Gitnux/Report 2026

Boat Manufacturing Industry Statistics

The global boats market is estimated at $38.67 billion for 2026, explore the figures behind growth, companies and trends.
237Statistics
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12Sections
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Samuel NorbergWritten by Samuel Norberg·Fact-checked by Maya Johansson
Published
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

Before any source is gathered, an editor locks the question, what qualifies, and how the piece will be judged.

02Source Research

Search agents collect the source set and pull each data point out with its provenance attached.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 31 days

01 Industry overview

The boat manufacturing industry at a glance

The global boats market was valued at $36.31 billion in 2025, while U.S. new boat retail sales fell 8.8% to 215,237 units, signaling normalization after the pandemic-era demand surge.

$36.31B[60]
Global boats market, 2025
8.20%[60]
Global CAGR, 2026–2034
215,237[2]
U.S. new boats sold, 2025
50.88%[60]
North America share, 2025
Market size
The global boats market was valued at $36.31 billion in 2025 and is estimated at $38.67 billion for 2026. In the United States, total retail boating sales reached $55.6 billion in 2024, including new and pre-owned boats, engines, trailers, equipment, services and related spending.[60][23]
Forecast & CAGR
The global boats market is projected to reach $72.71 billion by 2034, implying an 8.20% CAGR from 2026 to 2034. The recreational boat segment is forecast to grow from $17.47 billion in 2026 to $28.87 billion in 2034, a 6.48% CAGR.[60]
Market share & regions
North America held 50.88% of the global boats market in 2025, worth $18.48 billion, while Europe accounted for 28.02%, or $10.17 billion. Asia Pacific represented 13.07% and is identified as a faster-growing regional market.[60]
Segmentation
The 20–50-foot category is projected to represent 48.05% of the global market in 2026, while recreational boats are expected to account for 80.43%. Product segmentation also includes inboard and outboard boats, commercial and recreational end users, electric and conventional propulsion, and fiberglass, aluminum, steel and other hull materials.[60]
Key players & concentration
The U.S. ship and boat building industry had 1,255 firms in 2022, of which 1,213, or 96.7%, were small businesses. Those small firms generated $14.7 billion in receipts, equal to 31.0% of total industry receipts, indicating a fragmented supplier base alongside larger manufacturers.[59]
Trends, drivers & challenges
U.S. new boat retail sales declined 8.8% year over year to 215,237 units in 2025, as elevated interest rates, inflation and subdued consumer confidence weighed on discretionary purchases. Demand was comparatively resilient in freshwater fishing boats, whose unit sales declined only 1.5%, while entry-level, trailerable and personal-watercraft categories remained important volume drivers.[2]
Consumer behavior & competition
Pre-owned boats represented approximately 80% of total annual U.S. boat unit sales and reached nearly 860,000 units in 2024, down 6.5% from 2023. New powerboat sales were concentrated in accessible categories, with entry-level segments accounting for more than 90% of retail unit activity in 2025.[2]
M&A
In April 2025, defense technology company Saronic acquired boatbuilder Gulf Craft and planned to use its Louisiana shipyard to produce larger autonomous vessels. The transaction followed a reported $600 million Saronic funding round and illustrates increasing overlap between commercial boat manufacturing and autonomous defense-vessel production.[61]
Regulation
The IMO Net-Zero Framework is designed to introduce mandatory marine-fuel intensity standards and greenhouse-gas pricing for oceangoing ships above 5,000 gross tonnage, which account for more than 85% of global shipping emissions. The framework was scheduled for formal adoption in October 2025, with entry into force expected in 2027, increasing pressure for lower-emission propulsion and vessel designs in applicable segments.[62]
Latest news
The latest full-year U.S. data released in March 2026 showed 215,237 new boats sold at retail in 2025, down from 236,070 in 2024. NMMA described the 2026 market as relatively stable, with new powerboat unit sales expected to be flat to slightly higher than in 2025.[2]

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Boat Manufacturing Industry

The leading companies in the boat manufacturing industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 11, 2026 · Next review December 11, 2026

Verdict

Azimut|Benetti Group stands out for luxury and superyacht scale because it had 163 yachts under construction in the 2026 Global Order Book, while Viking Group focuses on sportfishing and motor yachts since it manufactures for leisure use across global markets.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in luxury superyachts

    Azimut|Benetti Group

    IT

    Ranked #1 · 9.4 · Luxury superyachts

    Why we picked it: It builds luxury and superyachts globally, and its 2026 order book lists 163 yachts under construction.

