NMMA’S latest Monthly Recreational Boating Industry Data Summary shows that total new powerboat retail unit sales fell 8.2% year-over-year for the 12-month period ending in January. Looking at January 2025 compared with January 2024, however, new retail unit sales were up 1% (7,809 vs. 7,765 units), the first time sales increased during January since 2021.
“There was positive momentum peeking through in January that we saw playing out at our boat shows — while overall traffic was flat or down, buyers were out and bringing signs of a return to growth as we kicked off the New Year,” NMMA chief brand officer Ellen Bradley said in a statement.
Key findings from the January report include:
• Wholesale shipments declined 23.2% over the same period, pointing to tightening inventory strategies across the supply chain.
• Despite a 1% uptick in year-to-date retail unit sales — driven primarily by freshwater fishing boats — the broader picture remains cautious.
• The freshwater fishing boat segment posted a 3.8% year-over-year increase in retail sales, including a 19.8% boost in January compared with the same month last year.
The Monthly Recreational Boating Industry Data Summary report is available at no cost for members.
