German leisure marine firms reported another year of moderate but steady growth in 2017, with sales of marine goods and services (excluding superyachts) up by 4% over the previous year to just over €2bn. Jürgen Tracht, managing director of national watersports association BVWW, told IBI that it was the best year since the financial crisis of 2008 /09 – buoyed, in part, by a strong and stable economy.  IBI talks to builders, equipment manufacturers and distributors to get a full update on Germany’s boating market.