Surfing a $12.6 billion wave of economic activity, Australia's boating industry proves to be a formidable and thriving engine powering coastal communities and the national economy alike.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Australian boating industry contributed $12.6 billion to the national GDP, representing 0.5% of total GDP
- The boating sector supported 82,000 full-time equivalent jobs in Australia as of 2022
- Boating tourism generated $4.2 billion in direct expenditure in 2021-22
- Trailer boat sales dominated with 75% market share in 2022, totaling 16,900 units
- New powerboat sales rose 12% to 18,200 units in FY2022
- Yacht sales increased by 20% to 1,200 units in 2022, driven by luxury segment
- Australia had 923,000 registered recreational vessels in 2022
- 18% of Australian households owned a boat in 2021, totaling 1.9 million people involved
- Queensland had the highest boat registrations at 285,000 in 2022
- The boating industry employed 82,000 people directly in 2022
- Manufacturing subsector had 15,000 jobs in 2022
- Retail and dealerships employed 25,000 FTE in 2022
- Boating fatalities dropped to 35 in 2021-22, lowest in decade
- 72% of fatalities involved males aged 30-60 in 2022
- Australia has 1,250 public marinas with 85,000 berths in 2022
The Australian boating industry is a multi-billion dollar economic engine supporting thousands of jobs.
Economic Impact
- In 2022, the Australian boating industry contributed $12.6 billion to the national GDP, representing 0.5% of total GDP
- The boating sector supported 82,000 full-time equivalent jobs in Australia as of 2022
- Boating tourism generated $4.2 billion in direct expenditure in 2021-22
- Retail sales of new boats reached $1.8 billion in FY2022, up 15% from previous year
- The industry paid $5.1 billion in wages and salaries in 2022
- Boating-related imports totaled $2.3 billion in 2022, primarily engines and accessories
- Domestic boating supply chain expenditure was $8.9 billion in 2022
- The sector induced $3.4 billion in household spending in 2022
- Boating exports grew by 8% to $450 million in 2022
- Fuel sales for recreational boating amounted to $1.1 billion annually in 2021
- Maintenance and repair services generated $2.7 billion in revenue in 2022
- New boat sales volume increased to 22,500 units in 2022
- The industry's total economic output multiplier effect was 2.1 in 2022
- Boating contributed $1.2 billion to state government taxes in 2022
- Charter boat operations earned $650 million in 2021-22
- In 2022, the Australian boating industry contributed $12.6 billion to GDP, up 5% from 2021
- Induced economic effects from boating totaled $3.4 billion in household consumption in 2022
- Boating sector taxes to federal government were $2.8 billion in 2022
Economic Impact Interpretation
The Australian boating industry is far more than just a sunny day hobby; it's a formidable economic tide lifting everything from national GDP and job creation to tourism and exports, all while floating on a sea of taxes, wages, and retail therapy.
Employment
- The boating industry employed 82,000 people directly in 2022
- Manufacturing subsector had 15,000 jobs in 2022
- Retail and dealerships employed 25,000 FTE in 2022
- Marine services technicians numbered 18,000 in 2022
- Charter and tourism boat operations employed 12,000 in 2021-22
- QLD boating sector jobs totaled 22,000 in 2022
- Average wage in boating manufacturing was $85,000 pa in 2022
- NSW marine employment was 20,000 jobs in 2022
- Apprenticeships in boat building reached 1,200 in 2022
- VIC boat repair shops employed 8,500 people in 2022
- Female employment in industry grew to 28% in 2022
- WA marine sector jobs were 9,000 in 2022
- Skills shortage affected 35% of marine businesses in 2022 survey
- Tourism boating jobs increased 10% post-COVID to 15,000 in 2022
- Boat builders certification holders numbered 4,500 in 2022
- Manufacturing jobs grew 3% to 15,500 in boat building 2022
- Dealership employment turnover rate was 12% in 2022
- Offshore racing crew jobs number 2,500 seasonally
- Training completions in marine mechanics: 850 in 2022
- SA marine industry employs 4,200 directly in 2022
- Remote area boating jobs (NT) total 1,800 in tourism
- 42% of businesses report mechanic shortages in 2022
- Median marine technician salary $92,000 pa in 2022
- Event staffing for boating shows employs 5,000 annually
- TAS boat building workshops employ 1,200 skilled workers
Employment Interpretation
Behind every blissful Australian enjoying a day on the water, there's a surprisingly robust and stressed-out army of 82,000 professionals building, fixing, selling, and certifying the boats, all while desperately trying to hire more mechanics.
