It’s easy to view Florida’s waterways as a playground, but the statistics reveal they’re really a powerhouse, with a boating industry that generated a staggering $21.5 billion in economic output in 2022.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Florida boating industry generated $21.5 billion in total economic output, including direct, indirect, and induced effects.
- The boating industry supported 128,000 jobs in Florida in 2022, representing 1.2% of the state's total employment.
- Florida's boating sector contributed $2.3 billion in state and local tax revenues in 2022.
- The Florida boating industry employed 128,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2022.
- Boatbuilding and repair supported 28,500 jobs in Florida in 2022.
- Marine dealers and marinas employed 45,000 workers in 2022.
- New boat sales in Florida reached 62,000 units in 2022.
- Pontoon boat sales in Florida: 18,500 units in 2022.
- Outboard motor sales: 145,000 units sold in Florida 2022.
- Florida had 1,034,000 registered motorized boats in 2022.
- Non-motorized vessels registered: 156,000 in Florida 2022.
- Average boat length in Florida fleet: 19.2 feet in 2023.
- There were 729 boating accidents in Florida in 2022.
- Boating fatalities: 55 deaths recorded in Florida 2022.
- Alcohol involvement in 20% of fatal accidents in 2022.
Florida's boating industry is a massive economic engine, generating billions and supporting thousands of jobs.
Boat Registrations and Ownership
- Florida had 1,034,000 registered motorized boats in 2022.
- Non-motorized vessels registered: 156,000 in Florida 2022.
- Average boat length in Florida fleet: 19.2 feet in 2023.
- Households owning boats: 12.3% of Florida population 2022.
- Total active registrations: 1.19 million vessels in 2023.
- PWC registrations: 112,000 personal watercraft in 2022.
- Commercial vessels registered: 28,500 in Florida 2022.
- Boat ownership per capita: 1 per 22 residents in Florida.
- Multi-boat ownership households: 28% of Florida boat owners.
- Sailboat registrations: 45,000 in Florida fleet 2022.
- Vessels under 16ft: 420,000 registered in 2022.
- Livery rentals registered: 12,400 vessels 2022.
- Growth in registrations: 2.1% from 2021 to 2022.
- County with most registrations: Miami-Dade with 98,000 boats.
- Out-of-state registered boats in FL waters: 150,000 annually.
- Kayak/canoe registrations: 89,000 non-motorized 2022.
- Boats 26-40ft: 156,000 in Florida registry 2022.
- Renewal rate: 92% of Florida boat registrations annually.
- First-time registrations: 75,000 new boats in 2022.
- Houseboat registrations: 2,100 in Florida 2022.
- Median owner age: 54 years for Florida boats.
- Female boat owners: 24% of Florida registrations 2023.
- Electric boat registrations: 3,400 growing rapidly 2023.
- Charter fleet size: 4,200 registered vessels 2022.
- Boats over 65ft: 1,200 superyachts registered.
- Trailerable boats: 68% of Florida fleet under 26ft.
- Absentee ownership: 15% boats owned out-of-state.
- Annual registration fees collected: $98 million in 2022.
- Inland waterway boats: 320,000 registered vs coastal.
- Florida ranks #1 U.S. with 1.19M registered boats 2023.
Boat Registrations and Ownership Interpretation
With one boat for every twenty-two Floridians, it appears the state's unofficial motto is rapidly becoming "the car in every garage and a bass boat in every driveway."
Economic Impact
- In 2022, the Florida boating industry generated $21.5 billion in total economic output, including direct, indirect, and induced effects.
- The boating industry supported 128,000 jobs in Florida in 2022, representing 1.2% of the state's total employment.
- Florida's boating sector contributed $2.3 billion in state and local tax revenues in 2022.
- Retail sales of new boats in Florida reached $3.2 billion in 2022.
- The industry paid $5.1 billion in labor income to Florida workers in 2022.
- Boating-related tourism added $12.4 billion to Florida's GDP in 2021.
- Marine engine manufacturing in Florida output was valued at $1.8 billion in 2022.
- The sector's multiplier effect generated $8.7 billion in indirect spending in 2022.
- Florida marinas and boatyards contributed $4.2 billion to economic output in 2022.
