Cruising boat sales declined 4 percent in 2015 to 3,117, primarily because of a drop in sterndrive cruiser sales, which fell 12.4 percent to 917 from 2014.
Cruiser sales have dropped dramatically since 2004, when roughly 25,000 were sold.
Offshore fishing boats continued to see robust sales in 2015; sales totaled $2.4 billion in 2015, rising 6.8 percent from the previous year. Watersport boat sales increased for the fourth consecutive year in 2015, with unit sales up 2.7 percent.
Boat trailer retail sales totaled $310 million in 2015, a 6.4 percent increase from 2014. Unit sales increased 8.5 percent to 180,400, but the average retail selling price fell 1.9 percent to $1,719.
The data released by the National Marine Manufacturers Association are part of its annual statistical abstract, which is being released in sections this year as the data become available.
The fifth section report of the NMMA’s 2015 U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, titled Cruiser, Watersport and Offshore Fishing Boat and Trailer Sales Trends 2004-2015, is available for download by NMMA members.
