with fewer staff, yacht and boat dealers have implemented new sales strategies.

Virtual tours are becoming more common – both using live, streaming video through tools like Zoom, and using interactive tools that allow customers to learn more about the interior, exterior, and features of a yacht on their own time. These tours used to be common only during the sales of large superyachts, but are now much more commonplace.

Travel Restrictions Make It Harder To Visit Superyachts Before A Sale

Travel restrictions due to this coronavirus are making it much more difficult for potential buyers to travel and tour superyachts in person.

Given the relatively high cost of yacht transport services, it’s not uncommon for a potential customer to travel to tour the vessel in person.

This is a particularly important issue for larger, high-end superyachts, where customers will often travel throughout the United States – or even internationally – for a tour of the vessel before committing to a purchase.

Despite COVID-19, The Yacht Industry Continues To Grow In 2020

COVID-19 has definitely changed a lot about the yacht industry – but thanks to continued demand for yachts and boats, our yacht transport services are in high demand!

Overall sales of boats and yachts continue to grow despite the pandemic – and our team of experts is more than happy to help yacht brokers, owners, and sellers get the yacht transport services they need in the US and internationally as they navigate the new world of yacht sales during COVID-19.

If you need help shipping or transporting a yacht, just give us a call at +1 (954) 686-6902 or contact Cross Chartering Yacht Transport online.