Participation and Ownership
- Australia had 923,000 registered recreational vessels in 2022
- 18% of Australian households owned a boat in 2021, totaling 1.9 million people involved
- Queensland had the highest boat registrations at 285,000 in 2022
- NSW boat owners numbered 250,000 in 2022
- Average boat ownership tenure is 12 years in Australia
- 45% of boats are used primarily for fishing, per 2022 survey
- Victoria registered 145,000 vessels in 2022
- 32% of owners are aged 35-54, the largest demographic in 2022
- WA had 95,000 recreational boats registered in 2022
- Membership in boating clubs exceeded 250,000 in 2022
- 28% growth in female boat ownership since 2015, reaching 22% in 2022
- SA registrations stood at 55,000 boats in 2022
- Annual boating participation rate is 12.5% of population, or 3.1 million people
- Tasmania had 28,000 registered vessels in 2022
- Multi-hull ownership increased 15% to 45,000 vessels since 2018
- NT boat registrations were 12,000 in 2022
- Average annual usage per boat is 85 hours in 2022
- 55-64 age group owns 25% of all registered boats in 2022
- Sydney Harbour boat density is 1 vessel per 10 hectares of water
- Interstate boating trips totaled 1.2 million annually pre-2023
- ACT residents own 5,000 boats despite no coastline, registered interstate
- Overnight boating trips average 4 nights per trip for 25% of owners
- Diesel engines power 22% of recreational fleet in 2022
- Corporate boat ownership is 8% of total registrations
- Youth participation (under 18) in boating is 15% of total
- Median boat value owned is $45,000 in 2022 survey
Participation and Ownership Interpretation
Australia is a nation so devoted to its boats that, statistically speaking, we're practically a floating continent held together by fishing lines, diesel fumes, and the stubborn determination of a quarter-million club members to have a serious chat about the marina's new parking rules.
Safety and Infrastructure
- Boating fatalities dropped to 35 in 2021-22, lowest in decade
- 72% of fatalities involved males aged 30-60 in 2022
- Australia has 1,250 public marinas with 85,000 berths in 2022
- Capsizing caused 18% of incidents in 2021-22
- PFD wear rate improved to 65% in monitored incidents 2022
- Total boating accidents reported: 4,200 in 2021-22
- Marina occupancy rate averaged 92% nationally in 2022
- Alcohol involved in 22% of fatalities in 2022
- QLD had 450 marina berths added in 2022
- Serious injuries from boating: 1,150 cases in 2021-22
- NSW ramp infrastructure includes 620 public boat ramps
- AIS adoption on recreational vessels reached 15% in 2022
- EPIRB carriage compliance 98% in checked vessels 2022
- VIC dry storage facilities hold 25,000 boats in 2022
- Weather-related incidents down 12% due to better forecasting in 2022
- Australia has 22,000 km of navigable waterways for boating
- Over 1,000 km of new breakwaters built since 2010 for safe havens
- Boating incident rate per 100,000 hours is 2.1 nationally 2022
- 95% of marinas meet international safety standards in 2022 audit
- Mobile phone distress signals used in 40% of rescues 2022
- Fuel spills incidents reduced to 120 in 2021-22
- WA coastline has 350 public ramps, most in Australia
- VHF radio carriage mandatory compliance 88% in 2022 checks
- Dry stack storage capacity grew 20% to 35,000 spaces by 2022
- Collision incidents: 1,800 reported in 2021-22
- Boating education courses completed: 150,000 since 2015
Safety and Infrastructure Interpretation
The Australian boating industry has achieved its safest decade on record by expanding and upgrading infrastructure, improving safety gear compliance, and harnessing better forecasting, yet it remains a sobering reality that the most stubborn risk factor is still a middle-aged man with a beer making poor choices.
Sales and Manufacturing
- Trailer boat sales dominated with 75% market share in 2022, totaling 16,900 units
- New powerboat sales rose 12% to 18,200 units in FY2022
- Yacht sales increased by 20% to 1,200 units in 2022, driven by luxury segment
- Boat manufacturing output was $1.2 billion in 2021-22
- Personal watercraft (PWC) sales hit 4,500 units in 2022, up 25%
- Aluminium boat production led with 45% of new builds in 2022
- Engine sales for boats totaled 28,000 units in 2022, valued at $950 million
- Fibreglass hulls accounted for 35% of new trailer boat sales in 2022
- Commercial vessel new builds were 150 units in 2022
- Kayak and canoe sales surged 30% to 12,000 units in 2022
- Marine electronics sales reached $450 million in 2022
- Used boat sales market was valued at $3.5 billion in 2022
- Sailboat new sales were 850 units in 2022, down 5% YoY
- Boat trailer sales hit 20,000 units in 2022
- Fishing boat segment sales grew 18% to 9,500 units in 2022
- New powerboat registrations hit record 20,300 in 2022
- Outboard motor sales volume was 25,000 units valued at $800 million in 2022
- Boat brokerage sales averaged $2.8 billion annually 2020-22
- GRP (fibreglass) boats comprised 40% of new sales by value in 2022
- Import share of new boats was 55% in 2022
- Rigids (non-inflatable) dominated PWC market with 85% share in 2022
Sales and Manufacturing Interpretation
While Australia's boating industry in 2022 reveals a nation firmly wedded to the practical freedom of trailer boats, the significant growth in luxury yachts and personal watercraft suggests we're equally committed to compensating for our inland deserts with extravagant displays on the water.
Sources & References
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