The bleeding of the 15-foot-and-over U.S. powerboat market leveled out somewhat in September, as new-boat registrations posted a decline of 9.2% compared with an 11.7% decline in August. Registrations across all seven segments totaled 232,731 units through September on a rolling, 12-month basis compared with 263,341 for the same period in 2023. The numbers still note a decline, though the sharpness of the downward curve appears to have flattened somewhat, if only for the month.

Data for new-boat registrations was provided by Info-Link, a Florida-based company that compiles registration numbers from the Coast Guard and individual states.

The pontoon category continued to lead the downward trend in September, down 17.2% with 2,614 units sold compared with being down 9.6% at 3,156 units during the same month a year ago. Next in line was the cruiser/yacht segment, which posted an 18% decline at 307 units compared with being down only 3.4% at 374 units in September 2023. Third was the saltwater fishboat category, which was down 15.9% in September at 1,410 units compared with being down 8.4% or 1,676 units during the month a year ago.

Looking at the numbers on a rolling, 12-month basis through September, the largest decline is seen in the PWC market, which was down 18.6% at 16,646 units. The runabout category is next, down 15.7% at 15,999 units. The pontoon category follows, down 13.5% at 54,140 units sold on a rolling, 12-month basis. Towboats rounded out the down markets over 12 months at 11.38% and 8,806 units.

Heading toward the end of the year, Florida, Texas, Michigan Minnesota and Wisconsin topped overall registrations at 31,256, 16,734, 12,285, 9,402 and 9,204 units sold, respectively, on a rolling, 12-month basis — though all saw overall declines during the same period. Only Kentucky and West Virginia saw positive registration numbers for the 12-month period, at 3,025 and 858 units, respectively.

Divvying up the overall category pile, PWC represented the largest portion of the market for the rolling 12 months through September at 29%, followed by pontoons at 23%, freshwater fishboats at 23%, saltwater fishboats at 10%, runabouts at 7%, towboats at 4%, unclassified/other at 2% and cruisers/yachts at 2%. Overall, new-boat registrations were down on a rolling, 12-month basis through September by 11.6%, which represents 30,610 units when compared with the same period in 2023.