Estimated recreational boat sales increased 6.4 percent in 2016 to an eight-year high of 254,300 units.
High-volume outboard boats were up 6.1 percent, followed by personal watercraft, which were up 7.3 percent. Inboard ski and wakeboard boats showed an increase of 11.5 percent, and jet boats were up 8.7 percent.
Total recreational marine expenditures reached a high of $36 billion in 2016, a boost of 3.2 percent from 2015, according to new data released by the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
The increase reflects growth in spending on new and pre-owned boats and components, offset by a 4.6 percent decrease in spending on fuel and other maintenance costs.
Spending on new boats accounted for $9 billion of the total and was up 7.6 percent from 2015, the NMMA reported in the seventh and final section of its 2016 U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, titled “Industry Sales by Category and State 2004-2016.”
The pre-owned market accounted for $9.2 billion of total expenditures, up two percent from 2015.
In terms of new boat expenditures, Florida led all states: boaters in Florida spent $2.5 billion on new powerboats, engines, trailers and aftermarket accessories in 2016. Texas, Michigan, Minnesota and North Carolina rounded out the top five, in that order.