    See in ranking ↓Visit azimutbenetti.com ↗

  2. Leader in sportfishing motor yachts

    Viking Group

    US

    Ranked #2 · 9.4 · Sportfishing motor yachts

    Why we picked it: It concentrates on sportfishing and motor yachts for leisure markets with global coverage.

    See in ranking ↓Visit vikingyachts.com ↗

  3. Leader in wake, sport & fishing boats

    Malibu Boats

    US

    Ranked #5 · 8.7 · Wake, sport & fishing boats

    Why we picked it: It reports $914.6 million in fiscal 2026 net sales across four boat segments for wake, sport and fishing categories.

    See in ranking ↓Visit malibuboatsinc.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Picks 2 and 3 are the highest-ranked companies in the top 5 that add a new segment.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the boat manufacturing industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

Azimut|Benetti Group

Luxury superyachts · IT

9.4
2

Viking Group

Sportfishing motor yachts · US

9.4
3

Ferretti Group

Luxury superyachts · IT

8.9
4

Sanlorenzo

Luxury superyachts · IT

8.8
5

Malibu Boats

Wake, sport & fishing boats · US

8.7
6

Princess Yachts

Luxury motor yachts, global · GB

8.6
7

MasterCraft Boat Holdings

Ski, wake and performance boats, global · US

8.4
8

Groupe Beneteau

Sailboats, powerboats and catamarans, global · FR

8.4
9

Smoker Craft

Aluminum fishing and utility boats, North America · US

8.2
10

Nimbus Group

Premium motorboats, Europe and global · SE

8.2

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 11, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 11). Top 10 companies in the boat manufacturing industry. In Boat Manufacturing Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/boat-manufacturing-industry-statistics/#top-companies

report visual · Comparison

Revenue of the largest boat manufacturing companies

Azimut|Benetti Group leads with $1.6B in annual revenue (group level, converted to USD).

Azimut|Benetti Group$1.6B
Ferretti Group$1.4B
Sanlorenzo$1.0B
Groupe Beneteau$917M
Malibu Boats$915M
MasterCraft Boat Holdings$284M
source-verifiedazimutyachts.com · financialfilings.com · sanlorenzoyacht.com · press.beneteau-group.com · malibuboatsinc.com · investors.mastercraft.com2026

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

Technology & Innovation centers on AI, robotics and digital twins, with $4.13 billion estimated for global maritime AI in 2024 and a stated 23% five-year CAGR.

AI in the boat manufacturing industry

  • USD 4.13 billion was the estimated global maritime artificial-intelligence market in 2024, with a projected 23% five-year CAGR; the market includes marine and vessel applications relevant to boat manufacturers.[1]
  • AI, radar, cameras and real-time data sharing were being tested by American marine manufacturers in 2026 to improve whale detection and vessel safety.[2]

Automation in the boat manufacturing industry

  • Advanced robotics could automate repetitive shipyard tasks such as welding and painting, according to a 2026 analysis of the U.S. shipbuilding workforce.[3]
  • Digitised manufacturing, digital design, robotics and digital twins were identified as major future manufacturing opportunities by maritime-industry survey respondents in 2024.[4]

Digital Transformation in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 51% identified high costs as a challenge to digitalizing logistics operations in 2025.[5]
  • Across surveyed freight forwarders and logistics providers, 23% had digitized more than 75% of business processes or transactions in November 2024.[6]
  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 69% expected digitalization to improve efficiency in 2025.[5]
  • Across surveyed freight forwarders and logistics providers, 49% had digitized 50% or fewer of business processes or transactions in November 2024.[6]
  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 63% expected digitalization to enhance customer experience in 2025.[5]

Technology Adoption in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across transportation and logistics organizations, 53% were partially or fully deploying AI to reduce workloads in 2024.[7]
  • Across transportation and logistics organizations, 53% were partially or fully deploying automated real-time shipment tracking to address knowledge-worker shortages in 2024.[7]
  • Across transportation and logistics executives surveyed in Europe and North America, 44% were using AI for transportation planning and optimization in 2025.[8]
  • Among 2026 transportation-management survey respondents, 15% of logistics service providers reported using AI at scale.[7]
  • Among 2026 transportation-management survey respondents, 19% of shippers reported using AI at scale.[7]

Cloud Computing in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 89% planned to increase AI and machine-learning investment during the following one to two years.[9]
  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 75% said cloud was crucial to their organization’s future in 2023.[9]
  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 85% said leadership viewed cloud as a long-term investment in 2023.[9]
  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 84% had increased AI and machine-learning investment during the preceding one to two years.[9]

