Powerboat sales ‘normalising’, says US association

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) reports new powerboat sales in Q1 2022 are showing signs of normalising following two years of historic growth but early indicators suggest sales will still outpace pre-pandemic levels.

In the first quarter, new powerboat retail sales totaled 54,000 units, down 20 percent compared to Q1 2021, while continuing to surpass pre-pandemic levels, up 20 percent from Q1 2019’s 45,000 units. 

“Not surprisingly, we’re seeing sales begin to stabilise following extraordinary growth in 2020 and 2021 as competition returns for consumer spending among goods and services that were in many ways inaccessible during covid, such as travel, sporting events, concerts and other activities. We expect boat sales this year to be healthy, on par with, or above, pre-pandemic levels, with forward order books strong as dealer inventory continues to catch up to meet record demand,” says Ellen Bradley, NMMA senior vice president. “This cautious optimism is measured given consumers’ continued interest in experiences, particularly outdoor recreation, economic indicators such as low unemployment and stable consumer confidence, and as we monitor downside impacts of inflation and stock market volatility on consumer sentiment.”

According to the NMMA’s latest New Powerboat Registrations Report through Q1 2022:

  • New personal watercraft retail sales while down 30 percent through Q1 2022, were 34 percent above pre-pandemic Q1 2019.  
  • New pontoon boat retail sales were down 12 percent through Q1 2022, while 49 percent above pre-pandemic Q1 2019.
  • Retail sales of new wakesport boats were down 11 percent through Q1 2022, while 62 percent above pre-pandemic Q1 2019.
  • New cruiser retail sales while down 17 percent through Q1 2022, were 17 percent above pre-pandemic Q1 2019.

Additional insights across NMMA member wholesale activity show recreational boat, engine and accessory manufacturers are working to balance inventory levels and fulfill retail orders while navigating ongoing supply chain challenges. Those supply chain challenges are expected to continue through 2022. According to NMMA’s Monthly Shipment Report, wholesale shipments of new powerboats through Q1 2022 decreased 13 percent year over year; wholesale shipments of outboard engines increased 4.8 percent year over year; and wholesale shipments of trailers increased 37.9 percent year over year.

US recreational boating industry by numbers:

  • New powerboat retail unit sales in 2021 reached approximately 300,000, the second time the industry reached that number in nearly 15 years (2020 and 2021).
  • Annual US marine industry expenditures of boats, marine products and services totaled $54 billion in 2021, up 9 percent from 2020.
  • Part of what is fueling sales for the recreational boating industry is the uptick in first-time boat buyers of new and pre-owned boats, attracting a wider net of Americans. Data shows 420,000 first-time boat buyers entered the market in 2021 – on par with 2020, a record year. First-time boat buyers accounted for 34 percent of boat sales in 2021.
  • An estimated 100 million Americans go boating each year.
  • 95 percent of boats on the water in the US are less than 26 feet – boats that can be trailered by a vehicle to local waterways.
  • 95 percent of boats sold in the US are American made.
  • The recreational boating industry supports 691,149 American jobs (511,117 direct jobs and 180,032 indirect jobs) and 35,277 American businesses.
  • Outdoor recreation generated $689 billion in gross output in 2020, during a year of shutdowns and closures, and 4.3 million jobs in communities across the country. Source – U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
  • Recreational boating and fishing are the number one contributor to the national outdoor recreation economy.
  • Traditional outdoor recreation activities – such as boating, fishing, hiking, and RVing – are thriving, increasing their contributions to the overall outdoor recreation economy by 22%.