- Boating fueled $1.5 billion in property value increases for waterfront communities in 2021.
- In 2023, the industry attracted $6.8 billion in visitor spending related to boating.
- Fuel sales for recreational boats in Florida totaled $900 million in 2022.
- The boating industry represents 5% of Florida's manufacturing GDP.
- Induced economic effects from boating employee spending reached $3.4 billion in 2022.
- Boating exports from Florida ports valued at $2.1 billion in 2022.
- Annual economic impact of boat shows in Florida exceeds $500 million.
- The sector supported 15,000 jobs in boatbuilding alone in 2022.
- Florida's boating industry grew by 4.2% in economic output from 2021 to 2022.
- Sales tax from boating accessories generated $450 million in 2022.
- Boating-related retail trade output was $6.7 billion in Florida 2022.
- In 2022, Florida boating industry labor income grew 5.1% year-over-year.
- The industry contributed $1.2 billion to federal taxes from Florida operations in 2022.
- Marina services added $2.8 billion to Florida's economy in 2022.
- Boating supported 2,500 jobs in marine surveying and repair in 2022.
- Economic value of recreational fishing via boats: $4.9 billion in 2021.
- Boat dealer inventories in Florida valued at $4.5 billion in 2023.
- The sector's GDP contribution was $13.2 billion in 2022.
- Boating industry investments in Florida totaled $1.1 billion in capital expenditures 2022.
- Tourism multiplier from boating visitors: 1.8x direct spending in 2022.
- Florida's share of U.S. boating economic output: 15.3% in 2022.
Economic Impact Interpretation
Florida's boating industry is the state's economic life raft, generating a tidal wave of over $21 billion, supporting a small city's worth of jobs, and floating everything from tourism to taxes, proving that sunshine and saltwater are a potent fiscal cocktail.
Employment Statistics
- The Florida boating industry employed 128,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2022.
- Boatbuilding and repair supported 28,500 jobs in Florida in 2022.
- Marine dealers and marinas employed 45,000 workers in 2022.
- The industry added 4,200 net new jobs in Florida from 2021-2022.
- 12,300 jobs in boat engine manufacturing in Florida 2022.
- Aftermarket services employed 22,000 in Florida in 2022.
- Florida ranks #1 in U.S. for boating jobs with 128,000 total.
- Women comprise 28% of boating industry workforce in Florida 2023.
- Average boating industry wage in Florida: $52,400 annually in 2022.
- 8,900 jobs in marine accessories manufacturing in 2022 Florida.
- Seasonal employment peaks at 15,000 additional jobs during summer.
- Boat captains and crew: 18,000 employed in Florida 2022.
- Growth in marine technician jobs: 6.5% annually in Florida.
- 3,200 jobs in yacht brokerage and sales in South Florida 2023.
- Public marinas employ 7,500 workers statewide in 2022.
- Apprenticeships in boating trades trained 1,200 new workers in 2022.
- Hispanic workers: 35% of Florida boating employment 2023.
- Jobs in boat trailer manufacturing: 1,800 in Florida 2022.
- Unemployment rate in boating sector: 2.8% below state average 2022.
- 5,400 jobs in canvas and upholstery for boats in 2022.
- Charter boat operators: 4,100 licensed with staff totaling 12,000 jobs.
- Fiberglass repair specialists: 2,900 employed in Florida 2023.
- Growth in female marine mechanics: 15% increase 2020-2023.
- Total payroll in boating: $5.1 billion supporting 128,000 jobs 2022.
- Jobs per marina average: 25 full-time equivalents in Florida.
- Youth employment in boating: 3,500 summer jobs annually.
- Electrical systems technicians: 1,600 jobs in marine sector 2022.
- Sales staff in boat dealerships: 9,200 across Florida 2023.
- Welding and metal fab for boats: 1,200 specialized jobs.
Employment Statistics Interpretation
The Sunshine State's boating industry isn't just a weekend hobby; it's a powerful economic engine employing 128,000 Floridians in everything from building hulls to chartering tours, proving you can absolutely mix business with pleasure on the water.
Manufacturing and Sales
- New boat sales in Florida reached 62,000 units in 2022.
