Malibu Boats sees K-shaped demand as buyers split between financing pressure and premium upgrades

Malibu Boats says the recreational-boat market is showing a K-shaped pattern. Buyers who depend on financing are under pressure from high interest rates, rising energy prices and other costs, and some have moved to the sidelines while waiting for conditions to improve. The company says it is seeking ways to help these customers enter the market.

Meanwhile, consumers still buying boats are choosing larger, more feature-rich models, pushing average sales prices higher. Higher-end buyers are prioritizing length, beam width, comfort and technology, including systems that automatically reconfigure surf settings for different users at the push of a button. The longer-term effects of interest rates, energy prices and other factors remain unresolved.