It’s no secret that for the past few years, new boats and new outboard motors have been hard to come by. Supply chain issues and a huge surge in demand to be outdoors created a massive backlog with outboard manufacturers. Of course as demand surges and supply shrinks, prices go up. So now that most of the craziness has simmered down, let’s take a look at where to find value in the Outboard Motor Industry.
The good news is things are slowly getting back to normal. Manufacturers are able to meet demand and even have both boat and motors in stock. Mercury Marine, for example, was estimating a 6-12 month delay when ordering most motors just 12 months ago. Now, most motors can be shipped from Mercury in 1-2 days and many Mercury Marine Dealers have plenty of outboard motors in stock. So now that inventory has stabilized, what about pricing?
Now that dealers have supply on the shelves, we can anticipate incentives, discounts and close-outs in the months ahead. The first incentive we have encountered in 2023 is the Mercury Marine “Get 5 Years” promo. This program offers an additional 2 years Factory Backed Mercury Marine for FREE when you purchase a new outboard motor by March 31, 2023. There is tremendous value in purchasing your outboard motor from a reputable outboard dealer. Good dealers who truly care about their customers will be sure to get you in the right motor the first time.
Another way to save money when buying a new motor is to find a dealer who takes trade-ins. Trading in your motor for a new one takes the hassle out of placing an ad, fielding inquiries and taking people for a test drive.
Finally, if you are looking for an outboard to re-power your existing boat, consider finding a dealer that does not sell boats. There are dealers out there that sell engines and motors but not entire boat packages. These dealers often times take lower profit margins to move inventory. You should also get better service as they are generally are smaller outfits that care about you.
