While the image of a solitary boat on a tranquil lake may suggest a quiet pastime, the U.S. boating industry is in fact a $230 billion economic powerhouse that supported nearly 887,000 American jobs in 2022 alone.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the U.S. boating industry generated a total economic output of $230.3 billion, supporting 887,000 jobs nationwide
- The boating industry contributed $121.6 billion to U.S. GDP in 2022, representing a significant portion of outdoor recreation spending
- Marine manufacturing alone added $45.2 billion to the economy in 2022, with exports reaching $2.8 billion
- There were 12.0 million registered recreational boats in the U.S. in 2022
- 81 million Americans went boating in 2022, a 6% increase from 2021
- 50 million Americans consider themselves boaters, with 28% owning boats
- In 2022, there were 658 boating fatalities, a 6% increase from 2021
- 2,559 injuries reported in boating accidents in 2022
- Alcohol was the leading known contributing factor in 100 fatalities (15%) in 2022
- New powerboat sales reached 258,000 units in 2022, down 8% from 2021 peak
- Outboard motor sales: 221,000 units in 2022
- Personal watercraft sales: 65,000 units in 2022
- Boating participation grew to 81 million Americans in 2022, +6% YoY
- First-time boaters: 19 million in past 5 years, 40% of new owners
- Millennial participation: 24 million, up 30% since 2018
The U.S. boating industry is a massive economic driver generating over $230 billion annually.
Boat Ownership
- There were 12.0 million registered recreational boats in the U.S. in 2022
- 81 million Americans went boating in 2022, a 6% increase from 2021
- 50 million Americans consider themselves boaters, with 28% owning boats
- Average boat owner age is 51, with 58% male and 42% female in 2022
- 62% of boats are powerboats, 12% PWC, 8% sail, 18% other in 2022
- Households owning boats rose to 19 million in 2022, up 5%
- 40% of boat owners are first-time buyers since 2020
- Multi-boat ownership stands at 22% among owners in 2022
- Average boat length is 19 feet, with fiberglass hulls at 55%
- 75% of boats under 26 feet, ideal for trailering, in 2022
- Membership in boating clubs reached 1.2 million in 2022
- 35% of owners store boats at home, 45% at marinas in 2022
- Ethnic diversity: 15% Hispanic, 10% African American owners in 2022
- Millennial boat ownership up 25% to 2.5 million in 2022
- Women influence 65% of boat purchase decisions in 2022
- 85% of owners boat within 50 miles of home in 2022
- Pontoon boat ownership surged 12% to 1.8 million in 2022
- Average annual boating days per owner: 24 in 2022
- 28% of owners also own RVs, crossover at 15% with motorcycles
- Boat registration fees collected $1.1 billion in 2022 across states
- 60% of boats are used for fishing, 45% watersports in 2022
- Ownership in Florida highest at 1.1 million boats in 2022
- Gen Z participation up 20% to 12 million in 2022
- 70% of owners renew registrations annually, lapse rate 5%
- Trailer ownership: 9.5 million in 2022
- Family boating: 80% boat with children occasionally in 2022
- Electric boat ownership tripled to 50,000 in 2022
Boat Ownership Interpretation
America's waterways are hosting an increasingly diverse, younger, and multi-boat-owning fleet, proving that the call of the open water—and the lure of a towable 19-foot fiberglass fishing machine—remains a powerful and expanding national pastime.
