LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), representing North American recreational boat, engine and marine accessory manufacturers, announced today that as it finalizes 2019 sales numbers, retail unit sales of new powerboats are estimated to have held steady in 2019 at approximately 280,000 units, the second highest total since 2007. The busy winter boat show season kicks off this week across the country with new powerboat sales expected to be up as much as 2% in 2020.
NMMA is the organization that hosts the Progressive Insurance Louisville Boat, RV & Sportshow each year. The annual show will return to the Kentucky Expo Center Jan. 22-26, 2020.
“Sales in 2019 were nearly on par with the 11-year high we saw in 2018, even with some softening, particularly in the freshwater fishing category, which we attribute to unseasonably cold and rainy weather in spring and early summer. Looking at 2020, with the economy on solid footing and key economic indicators like consumer spending remaining strong, we expect another healthy year for new boat sales, which could be up as much as 2%,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, NMMA president. “With approximately $42 billion per year in retail expenditures, boating is not only an economic driver but a unique vehicle for the kind of meaningful experiences consumers are seeking more and more—ones that take you outdoors, bring together family and friends, and create lasting memories.
The following new powerboat categories drove retail unit sales momentum in 2019:
- New personal watercraft sales are estimated to be up 6% to 73,000 units in 2019; with accessible entry-level price points, personal watercraft are often considered a gateway to boat ownership.
- Sales of new wake sport boats—popular for wake surfing and wakeboarding and attractive to new and younger boaters—are estimated to be up 6% to 11,000 units in 2019.
- New cruiser sales—boats between 22 and 32 feet, popular for relaxing, entertaining and ‘cruising’—are estimated to be up 3% to 9,000 units in 2019.
However, new freshwater fishing boat sales—a high-volume category—are estimated to be down 7% to 69,000 units in 2019.
U.S. boat manufacturers and dealers are gearing up for the winter boat show season around the country, an important marketing venue where manufacturers introduce their latest products and consumers come to buy. Based on association estimates, boat shows can generate 50% or more of annual sales for exhibiting dealers and manufacturers.
Shoppers at a boat show can expect to find some of the best deals of the year with the added convenience of comparing different boat models, and different dealers, in one location.
Recreational Boating by the Numbers
- Recreational boating has an annual economic impact of $379 million in Louisville, Ky.
- Annual U.S. sales of boats, marine products and services are estimated to total $42 billion in 2019, up slightly from 2018.
- Retail unit sales of new boats are estimated to have reached approximately 280,000 units in 2019, the second highest level since 2007 and flat with 2018 totals.
- It’s not just new boats Americans are buying; about 975,000 pre-owned boats are estimated to have been sold in 2019, down slightly from 2018.
- There were an estimated 11.9 million boats registered and documented in the U.S. in 2019, relatively unchanged from 2018.
- 95% of boats on the water (powerboats, personal watercraft and sailboats) in the U.S. are small in size, measuring less than 26 feet in length—boats that can be trailered by a vehicle to local waterways.
- 62% of boat owners have a household income less than $100,000, making boating a solidly middle-class recreational pursuit.
- Outdoor recreation accounts for 2.2% of U.S. GDP, generating $778 billion in gross economic output—on par with the telecommunications industry (2.3%)—of which recreational boating and fishing is the single largest segment, contributing nearly $40 billion in gross output. (Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis)
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