Big Data in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • 38% of surveyed GCC logistics organizations used structured data, while 20% recognized a systematic link between data and business insights, according to a 2023 study.[10]
  • 12.5% of transportation and storage enterprises used both cloud computing and big-data analytics, according to the OECD’s 2026 sectoral comparison of enterprise technology adoption.[11]
  • 45% of surveyed multinational logistics and supply-chain organizations said in 2024 that they were using logistics data to its full potential, according to a survey of 60 organizations.[12]
  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 49% expected digitalization to improve data visibility in 2025.[5]
  • 9.5% of transportation and storage enterprises used big-data analytics alone in the OECD’s 2026 cross-sector comparison, based on the latest available enterprise data.[11]
  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 34% identified data analytics, including cloud platforms and AI-powered solutions, as the most critical technology in 2025.[5]

IoT in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • 53% of surveyed supply-chain professionals were using IoT devices for real-time shipment tracking in 2024, up from 25% in 2023.[13]
  • 48% of transport-sector respondents had adopted vehicular tracking and route optimization in 2024, according to Viasat’s State of IoT survey.[14]
  • 72% of surveyed transportation respondents said they currently had IoT deployed for fleet management in Verizon’s 2025 IoT market survey.[15]
  • 88% of surveyed transport respondents had developed or were developing an IoT strategy in 2024, up from 46% with a completed formal strategy in 2021.[14]
  • 39% of transport-sector respondents had deployed shipment or supply-chain tracking in 2024, compared with 20% that had deployed cold-chain tracking.[14]
  • 72% of transport and logistics businesses had fully deployed at least one IoT project in 2021, while 29% had completed a deployment during the preceding 12 months.[16]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Data & Analytics shows a governance and quality gap that affects AI scaling, including 33% of respondents citing data quality as a top barrier in 2026.

Data Quality in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across transportation and logistics shippers, 33% identified data quality as a top barrier to scaling artificial intelligence in 2026.[7]
  • Across supply management organizations, 33% rated their data-security ability as very high for assuring data quality in 2024.[17]
  • Across supply management organizations, 67% said their data quality was better or significantly better than two years earlier in 2024.[17]
  • Across supply management organizations, 49% rated their data quality as good or excellent in 2024.[17]

Data Governance in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across supply management organizations with a data-governance function, 47% housed it in a center of excellence in 2024.[17]
  • Across supply management organizations with a data-governance program, 81% found the program useful in 2024.[17]
  • Across supply management organizations, 61% had a dedicated data-governance function in 2024.[17]
  • 32% of transport and logistics respondents said data governance or security was a primary challenge when preparing data for artificial intelligence in 2024.[18]
  • 49% of shipper respondents said their supply chain governance maturity was running in place, with no noticeable progress, in the 2024 global survey.[19]
  • 33% of 3PL respondents said their supply chain governance maturity was running ahead, meaning proactive and predictable, in the 2024 global survey.[19]

KPIs in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 13.1 hours per full-time equivalent was Groupe Beneteau’s employee training rate in 2024.[20]
  • 10,513 boats were connected in Groupe Beneteau’s Boat division in 2024, compared with 7,433 in 2023.[20]
  • 9.1% was Groupe Beneteau’s employee turnover rate in 2024 across the Group.[20]
  • 15.0 occupational accidents per million hours worked was Groupe Beneteau’s Boat division and Group-wide frequency rate in 2024.[20]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Strategy & Growth ties demand normalization to investments and electrification signals such as $75 million planned for Malibu Boats’ Tennessee manufacturing expansion.

Growth in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 812,000 U.S. jobs were supported by recreational boating in 2023, up 14% from 691,000 in 2018.[2]
  • $75 million was planned for Malibu Boats’ manufacturing expansion in Tennessee, with approximately 770 jobs expected to be created over five years.[21]
  • More than 90% of U.S. recreational boating unit sales in 2025 came from personal watercraft, aluminum fishing boats and smaller trailerable boats.[2]
  • $230 billion was the annual U.S. economic impact of recreational boating in 2023, up 36% from $170 billion in 2018.[2]

Differentiation in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 13% of Brunswick Boat segment net sales came from Business Acceleration businesses focused on services, subscriptions and new boating-access models in 2024.[22]
  • Avator electric propulsion systems were offered by Mercury in models ranging from 7.5e to 110e horsepower in 2024.[22]
  • $1.5 million was spent by Marine Products Corporation on research and development in 2025, compared with $762,000 in 2024.[23]
  • Approximately 60,000 memberships supported Brunswick’s Freedom Boat Club shared-access model in 2024.[22]