Economic Impact
- In 2022, the U.S. boating industry generated a total economic output of $230.3 billion, supporting 887,000 jobs nationwide
- The boating industry contributed $121.6 billion to U.S. GDP in 2022, representing a significant portion of outdoor recreation spending
- Marine manufacturing alone added $45.2 billion to the economy in 2022, with exports reaching $2.8 billion
- Boating-related retail sales in 2022 totaled $44.1 billion, including boats, engines, and accessories
- The industry paid $45.2 billion in taxes in 2022, comprising federal ($27.4B), state ($13.3B), and local ($4.5B) taxes
- In 2021, boating supported 1.1 million jobs across manufacturing, retail, and services
- Visitor spending at U.S. marinas reached $12.5 billion in 2022, boosting local economies
- The powerboat segment contributed $150 billion to economic output in 2022
- PFD manufacturing for boating generated $500 million in sales in 2022, supporting 2,500 jobs
- Boat trailer production added $3.2 billion to GDP in 2022, with 250,000 units sold
- Marine engine exports hit $1.9 billion in 2022, primarily to Canada and Europe
- Fuel sales for recreational boats totaled $8.7 billion in 2022
- The industry’s labor income reached $55.4 billion in 2022, averaging $62,000 per job
- Marina construction and maintenance contributed $4.1 billion in 2022
- Boating tourism generated $30 billion in direct spending in 2022 across coastal states
- Personal watercraft industry output was $12.3 billion in 2022, supporting 45,000 jobs
- Aftermarket parts and accessories sales hit $28.4 billion in 2022
- Canoe and kayak sector added $2.1 billion to economy in 2022, with 500,000 units sold
- Sailboat manufacturing contributed $1.8 billion in 2022, exports at $400 million
- Docking and storage services generated $6.5 billion in revenue in 2022
- Boating education programs cost $150 million annually, supporting 10,000 instructors
- Fishing boat segment economic impact was $65 billion in 2022
- Boat show attendance drove $1.2 billion in on-site spending in 2022 across major events
- Insurance premiums for recreational boats totaled $4.3 billion in 2022
- Charter and rental services revenue reached $5.8 billion in 2022
- Maintenance and repair services for boats amounted to $15.2 billion in 2022
- Waterfront property values increased by $50 billion due to boating access in 2022
- Youth boating programs invested $75 million in 2022, reaching 1 million kids
- Import of marine products was $7.5 billion in 2022, mainly electronics
- Overall multiplier effect of boating spending was 2.1x in 2022
Economic Impact Interpretation
We may be a nation of landlubbers, but the wake of our boating industry reveals a titanic economic engine, generating over $230 billion in output and nearly a million jobs, all while floating a sea of tax revenue that keeps our communities above water.
Safety Statistics
- In 2022, there were 658 boating fatalities, a 6% increase from 2021
- 2,559 injuries reported in boating accidents in 2022
- Alcohol was the leading known contributing factor in 100 fatalities (15%) in 2022
- Operator inattention caused 432 accidents (22%) and 82 deaths in 2022
- 236 people drowned in 2022, 82% not wearing life jackets
- Capsizing led to 145 fatalities, most common fatal accident type in 2022
- 4,040 accidents reported, down 2% from 2021, property damage $63 million in 2022
- Open motorboats involved in 41% of accidents, 1,659 incidents in 2022
- Personal watercraft caused 280 accidents, 15% of total in 2022
- 75% of fatalities occurred on boats under 21 feet in 2022
- Nighttime accidents caused 110 deaths, 17% of fatalities in 2022
- Boating under sail had 76 fatalities, highest vessel type rate in 2022
- 2,628 accidents involved reported injuries or fatalities in 2022
- Collision with fixed object: 751 accidents, 59 deaths in 2022
- Florida reported 700 accidents, highest state total in 2022
- 87% of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets in 2022
- Carbon monoxide poisoning caused 13 deaths in 2022
- Speeding contributed to 388 accidents (20%) in 2022
- 76% of boating fatalities were males in 2022
- PFD wear rate: only 19% of victims wearing at time of accident in 2022
- 142 children under 13 drowned, 82 not wearing life jackets in 2022
- Falls overboard caused 529 accidents, 151 deaths in 2022
- Machinery failure led to 285 accidents in 2022
- 25% of accidents involved no reported primary cause in 2022
- Boating course completion: states with mandates have 30% fewer fatalities per capita
- 3,350 nonfatal injuries required hospital treatment in 2022 estimates
- Grounding accidents: 616 cases, 11 deaths in 2022
- Fires/explosions: 193 accidents, 27 deaths in 2022
- Flooding/swamping caused 141 deaths in 2022
- 210 million boating hours logged safely in 2022, fatality rate 3.1 per 100M hours
Safety Statistics Interpretation
The sobering truth behind 2022's boating statistics is that a stubborn cocktail of inattention, intoxication, and a seemingly allergic reaction to life jackets continues to turn leisure into tragedy at an alarming rate.
