All Industry Figures Are Estimates The IN-USE figures are based on the actual state and Coast Guard registrations and estimates of non-registered boats.

1998 Population Estimates
  1998 1997
People Participating in Recreational Boating 74,847,000 78,406,000
Water Skiers 10,314,000 11,761,000
All Boats in Use 16,824,000 16,230,000
Outboard Boats Owned 8,300,000 8,125,000
Inboard Boats Owned1,609,000 1,587,000
Sterndrive Boats 1,673,0001,582,000
Personal Watercraft 1,100,0001,000,000
Sailboats Owned 1,669,0001,650,000
Misc. Craft Owned (canoes, rowboats, dinghies and other craft registered by the states)949,000 869,000
Other (Estimated canoes,rowboats, etc. not registered by the states) 1,524,000 1,417,000
Outboard Motors Owned 13,545,00013,278,000
Inboard Engines Owned (includes gasoline, diesel and jet drive engines) 2,301,000 2,267,000
Boat Trailers Owned 7,170,000 7,023,000
Marinas, Boatyards, Yacht Clubs, Dockominiums, Parks & Other 10,320 10,128

$19,148,369,000 spent at retail during 1998 for new and used boats, motors and engines, accessories, and other associated costs.

12,309,724 boat registrations as of December 31, 1997 for the U.S. and territories.



Boating Registration Statistics
States 1996 1997 Rank in U.S.
Alabama 261,351 264,436 17
Alaska 26,957 25,819 49
Arizona 150,107 155,010 29
Arkansas 178,185 172,930 27
California 881,092 894,347 2
Colorado 95,140 95,924 34
Connecticut 98,228 98,494 33
Delaware 42,856 43,461 46
District of Columbia 1,190 6,621 52
Florida 749,323 796,662 3
Georgia 302,874 309,606 15
Hawaii 15,177 15,136 51
Idaho 80,682 80,945 36
Illinois 366,378 368,513 10
Indiana 203,948 210,007 23
Iowa 201,436 219,888 22
Kansas 100,180 100,641 32
Kentucky 156,666 160,075 28
Louisiana 320,941 310,281 14
Maine 115,895 124,122 31
Maryland 194,266 189,052 26
Massachusetts 137,484 141,129 30
Michigan 945,817 957,105 1
Minnesota 758,541 768,555 4
Mississippi 244,279 252,767 18
Missouri 307,082 321,707 13
Montana 46,474 47,102 42
Nebraska 70,458 72,333 38
Nevada 55,483 58,053 40
New Hampshire 87,866 95,179 35
New Jersey 183,204 196,584 25
New Mexico 55,615 64,613 39
New York 458,092 512,430 7
North Carolina 321,114 328,594 12
North Dakota 37,938 43,865 45
Ohio 398,388 399,888 8
Oklahoma 220,667 223,979 21
Oregon 195,080 197,315 24
Pennsylvania 335,480 340,394 11
Rhode Island 32,443 33,950 48
South Carolina 416,085 376,201 9
South Dakota 46,575 46,113 44
Tennessee 297,719 306,215 16
Texas 611,374 615,438 5
Utah 71,688 74,228 37
Vermont 38,932 38,369 47
Virginia 229,233 229,629 20
Washington 246,174 245,962 19
West Virginia 52,314 57,135 41
Wisconsin 543,305 543,034 6
Wyoming 24,081 25,304 50
U.S. Territories 45,412 54,557 42
    Total         12,011,857         12,309,724     -

(+) Registration figures are provided by the U.S. Coast Guard




The Boating Market

  1996 1997 1998

Outboard Boats:
Total Units Sold 215,000 200,000 200,900
Retail Value $1,362,240,000 $1,421,400,000 $1,361,098,000
Average Unit Cost $6,336 $7,107 $6,775

Outboard Motors:
Total Units Sold 308,000 302,000 314,000
Retail Value $1,882,188,000 $2,006,186,000 $2,155,610,000
Average Unit Cost $6,111 $6,643 $6,865

Boat Trailers:
Total Units Sold 194,000 181,000 174,000
Retail Value $189,344,000 $190,050,000 $198,905,000
Average Unit Cost $976 $1,050 $1,090

Inboard Boats-Runabouts:
Total Units Sold6,0006,100 6,900
Retail Value$126,234,000$136,408,000 $160,378,000
Average Unit Cost $21,039 $22,362 $23,243

Inboard Boats-Cruisers:
Total Units Sold 5,3506,3006,600
Retail Value $1,215,268,000 $1,669,103,000 $1,680,672,000
Average Unit Cost $227,153 $264,937 $254,365

Sterndrive Boats:
Total Units Sold 94,500 92,000 91,000
Retail Value $1,925,248,000 $2,068,528,000$2,108,158,000
Average Unit Cost $20,373 $22,484 $23,167

Canoes:
Total Units Sold 92,900 103,600 107,800
Retail Value $53,789,000 $61,124,000 $64,077,000
Average Unit Cost $579 $590 $594

Personal Water Craft:
Total Units Sold 191,000 176,000 130,000
Retail Value $1,208,648,000 $1,135,904,000 $868,499,000
Average Unit Cost $6,328 $6,454 $6,681

Jet Boats:
Total Units Sold 14,100 11,700 8,500
Retail Value $143,284,000 $144,389,000 $140,577,000
Average Unit Cost $10,162 $12,341 $16,538

Sailboats:*
Total Units Sold 15,900 14,400 19,400
Retail Value N/A N/A N/A
Average Unit Cost N/A N/A N/A
*Source: 1998 Annual Sailing Business Review, 1998 forecasted



U.S. Export-Import of Pleasure Boats

Dollar Volume

  1994 1995 1996
Exports $685,241,000 $657,841,000 $672,837,000
Imports $753,127,000 $995,180,000 $813,680,000

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