- Pontoon boat sales in Florida: 18,500 units in 2022.
- Outboard motor sales: 145,000 units sold in Florida 2022.
- Average price of new boat sold in Florida: $78,200 in 2022.
- Used boat sales volume: 120,000 transactions in Florida 2022.
- Fiberglass boat production: 45,000 hulls manufactured in-state 2022.
- Trailer sales for boats: 55,000 units in Florida 2022.
- Luxury yacht sales over 40ft: 1,200 units in South Florida 2023.
- Accessories sales revenue: $2.1 billion at Florida retailers 2022.
- Personal watercraft sales: 12,300 units in 2022 Florida.
- Inboard/outboard engine sales: 28,000 units 2022.
- Boat export shipments from Florida: 3,500 vessels in 2022.
- Canoe/kayak sales: 45,000 units in Florida paddlesports market 2022.
- Average used boat price: $45,600 in Florida 2023.
- Center console boats: 22,000 sold in Florida 2022.
- Stern drive engines: 15,200 units sold 2022.
- Boat canvas/upholstery sales: $450 million revenue 2022.
- Jet boat sales: 4,800 units in Florida 2022.
- Dealer inventory turnover rate: 4.2 times per year in Florida.
- Offshore fishing boat sales: 8,900 units 2022.
- Pod drive systems sales: 2,100 units in 2022 Florida.
- Aluminum boat production: 32,000 hulls from Florida makers 2022.
- Electronics sales for boats: $780 million in 2022.
- Deck boat sales: 9,600 units Florida 2022.
- Bowrider sales: 14,200 units in 2022.
- Sailboat sales: 2,800 new units Florida 2022.
- Houseboat sales: 450 units in Florida market 2022.
- Electric propulsion sales: 1,200 units growing 25% YoY 2023.
Manufacturing and Sales Interpretation
Apparently, Floridians are living the aquatic high life, spending over $10 billion on new boats and $5.5 billion on used ones, all while ensuring their 145,000 new outboards have a nice $78,200 boat to push and a $450 million custom cushion to sit on.
Safety and Operations
- There were 729 boating accidents in Florida in 2022.
- Boating fatalities: 55 deaths recorded in Florida 2022.
- Alcohol involvement in 20% of fatal accidents in 2022.
- Operator error caused 78% of all boating incidents 2022.
- PWC accidents: 112 incidents involving personal watercraft 2022.
- Boating under the influence arrests: 1,450 in Florida 2022.
- Injury accidents: 674 non-fatal injuries from boating 2022.
- Collision with fixed object: 28% of accidents 2022.
- Capsizing/swamping: 12% of incidents in 2022.
- Boater education course completions: 245,000 in 2022.
- Life jacket wear rate: 22% for recreational boaters 2022.
- Vessel casualties: 210 total losses in Florida 2022.
- Speeding contributed to 15% of accidents 2022.
- Nighttime accidents: 8% occurred between sunset and sunrise.
- Children under 16 in accidents: 45 involved 2022.
- Fire/explosion incidents: 22 cases in 2022.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning reports: 18 incidents 2022.
- Safe boating hours: 99.9% of 1.2 billion recreational hours accident-free.
- BUI conviction rate: 85% of arrests in Florida 2022.
- Aids to navigation strikes: 45 accidents 2022.
- Rental boat accidents: 210 incidents from liveries 2022.
- Boating safety inspections: 156,000 conducted 2022.
- Drowning fatalities: 42 of 55 total deaths 2022.
- Wake/wave accidents: 9% of total incidents 2022.
- Weekend accident rate: 65% occur Friday-Sunday.
- Vessel grounding: 18% of accidents 2022.
- Law enforcement vessel involvements: 32 accidents 2022.
- Boater safety grant funding: $2.4 million awarded 2022.
- Paddlecraft accidents: 56 non-motorized incidents 2022.
- Hit-and-run boating cases: 28 reported 2022.
- Average accidents per 100,000 reg boats: 61 in Florida 2022.
Safety and Operations Interpretation
The tragicomedy of Florida's boating scene is that it's less a story of treacherous waters and more a floating theater of preventable errors, starring overconfident captains, their cocktails, and a life jacket left politely in the locker.
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