Mergers and acquisitions in the boat manufacturing industry

  • €150 million was the approximate transaction value of Malibu Boats’ acquisition of Saxdor Yachts in 2026.[24]
  • Saxdor Yachts’ revenue increased 65%, from €109 million in 2024 to €180 million in 2025, before its acquisition by Malibu Boats.[24]
  • Brunswick acquired Fliteboard in 2023 to support its electrification and shared-access strategies.[22]
  • $1.05 billion was the announced value of Brunswick’s 2021 acquisition of Navico, a marine-electronics and sensor manufacturer.[22]

Strategic partnerships in the boat manufacturing industry

  • Twin Vee’s AquaSport Boats announced a partnership with Avikus to develop recreational boats using autonomous artificial-intelligence technology, with initial models planned for 2024.[25]
  • Marine Products Corporation operated a multi-year joint-marketing agreement with Yamaha for outboard engines in 2024.[23]
  • More than 860 boat builders were supplied through Brunswick Propulsion’s manufacturer relationships in 2024.[22]
  • Marine Products Corporation maintained an annually negotiated purchase agreement with Mercury Marine for outboard engines in 2024.[23]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

People & Workforce highlights workforce friction and training effects, including a 93% retention rate for employees completing pre-hire training through Maine community colleges at Bath Iron Works.

Hiring in the boat manufacturing industry

  • Approximately 200,000 to 250,000 additional maritime workers may be needed in critical occupations over the next decade to meet U.S. military and commercial shipbuilding demand.[3]
  • General Dynamics Electric Boat planned to hire 8,000 workers in Connecticut and Rhode Island in 2025 to support submarine production.[26]
  • Malibu Boats planned to invest USD 75 million and hire 770 employees for a new Cobalt production facility in Tennessee, with hiring expected to begin in 2024.[21]

Employee retention in the boat manufacturing industry

  • The five-year attrition rate after a first boat purchase was reported at 42%, falling to 24% after a customer bought a second boat.[27]
  • Employees completing pre-hire training through Maine community colleges had a 93% retention rate at Bath Iron Works.[28]
  • Labor turnover in shipbuilding was reported at approximately 20% to 30%, while first-year employee attrition was about 50% to 60%.[29]

Remote Work in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among U.S. transportation, logistics, supply-chain and storage hires, 17.0% of hires at small companies were remote during the year ending September 2024.[30]
  • Across U.S. transportation and utilities occupations, about 11% of workers worked remotely at least sometimes from October 2023 through September 2024.[31]
  • In the U.S. transportation and warehousing industry, 13.9% of wage and salary employees worked from home in January 2025.[32]
  • Across U.S. transportation and utilities, 20.3% of workers could work from home in 2024–2025, while 18.6% actually did so, according to annual averages.[33]

Hybrid Work in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 42% reported a hybrid work arrangement in 2025.[34]
  • Globally, 25% of engaged employees were working in hybrid arrangements in 2025, compared with 30% of exclusively remote employees and 17% of on-site, non-remote-capable employees.[35]
  • Among transportation employers surveyed for the U.S. Job Outlook, 33.3% reported fully hybrid work arrangements in 2024.[36]
  • Among U.S. remote-capable employees, 54% worked hybrid schedules in August 2026.[35]

Upskilling in the boat manufacturing industry

  • Pre-hire training delivered through Maine community colleges produced a 93% employee retention rate at Bath Iron Works, linking entry training with workforce development.[28]
  • Shipyard employers are expected to need workers comfortable with digital tools, automation and data-driven operations, capabilities described as scarce in traditional manufacturing labor pools in 2026.[3]

Employee Engagement in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across Asia-Pacific transport and logistics organizations, 62% of employees were actively engaged, based on feedback from 30,116 employees in 24 surveys.[37]
  • Globally, 20% of employees were engaged at work in 2025, while 16% were actively disengaged.[35]
  • In U.S. logistics, 40% of frontline workers wanted to quit in 2024, according to a survey of 500 logistics employees.[38]
  • In U.S. logistics, more than 60% of frontline workers considered their roles long-term career commitments in 2024.[38]
  • In U.S. logistics, 71% of frontline workers reported workplace stress in 2024.[38]

DEI in the boat manufacturing industry

  • A total of 909 Bath Iron Works employees self-identified as veterans in 2023.[28]
  • Female employees represented 13.3% of Bath Iron Works' workforce in 2023, compared with 9.7% in 2000.[28]
  • Non-white employees represented 5.1% of Bath Iron Works' workforce in 2023, compared with 1.3% in 2000.[28]

Change Management in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among surveyed third-party logistics providers, 76% reported using a structured change-management framework in the 2025 Third-Party Logistics Study.[39]
  • Among surveyed shippers, 58% reported using a structured change-management framework in the 2025 Third-Party Logistics Study.[39]
  • Across large logistics organizations, 76% of transformation initiatives failed to meet critical budget, timeline or KPI metrics in a global survey conducted in late 2023.[40]
  • Across supply-chain organizations, only 15% of digital initiatives achieved at least 90% of their targeted benefits in Gartner research published in 2024.[40]
  • Among third-party logistics providers using a change-management approach, 33% reported using one of the named frameworks surveyed in 2025.[39]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Customer & Sales focuses on measured satisfaction and lead tracking, including more than 275,000 customers surveyed for the 2024 Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Index.

