IMAGE COURTESY INFOLINKThe downward trend in powerboat sales continued in August, with all segments posting registration falloffs for an overall decline of 11.7% on a rolling, 12-month basis. Registrations across all seven segments totaled 233,870 through August, compared with 264,917 for the same period in 2023. It’s a concerning trend going into what are the slower, winter months for dealers across the country.
“The uncertainty in the marketplace continued to take its toll through late summer, and as we’ve noted previously, we expect consumer activity to remain slow until after the election,” says Matt Gruhn, president of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas.
“We’re seeing a lot of dealers focusing their efforts during this time on getting back to the basics of running their businesses more efficiently and effectively,” he adds. “That includes a focus on reinstilling sales fundamentals, like lead-nurturing, negotiating, overcoming objections and closing sales. With the right preparation, this approach will help them outperform their marketplace when leads begin to grow and, hopefully, by the time boat-show season arrives.”
The data for new-boat registration was provided by Info-Link, a Florida-based company that compiles registration numbers from the U.S. Coast Guard and individual states.
The personal watercraft segment experienced the most significant decline, down 18.4% with 67,130 units sold during a rolling 12-month period in 2024 versus 82,317 in 2023. The runabout segment saw the next-largest decline on a rolling 12-month basis, down 15.9% with a total of 16,094 registrations in 2024 versus 19,126 during the same period in 2023. Also seeing a significant downturn was the pontoon segment, off by 13%, selling 54,729 units versus 62,919 in 2023.
IMAGE COURTESY INFOLINKSome segments fared better. The freshwater fishboat category was nearly flat, with 53,275 units being sold through August compared with 53,255 at the same time in 2023. The cruiser/yacht segment declined only 4.5%, selling 4,925 units in the 12 months leading up to the end of August versus 5,156 in the year-ago period.
Breaking the categories down into overall registrations by state, only Kentucky and West Virginia saw growth, up 15% and 16% with 3,024 and 831 units, respectively. California saw the largest year-over-year decline, down 24% for a total of 7,199 registrations. Other states with less-significant declines included Wyoming, down 3%, or 394 units; Kansas, also down 3% at 1,205 units; and Oklahoma, which also posted a 3% downturn at 3,203 units sold.
Though overall personal watercraft sales were down 18.4%, the segment carved out the largest piece of the segment pie at 29% of overall new-boat registrations, selling 67,130 units in the rolling 12 months through August. Pontoon boats were next at 23% and 54,729 units, and freshwater fishboats garnered 23% of the market at 53,275 units.
In the inboard segment, towboats led the way with 86% of all powerboat sales in the rolling 12 months through August, with a total of 8,747 units. Freshwater fishboats dominated the outboard-powered market, taking a 38% share with 52,961 units, trailed closely by pontoon boats at 36% and 50,550.
