Following a summer where many new boaters entered the market looking for ways to socially distance and enjoy the outdoors, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) reports that U.S. boat sales increased by about 12% compared to 2019. More than 310,000 new powerboats were sold in 2020, levels the recreational boating industry has not seen since before the Great Recession in 2008 — and it’s expected to continue into 2021.
“2020 was an extraordinary year for new powerboat sales as more Americans took to the water to escape pandemic stress and enjoy the outdoors safely,” says Frank Hugelmeyer, NMMA president. “For the first time in more than a decade, we saw an increase in first-time boat buyers, who helped spur growth of versatile, smaller boats — less than 26 feet — that are often towed to local waterways and provide a variety of boating experiences, from fishing to watersports.”
Other important stats that came from NMMA’s “New Powerboat Registration Data” report include: Sales of PWCs were up 8% in 2020; wakeboat sales were up 20%; and fishing boats and pontoons accounted for 50% of all new powerboats sold.
To view the report in its entirety, visit nmma.org.