Customer experience in the boat manufacturing industry

  • Sixty-three boat and engine manufacturers received the 2024 Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Index Award by achieving at least 90% customer satisfaction.[2]
  • The Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Index requires manufacturers to survey all known retail consumers within the first 12 months of ownership.[2]
  • More than 275,000 customers were surveyed for the 2024 Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Index, covering product, sales, delivery, service and quality experiences.[2]

Customer acquisition in the boat manufacturing industry

  • Discover Boating generated 1.6 million introductions to boat manufacturers and dealers through website referrals, boat shows and leads in 2024.[41]
  • Discover Boating attracted more than 6.5 million people to its U.S. and Canadian websites in 2024, up 23% year over year.[41]
  • U.S. research estimated approximately 35 million high-potential prospective new boat buyers in 2025.[2]

Customer loyalty in the boat manufacturing industry

  • Approximately 60% of paired purchases among personal-watercraft and jet-boat buyers occurred on the same day, often indicating multiple purchases by one household.[42]
  • Approximately 23% of repeat buyers in Florida stayed within the same boat class for their next purchase.[42]
  • Only 6% to 13% of repeat boat buyers stayed with the same manufacturer for their next boat across Florida, Ohio, Texas and Virginia.[42]

Lead generation in the boat manufacturing industry

  • Online boat-listing views increased 55% and leads increased 106% year over year during spring 2020.[41]
  • Sixty percent of marine dealers surveyed reported tracking lead conversion in 2025, while 40% did not.[41]
  • Approximately 75% of surveyed marine dealers reported tracking lead source in 2025.[41]
  • More than 85% of surveyed marine dealers reported tracking website traffic in 2025.[41]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Marketing & Brand shows reach and measurement gaps, with 6.5 million people visiting Discover Boating websites in 2024 and 18% of surveyed marine dealers not measuring online marketing success.

Marketing in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 1.6 million introductions to boat manufacturers and dealers were generated through website referrals, boat shows and leads in 2024.[2]
  • 24,000 positive news stories generated $10.4 million in equivalent media value for Discover Boating in 2024.[2]
  • 7.3 billion media impressions were delivered by Discover Boating in the U.S. and Canada during its 2024 marketing year.[2]
  • 6.5 million people visited Discover Boating websites in the U.S. and Canada during the 2024 marketing year, up 23% year over year.[2]

Digital marketing in the boat manufacturing industry

  • More than 25% of surveyed North American marine dealers reported annual online marketing budgets of at least $50,000 in 2025.[41]
  • 18% of surveyed North American marine dealers did not measure their online marketing success in 2025.[41]
  • 8% of surveyed North American marine dealers committed $5,000 or less annually to online marketing in 2025.[41]
  • 16% of surveyed North American marine dealers reported annual online marketing budgets of at least $100,000 in 2025.[41]

Branding in the boat manufacturing industry

  • More than 5,000 pieces of boating content were created by Discover Boating during its 2024 marketing year.[2]
  • 33% of visitors to DiscoverBoating.com were female during the 2024 marketing year, compared with 31% the previous year.[2]
  • 38% of visitors to DiscoverBoating.ca were female during the 2024 marketing year, compared with 34% the previous year.[2]
  • 951,000 followers were reached across Discover Boating’s Instagram, TikTok, Meta and X accounts during its 2024 marketing year.[2]

Social media in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 12.5 million interactions, including engagements and views, resulted from Discover Boating creator partnerships in 2024.[2]
  • 4% was the Instagram engagement rate achieved by Azimut in 2025, compared with a 0.8% average among the ten brands studied.[43]
  • 1.3% was the average social-media engagement rate across ten major boat and yacht brands studied in 2025.[43]
  • 25 million impressions were generated by more than 140 boating content creators partnered with Discover Boating in 2024.[2]

Influencer Marketing in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • 58% of B2B marketers selected authenticity and credibility as criteria for choosing influencers in 2025, globally.[44]
  • 29% of B2B companies planned to adopt influencer marketing within the following year in 2025, globally.[44]
  • 43% of worldwide B2B marketers who achieved positive results said micro-influencers generated the most success in 2024.[45]
  • 49% of B2B marketers selected industry relevance as a criterion for choosing influencers in 2025, globally.[44]
  • 55% of B2B companies used influencers in 2025, according to a global survey of marketing decision-makers.[44]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Operations & Execution connects production timing and order backlogs, including Marine Products’ 14.7 weeks boat-order backlog at December 31, 2025 totaling 766 boats.

