Boat Shopping Season is Here

It may be winter, but don’t be fooled! This is the best time for boat shopping. The more you know about next year’s trends now, the better off you’ll be when boating season arrives. Industry experts from Texas have divulged trends they’re already seeing, including what families are looking for, popular styles and brands, and even how much the industry has changed over the last decade.

Buzz Watkins of Sail & Ski in Austin, Texas will be exhibiting at the 2020 Austin Boat and Travel Trailer Show in January, and has exhibited for more than two decades. He said buying a boat didn’t used to be so complicated.

“The most interesting thing is that I’ve been doing this for 40 years and it used to be pretty simple. We might have one kind of boat that was popular in four or five sizes,” Watkins said. “Now, there are six or seven kinds of boats and a lot more sizes to choose from, not to mention the different colors and motor styles.”

It’s important to stay open-minded and consider your options. Going to boat shows and expos can be helpful because you can see all different types, sizes and colors of boats in person, instead of shopping for them online or in catalogs.

When consumers are shopping for boats for the family, they typically look for a lot of seating and room, above all else. They also want to make sure they have a smooth ride. Watkins mentioned that when lakes are busy, it’s important to have a boat that can handle the rough water, like a pontoon boat or a larger-sized boat. He also said family boaters love to wake surf, and the popularity of it has probably tripled in the last five years. Boat brands have recently added variants to products to provide wake surfing capabilities, and you don’t have to look only towards water sport-specific brands anymore.

One major boating trend for 2020 is jet boats, which are boats with the technology of a jet ski. Since these types of boats don’t have propellers, new boaters are drawn to them because of safety concerns. Watkins also loves Kawasaki’s stand-up jet skis because they will have quieter motors and are designed to be easy to use for new riders, but also come with capabilities for experienced riders too, so it covers a broad range of interests.

PJ Buerger of Princess Craft RV is also exhibiting at the 2020 Austin Boat and Travel Trailer Show. She’s excited to show her truck campers, which are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts who like to camp and boat.

“We have the largest selection of truck campers in Texas,” Buerger said. “A lot of people haven’t thought about how you could tow your camper and your boat at the same time, so that’s something customers get excited to see at the show.”

Buerger has noticed consumers are paying more attention to quality when it comes to buying into their new outdoor adventure.

“There are many choices when it comes to trailers, but customers have been looking more for quality in the past few years. They’re understanding the difference between quality and entry-level,” Buerger said. “New buyers are becoming more and more educated, to the point where they decide they don’t want to start with an entry-level trailer, but something smaller and more light weight.”

By going to shows and seeing different models, you can order your dream boat in your favorite color now (while prices are lower and the selection is bigger), and it will be ready to ride just in time for summer. For dates and more information about the 2020 Austin Boat and Travel Trailer Show, visit www.austinboatshow.com.