In August, Spader Business Management found that new boat sales in August, for dealers tracked by Spader, were down by 3.9 percent, compared to new boat sales last year. Dealers reported a net operating profit of 4.1 percent in 2010, compared to a net operating profit of 2.1 percent a year ago.

Total dealership sales were up by 1.7 percent over dealership sales at this point in 2009. The average dealer reported year-to-date new boat sales of $2,799,821 compared to new boat sales of $2,914,797 in 2009. Total dealership sales were $6,175,452 compared to $6,070,471 in the prior year.

Dealer spending in terms of dollars was nearly the same as it was a year ago.