Sales and Manufacturing
- New powerboat sales reached 258,000 units in 2022, down 8% from 2021 peak
- Outboard motor sales: 221,000 units in 2022
- Personal watercraft sales: 65,000 units in 2022
- Boat trailer shipments: 250,000 units in 2022
- Pontoon boat sales hit record 44,000 units in 2022
- Average new boat price: $62,500 in 2022, up 10% YoY
- Used boat sales: 1.2 million transactions in 2022, $25B value
- Fiberglass boat production: 70% of new boats in 2022
- Marine parts/accessories wholesale: $10.5 billion in 2022
- Dealer inventory levels: 6 months supply for boats in late 2022
- Electric propulsion systems sales up 50% to 5,000 units in 2022
- Canoe/kayak shipments: 500,000 paddlecraft in 2022
- Inboard/outboard sales: 22,000 units in 2022
- Sterndrive engines: 18,000 sold in 2022
- Top-selling boat size: 16-26 feet, 80% of sales in 2022
- Export shipments: 85,000 boats worth $2.8B in 2022
- Retail sales of electronics/GPS: $2.1 billion in 2022
- PFD sales: 10 million units, $500M revenue in 2022
- Factory orders for boats: up 15% in Q4 2022 vs 2021
- Aluminum boat production: 25% market share in 2022
- Dealer sales days: 45 days average in 2022
- Wake boat sales: 12,000 units record in 2022
- Import engines: 50,000 units cleared customs in 2022
- Custom boat builds: 5,000 luxury yachts over 40ft in 2022
- Aftermarket sales growth: 8% to $28B in 2022
- Marina slip occupancy: 92% nationwide in 2022
- Boat export markets: Canada 60%, EU 20% in 2022
- Production capacity utilization: 95% for major builders in 2022
- Financing penetration: 40% of new boats financed in 2022, avg loan $40k
- Digital sales platforms: 15% of used boats sold online in 2022
Sales and Manufacturing Interpretation
While the total number of new boats may have slightly retreated from its peak, the industry is clearly sailing toward a more expensive, diversified, and accessories-heavy future, buoyed by record pontoon and wake boat sales, a thriving used market, and a surprisingly stubborn need to also buy a trailer, a life jacket, and a very expensive GPS for every single one of them.
Trends and Demographics
- Boating participation grew to 81 million Americans in 2022, +6% YoY
- First-time boaters: 19 million in past 5 years, 40% of new owners
- Millennial participation: 24 million, up 30% since 2018
- Women boaters: 40% of participants in 2022, influencing 65% purchases
- Hispanic participation: 12 million, fastest growing group at 15% YoY
- Family boating: 55% of trips include children under 18 in 2022
- Urban dwellers boating: 45% of participants live in cities >50k pop
- Rental/boat club usage: 25% of trips, up from 18% in 2019
- Fishing remains top activity at 60% of boaters in 2022
- Watersports growth: 35% participation, +10% since 2020
- Pontoon popularity: 30% of new sales, family cruising trend
- Eco-friendly boating: 22% interested in electric, up from 10%
- Social media influence: 50% discover boating via online video in 2022
- Post-pandemic surge: participation +25% since 2019 lows
- Gen Z boaters: 12 million active, preferring rentals 60%
- Average trip duration: 5.2 hours, 70% day trips in 2022
- Multi-generational trips: 40% include grandparents/kids
- Night boating: 15% of trips, aided by LED tech adoption
- Trailerable boats: 75% of fleet, enabling access growth
- Boat show attendance: 1.5 million visitors in 2022 season
- App usage for navigation: 65% of boaters in 2022
- Diversity index: non-white participants 25% in 2022, up 8%
- Peak season shift: May-Sep 70% of activity, climate impact
- Corporate events on water: 10% growth to 50,000 events
Trends and Demographics Interpretation
A surging tide of new, younger, and more diverse boaters, powered by digital discovery and flexible access, is flooding American waterways with family fun, sustainable ambition, and fishing rods still firmly in hand.