The Boating Industries Alliance Australia and the Marina Industries Association launched what they say is the most extensive recreational boater survey ever done with a focus on Australian users at the Marine 13 International Conference and Exhibition in Sydney.
The primary objectives of the monthly online diary survey are to quantify the economic scale of recreational boating and to better understand the characteristics, habits and behaviors of recreational boaters. Types of information that will be obtained from the survey include the number of boats, boat characteristics, boating days, trips and locations, spending, special issues and boat owner characteristics.
Marina Industries Association president Andrew Chapman indicated that the Australian recreational boating industry was fortunate to have the survey underpinned by the expertise of the Michigan State University-based Recreational Marine Research Center.
“[The Michigan research center] has already delivered high-quality marina industry research for the marina industry in Australia,” Chapman said in a statement. “This wider industry project builds on the relationship with [the center], who are globally recognized for their recreational marine research.”
Boat owners will log on to the survey registration site at www.australiaboatingsurvey.com and register to participate in the monthly online survey. Once they are registered, they will be emailed and surveyed monthly during the 12-month period.
The survey website is in test mode until Friday, when live registrations begin. The monthly survey will begin by the end of June.
