Finland’s declining boat sales reflect economic uncertainty

Sales of boats in Finland have fallen by a fifth compared with the same time last year.

The ongoing economic uncertainty means that many Finns are putting off the purchase of a new boat. Instead, they’re fixing up ones that they already own.

According to boat retailers, many shops have had to re-negotiate prices in order to seal a sale. Boats costing less than 50,000 euros are still being sold, but the sales of more expensive vessels (those costing more than 50,000 euros) are almost at a standstill.

Boaters are also operating on thriftier budgets by planning more fuel-efficent trips and using their vessels more sparingly.

Nevertheless, the popularity of boating in Finland is not sailing away any time soon. There are some 800,000 boats – the majority of which are small rowboats and motorboats – in a country with 5.4 million people.