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Basic Facts of
Recreational Vessel Population and Recreational Boating Demographics
The vast majority of recreational boats sold are small, inexpensive pleasure
craft which are used infrequently, and the overwhelming majority of recreational
boaters are middle-class Americans with an average household income of
less than $100,000 a year. Of the recreational boat population in the U.S.,
95 percent of registered mechanically-propelled boats are less than 26
feet in length.
Boater Demographic Facts & Boat Usage Facts
Boating is Popular. There are a total of 17 million recreational
boats—13 million registered plus 4 million unregistered—currently in use in the
United States. One in ten U.S. households owns a boat. In 2009, 75 million
adults—or 32 percent of all adults—went boating.
Boaters are Middle Class. More than 3 out of 4—79 percent— current boat
owners have an average household income of less than $100,000. Sixty-two percent
of current boat owners earn less than $75,000 per year.
Most Boats are Inexpensive. The average price of a new boat in 2010 was
$16,517, and the average price of a pre-owned boat was $10,323 in 2009. The
average price of a new outboard boat, motor, and trailer package in 2010 was
$27,710.
Recreational Boating is Seasonal. Boat owners spent an average of 28
days (or 14 total weekends) on the water in 2010.
Most Boats are Small. Ninety-five percent of registered
mechanically-propelled boats are less than 26 feet in length. Of the pre-owned
traditional powerboats sold in 2007, 91 percent were between 11’ and 25’ long.
For boats over 30 feet long, 90 percent were bought in the “used boat” market in
2006. The share of these boats reported as being “heavily used” dropped from 45
percent in 2006 to 25 percent in 2007.
Economic Impact Facts
Boating is Important to the Economy. Recreational boating is a major
consumer goods industry that generated $30.8 billion in sales and services in
2009 alone. In 2009, traditional powerboat sales of new and pre-owned boats
totaled $20.1 billion.
Boater Spending is Substantial. Boat-related spending (accessories,
repairs, etc.) totaled $10.8 billion in 2009. Boating trip spending in 2007
totaled $21.1 billion.
Boating Means Jobs. In 2007, recreational boating directly and
indirectly impacted 337,758 jobs with a labor income of $10.4 billion. Nearly
19,000 boating businesses employ more than 154,000 U.S. workers. |
