Outboard boat retail sales increased 14.4 percent to $3.8 billion in 2015 from the previous year, once again led by pontoon boat sales as sterndrive boat sales continued to decline for the 10th consecutive year.
Fiberglass outboard boats led in sales growth, rising 17.9 percent to $2.4 billion; sales of aluminum outboard boats were up 9.1 percent to $1.5 billion.
Overall unit sales totaled 155,800, up 7.6 percent in 2015 from 2014, according to data released by the National Marine Manufacturers Association today in the sixth section report of the NMMA’s 2015 U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract. The report is titled Powerboat Sales Trends 2004-2015.
The average retail price of an outboard boat, without engine and trailer, increased 6.3 percent to $24,570 in 2015 and the average retail price of an outboard boat package with engine and trailer rose 5.3 percent to $38,385 from 2014.
In 2015, the average price of an outboard engine increased by 4.4 percent to $12,096 and dropped slightly for a boat trailer, down 1.9 percent to $1,719.
Pontoons continued to lead outboard boat sales in 2015 with a 28.7 percent share of the market, unchanged from 2014. “Other” fish boats, center console boats and bass boats also were market share leaders.
Sterndrive boat retail sales decreased 9.4 percent to $924 million in 2015, compared with $1 billion in 2014. Unit sales declined for the 10th consecutive year and fell 7.2 percent in 2015 to 12,900 sterndrive boats. The average retail price of a sterndrive boat decreased as well. It was down 2.4 percent to $71,643 in 2015, compared with $73,371 the previous year.
In 2015 inboard retail sales totaled $2.8 billion, down 0.7 percent from 2014.
Ski/wakeboard boat sales totaled $686 million, up 16.7 percent from 2014, but cruiser sales decreased 5.3 percent to $2.1 billion.
The average retail price of an inboard ski/wakeboard boat in 2015 was $87,903, up 6.3 percent from $82,718 in 2014. The average price of an inboard cruiser decreased 5.3 percent to $973,981 in 2015, from $1 million in 2014.