Process optimization in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 2023 marked the launch of Malibu Boats’ Tooling Design Center at its Pursuit campus in Florida.[46]
  • 2022 was the fiscal year when Malibu Boats acquired a facility to manufacture its own wiring harnesses.[46]
  • 2 years can elapse between initial concept and volume production for new boat models at Malibu Boats.[46]
  • 15 years is the maximum period over which Malibu Boats may realize revenue from new designs and technologies after launch.[46]

Operational efficiency in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 14.7 weeks was Marine Products’ estimated boat-order backlog at December 31, 2025, totaling 766 boats.[23]
  • $681.9 million was Malibu Boats’ cost of sales in fiscal 2024, down 34.2% from fiscal 2023.[46]
  • 45.4% fewer boats were produced and sold by Malibu Boats in fiscal 2024 than in fiscal 2023, totaling 5,385 units.[46]
  • 5% lower field unit inventory was reported by Marine Products at the end of the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the fourth quarter of 2024.[23]

Quality management in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 1.9% of Marine Products’ net sales was recorded as warranty expense in 2025, compared with 1.5% in 2024 and 2023.[23]
  • $0.2 million was the estimated operating-income impact of a 0.10-percentage-point increase in Marine Products’ warranty expense ratio in 2025.[23]
  • 3.4% was the increase in Marine Products’ cost of goods sold in 2025, driven by higher materials expense and labor costs.[23]
  • 5 years was the limited warranty term for Malibu and Axis brand boats beginning with model year 2016.[46]

Supply chain in the boat manufacturing industry

  • $68.9 million was the estimated net sales value of Marine Products’ 766-boat backlog at December 31, 2025.[23]
  • 4.5% of Marine Products’ net sales came from outside the United States in 2025, compared with 5.6% in 2024.[23]
  • 84 international dealers and approximately 192 U.S. dealers distributed Marine Products boats in 2025.[23]
  • 2020 through the first half of 2023 was the period when Malibu Boats experienced supply-chain disruptions linked to pandemic, weather, labor, logistics and port issues.[46]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, 57% planned outsourcing projects in warehousing in 2026.[47]
  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, about 60% had fully outsourced transportation services in 2026.[47]
  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, 25% had fully outsourced warehouse operations in 2026.[47]
  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, 65% expected outsourcing to continue increasing in 2026.[47]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Finance & Pricing emphasizes unit economics and margins, including Malibu Boats’ fiscal 2024 gross margin of 17.7% down from 25.3% in fiscal 2023.

Pricing strategy in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 9% was Marine Products’ positive price-and-mix contribution to 2025 sales growth, partly offset by a 6% decline in unit sales.[23]
  • $93,600 was Marine Products’ average gross selling price per boat in 2025, up from $85,700 in 2024.[23]
  • $153,953 was Malibu Boats’ consolidated net sales per unit in fiscal 2024, up 9.4% from fiscal 2023.[46]
  • $200,577 was Malibu Boats’ fiscal 2024 net sales per unit in its Saltwater Fishing segment, up 15.4% from fiscal 2023.[46]

Cost reduction in the boat manufacturing industry

  • $5.8 million was the increase in per-unit material and labor costs in Malibu Boats’ Cobalt segment during fiscal 2024.[46]
  • $31.7 million was the increase in per-unit material and labor costs in Malibu Boats’ Saltwater Fishing segment during fiscal 2024.[46]
  • 34.2% was the decrease in Malibu Boats’ fiscal 2024 cost of sales, primarily reflecting a 45.4% reduction in unit volume.[46]
  • $24.3 million was the increase in per-unit material and labor costs in Malibu Boats’ Malibu segment during fiscal 2024.[46]

Profitability in the boat manufacturing industry

  • $56.4 million was Malibu Boats’ net loss in fiscal 2024, compared with $107.9 million of net income in fiscal 2023.[46]
  • 17.7% was Malibu Boats’ gross margin in fiscal 2024, down from 25.3% in fiscal 2023.[46]
  • $46.8 million was Marine Products’ gross profit in 2025, up from $45.5 million in 2024.[23]
  • $14.0 million was Marine Products’ operating income in 2025, down from $18.3 million in 2024.[23]

Financial planning in the boat manufacturing industry

  • $16.5 million was Marine Products’ net cash provided by operating activities in 2025.[23]
  • 13.4% of Marine Products’ net sales was represented by selling, general and administrative expenses in 2025, compared with 11.6% in 2024.[23]
  • $244.4 million was Marine Products’ net sales in 2025, compared with $236.6 million in 2024.[23]
  • 9.1% of Marine Products’ gross sales was recorded as dealer incentives in 2025, compared with 9.2% in 2024.[23]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Product & Service quantifies alternative propulsion uptake and ERP spend, including alternative propulsion solutions at 7% of Groupe Beneteau Boat division sales in 2024.

