It might be the least expected outcome after a torrid two years in boat sales but now Irish brokers have few large boats left to sell. The scarcity stems from the fact that Irish second-hands have been snapped up by foreign bargain hunters over the past two years.
"Ireland is a source for good quality, well priced second hand boats, says Broker Bernard Gallagher.
"The fact is plenty of good sail and power craft left these shores at the right price since 2008. We made many continental sailors very happy", he added. "It's surprising but for boats between 150k to 400k we now have more buyers than boats. We've done well on the export front" Gallagher of BJ Marine said.
Now that sterling has become stronger it is expected Irish boats will become even more competitively priced this Summer.
Irish dealers are combating the problem of a lack of both sail and power brokerage boats however with attractively priced new boat offers that includes bank finance options.
Unfortunately for the boat trade however demand is not across all sectors of the boat market. The bulk of the Irish market is stuck with a glut of small boat stock.
"There's plenty of evidence of dealers simply closing the doors, others are desperately trying to clear stock", said David O'Brien of the Irish Marine Federation. The problem is particularly acute in the small motor boat section where even in the good times dealers readily concede the Irish market was over supplied. "No matter what price we put them at, it makes no difference, there's no market for them" one reseller told afloat.ie.
