The numbers of boats sold in Washington state and the value of those sales jumped during the last quarter of 2009, suggesting that the industry is finally on the upswing.

But the good news is tempered by an alarming drop in new boat sales and increasing numbers of people buying boats out of state and through private deals, a trend that has been growing in recent months.

Data recently released by the University of Washington Sea Grant program and the state Department of Licensing points to an industry in transition, one showing signs of recovery and also cause for concern.

On the upside, total boat sales—including new and used, and by dealers and private sellers—were up 1,141 units or 31.5 percent during the last three months of 2009, increasing for the third straight quarter. And the value of units sold jumped almost 50 percent compared with the same period in 2008, an increase of $28 million.

“That’s encouraging,” said John Thorburn, director of communications and marketing for the Northwest Marine Trade Association. “In the second and third quarter of last year, we saw an increase in the units (sold) but a decrease in the value. A lot of dealers and brokers were just trying to get rid of their boats and not selling them for any kind of profit or margin.”

But new boat sales dropped by 25.8 percent last quarter, translating to nearly $2.8 million less in value over the same period last year. The shift suggests an increased preference for used boats among price-conscious buyers, but Thorburn said the drop in new boat sales can also be explained by smaller inventories among dealers, some of whom became stuck with excess stock when the recession took hold.

Going forward, he said, dealers will have smaller inventories and buyers will no longer be able to tour showrooms stocked with a broad selection of boats.

“There’s going to be a shift in inventory numbers from here on out,” Thorburn said. “From a buyer’s perspective, there are going to be fewer opportunities for someone to buy a boat and be on the water that weekend. It’s almost going to be build to order.”

But that’s not likely to worry the growing number of buyers opting for used boats. Many price-conscious buyers were seeking out used boats and increasingly buying from out of state or through private deals. The number of used boats purchased in private deals out of state increased by 39 percent, translating to 844 more boats than in the same period last year. That’s bad news for brokers, Thorburn said.

“Dealers here are having to compete with other dealers or sellers outside of the region that are underpricing their boats,” he said, but pointed out that the state does not track the number of boats purchased in Washington by people from out of state.

“We don’t know how many boats are being bought by California residents, for example, from a dealer or broker here and registered there.”

The fourth quarter numbers seem somewhat out of sync with the recent Seattle Boat Show, which ran Jan. 29 through Feb. 6. Exhibitors reported enthusiastic crowds and sales of boats ranging from dinghies to luxury yachts. Though exact numbers are not available, boats were reportedly sold at both Lake Union, the outdoor portion of the show, and at Qwest Field Event Center, where with very few exceptions, only new boats were on display.

“The buyers were out. Hopefully we’ll see the upswing heading into the first and second quarter of this year,” Thorburn said. “We’re certainly not out of the woods yet, but we’re getting there.”