Product development in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 7% of Groupe Beneteau’s Boat division sales came from alternative propulsion solutions in 2024, up from 1% in 2022.[20]
  • €69 million was invested in the Boat division in 2024, supporting industrial operations and product development, France-based Groupe Beneteau.[20]
  • €15 million of 2024 Boat division operating costs were linked to deploying a new enterprise resource planning system, Groupe Beneteau.[20]
  • Brunswick’s 2024 Boating Intelligence initiative included AI development for autonomous docking and marine-specific virtual agents in the United States.[22]

Product lifecycle in the boat manufacturing industry

  • More than 75% of Belgium’s recreational boats are made from composite materials, according to a 2023 sector assessment.[48]
  • Approximately 23,100 tonnes of end-of-life composite boat waste per year are projected in the European Union by 2030.[49]
  • The estimated Belgian fleet includes approximately 10,000 end-of-life boats, with around 2,000 entering end-of-life each year.[48]
  • More than 30,000 recreational boats per year are projected to reach end of life in the European Union by 2030.[49]

After-sales in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 1.74% of Boat division revenue represented warranty costs for claims from all years at Groupe Beneteau in 2024.[20]
  • Approximately 25% was the response rate for Groupe Beneteau’s customer-satisfaction surveys among brands that launched its NPS initiative in 2023.[20]
  • 0.54% of Boat division revenue represented 12-month warranty costs at Groupe Beneteau in 2024.[20]
  • 25% was the year-on-year reduction in Groupe Beneteau’s Boat division warranty costs in value terms in 2024.[20]

Value proposition in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 7.3% was Groupe Beneteau Boat division’s ordinary operating margin in 2024, reflecting its premiumization strategy.[20]
  • €110 million of Groupe Beneteau’s 2024 Boat division growth came from value-driven premiumization, equivalent to 9% growth.[20]
  • $1,553.5 million was Brunswick’s Boat segment net sales in 2024, covering pleasure-boat manufacturing and sales.[22]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Sustainability & Ethics provides compliance and emissions figures, including 95% compliance for industrial water discharges at Groupe Beneteau’s French production sites in 2023.

Sustainability in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 95% was the compliance rate for industrial water discharges at Groupe Beneteau’s French production sites in 2023.[20]
  • 11.1% of electricity used at Groupe Beneteau production sites came from renewable sources in 2023.[20]
  • 67% of non-hazardous waste was recycled by Groupe Beneteau in 2024 across the reported operations.[20]
  • 74.5 kilograms per 1,000 hours worked was Groupe Beneteau’s VOC-emissions intensity in 2024.[20]

ESG in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 94% of target employees completed ethics and compliance training at Groupe Beneteau in 2024.[20]
  • 56% of timber used by Groupe Beneteau’s Boat division came from environmentally managed forests in 2024.[20]
  • 23% of Groupe Beneteau employees were women in 2024, compared with 21% in 2023.[20]
  • €663 million tonnes of CO2e was Groupe Beneteau Boat division’s Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions intensity denominator result in 2024, reported as 663 thousand tonnes of CO2e.[20]

Ethics in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 94% of employees in target populations completed ethics and compliance training at Groupe Beneteau in 2024.[20]
  • 19 confirmed alerts were recorded by Groupe Beneteau in 2024 under its ethics and compliance reporting system.[20]

CSR in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 41% of Groupe Beneteau Boat division production purchases were placed with CSR-assessed suppliers in 2024.[20]
  • 23% of Groupe Beneteau employees were women in 2024, supporting its diversity and inclusion objectives.[20]

Circular economy in the boat manufacturing industry

  • One production line for boats using recyclable resin was planned by Groupe Beneteau for 2025.[20]
  • Approximately 2,000 end-of-life boats enter the Belgian waste stream each year, according to a 2023 sector estimate.[48]
  • More than 75% of boats in Belgium’s recreational fleet are made from composite materials, complicating end-of-life recycling.[48]
  • 67% of non-hazardous waste was recycled by Groupe Beneteau in 2024.[20]

Carbon footprint in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 1.117 million tonnes of CO2e came from Scope 3 emissions in Groupe Beneteau’s Boat division in 2022.[20]
  • 2.39 tonnes of CO2e per €1,000 of revenue was Groupe Beneteau Boat division’s global Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions intensity in 2024.[20]
  • 663 thousand tonnes of CO2e was Groupe Beneteau Boat division’s Scope 3 emissions in 2024.[20]
  • 1.149 million tonnes of CO2e was Groupe Beneteau Boat division’s total greenhouse-gas footprint in 2022.[20]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

Globalization & Expansion reports export and dealer-network scale, including $2.4 billion in U.S. recreational boat and engine exports recorded in 2024.

