New Boat Buyers Want Bigger Vessels and High-Tech Features, Dealers Say

Spending afternoons on the boat is the new getaway vacation, only easier, more accessible but just as fun.

That’s what Tony Villareale, owner of Hampton Watercraft in Hampton Bays, said when he started talking about what his customers are looking for this season.

“People don’t have as much time as they used to have,” he said. “Their time off includes short trips with family and friends in shorter spurts.”

The resolution for less days off from work or inaccessibility to travel farther away? Buy a boat.

According to a report by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, 431,474 vessels were registered in 2023. And that number is growing every year.

Strong’s Marine Marketing Manager Ally Stacy noticed that many customers are coming in for larger boats this season compared to others.

“Every year that I’ve worked here, the size of boats people are buying are increasing,” she said. “A lot of first-time boat buyers are not doing 21 footers — they’re doing 30 footers.”

Stacy said she often sees new boaters buying smaller vessels and once the season is done, they realize it didn’t fit all their needs so they come back looking for bigger. With a bigger boat comes the frills that everybody wants.

“We stay up to date on the new tech and what the customers are focusing on,” she added.

Stacy said that customers will complete a survey after their purchases asking if there is anything they would want to see changed in the particular model. One thing that they’re seeing often is boats that offer more ease out on the open sea.

Take the GarmRest, a new feature from Regal Boats. With the idea that “everything is at your fingertips,” the GarmRest incorporates two Garmin displays integrated into the armrests of the captain’s seats, giving them more control and convenience at the ready.

She also mentioned the Cobalt Surf Gage, a new technology people have become more interested in. Using high-speed hydraulic actuators, Surf Gate creates an endless surfable wave on either side of the boat creating long, high, clean waves with good pushback.

“Consumers have a lot of power with the internet,” Stacy said. “They can research, find what they actually want and need, and it’s become much easier for them to do that.”

But there’s a common denominator all the time — the frills, just like in a brand-new car.

“Everyone wants the bells and whistles,” she said. “The nice thing about Strong’s is we know that’s what the customer wants, so we order boats fully stocked.”

Yvonne Lieblein, general manager of Port of Egypt in Southold, said they have noticed the technology on the newer models has completely evolved.

Take the Seakeeper that locks the boat in on a dime. The Seakeeper applies the physics of gyroscopes to the age-old problem of boat roll. The gyroscope tech is something that large ships utilized more than a century ago, but Seakeepers are now able to create gyro stabilization on the smaller scale. The Yamaha Helm Master EX is also intriguing to buyers thanks to its digital steering system. The Helm Master boasts itself as a fully-integrated boat control system that enhances maneuverability, especially when docking, and offers features like automatic outboard trim, speed control and steering friction control.

“We’re responding to consumer feedback,” Lieblein said. “And we’re bringing anything in that makes boating more cohesive.”

She added that as part of the bells and whistles people enjoy in every vehicle, GPS, fish finders and depth finders are always on the list.

Different vessel engines are trending, too, according to Villareale. He said that his customers are shifting to a larger motor, specifically the Mercury V12 outboard, which he said is “a game changer.”

“It was made specially for larger boats, 38 feet and above, so it performs like an inboard engine,” he said.

Villareale added that it also has a “much greater stern fit” and allows the boat to plane at low speeds without any bow rise. They’re more durable and spin two props which has multiple advantages.

“It helps with appropriate stern lift with all that blade in the water and those props are a much bigger diameter,” he said.

Along with bigger props, people, again, are looking for bigger boats.

“Buyers in the larger boats are very much day boating,” he said. “They’re not spending days and overnights in the boats, so they’re looking for use of space, but not so much cabin space.”

Villareale said that people are looking for larger vessels with more outdoor space rather than buying for the indoor cabin.

“Our boaters are fair-weather boaters for the most part,” he said, “And they’re not doing long trips anymore … that’s a trend across the country.”

So, this season is forecasting a few things; more user-friendly amenities, faster models and the bigger the better. But the biggest trend? Boating is the new staycation.

“Boats are the cheapest vacation you’ll ever have,” Lieblein said.