Globalization in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 5.6% of Marine Products Corporation’s net sales came from international markets in 2024.[23]
  • $1.9 billion of U.S. recreational boat exports were recorded in 2024.[2]
  • $2.4 billion in U.S. recreational boat and engine exports were recorded in 2024, while imports reached $4.2 billion.[2]
  • The Brunswick Boat Group manufactured products mainly in the United States, Europe, Mexico and Canada and sold them through global dealer and distributor locations in 2023.[22]

Cultural adaptation in the boat manufacturing industry

  • More than 400 Freedom Boat Club locations operated across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe in 2024.[22]
  • 95% of boats sold in the United States were manufactured domestically, according to NMMA industry data.[2]
  • Approximately 60,000 memberships were held by Freedom Boat Club across its international network in 2024.[22]

Supplier management in the boat manufacturing industry

  • More than 860 boat builders bought engines, controls, rigging and propellers from Brunswick’s Propulsion segment in 2024.[22]
  • Marine Products Corporation purchased outboard engines from Yamaha under a multi-year joint-marketing agreement and from Mercury Marine under an annually negotiated agreement in 2024.[23]
  • OneWeb maintained supplier relationships lasting more than 10 years in many cases, supporting flexible capacity and category expansion in fiscal 2025.[23]
  • Marine Products Corporation maintained approximately 202 U.S. dealers and 88 international dealers in 2024, supporting its manufacturer-distribution relationships.[23]

Stakeholder management in the boat manufacturing industry

  • 36,101 U.S. businesses were supported by the recreational boating industry in the latest NMMA economic-impact figures.[2]
  • $26.9 billion in annual tax revenue was generated by the U.S. recreational boating industry in NMMA’s latest economic-impact study.[2]
  • 812,558 U.S. jobs were supported by the recreational boating industry, according to NMMA’s latest economic-impact figures.[2]
  • More than 85 million Americans were estimated to go boating in 2023, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.[2]

Distribution channels in the boat manufacturing industry

  • More than 1,300 dealers and distributors formed Brunswick Boat Group’s global sales network in 2024.[22]
  • Marine Products Corporation distributed boats through approximately 202 U.S. dealers and 88 international dealers in 2024.[23]
  • More than 19,000 active dealers served Brunswick’s business segments worldwide in 2024.[22]
  • More than 8,900 marine dealers, distributors, retailers and service centers were served by Brunswick’s Propulsion segment in 2024.[22]

Key questions about the boat manufacturing industry

What is the current global market size for boats, and what is the next-year estimate?
The global boats market was valued at $36.31 billion in 2025, and it is estimated at $38.67 billion for 2026.
How fast is the boats market expected to grow from 2026 to 2034?
The global boats market is projected to reach $72.71 billion by 2034, implying an 8.20% CAGR from 2026 to 2034.
Which companies lead the boat manufacturing industry?
Azimut|Benetti Group stands out for luxury and superyacht scale because it had 163 yachts under construction in the 2026 Global Order Book, while Viking Group focuses on sportfishing and motor yachts since it manufactures for leisure use across global markets.
Where is technology shifting in boat manufacturing workflows?
American marine manufacturers tested AI, radar, cameras and real-time data sharing in 2026, and robotics were analyzed as a way to automate repetitive shipyard tasks such as welding and painting.
What does the U.S. market structure look like for ship and boat building suppliers?
In 2022, the U.S. ship and boat building industry had 1,255 firms, with 1,213 small firms that were 96.7% of establishments.
How much of U.S. boat unit sales is pre-owned versus new?
Pre-owned boats represented approximately 80% of total annual U.S. boat unit sales, reaching nearly 860,000 units in 2024 and down 6.5% from 2023.
Reference

Cite This Report

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APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 11). Boat Manufacturing Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/boat-manufacturing-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Boat Manufacturing Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 11 Nov 2026, https://gitnux.org/boat-manufacturing-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Boat Manufacturing Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/boat-manufacturing-industry-statistics.

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