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According to the latest results, 63% of respondents to the Q4 survey said they are cautiously optimistic about the state of the recreational boating sector over the next 12 months, up 18 points over the four quarters, representing a 40% increase from the Q1 2025 survey.  

Short-term economic and business outlooks improved in the fourth quarter, with respondents reporting greater confidence in both the overall economy and their own business conditions over the next three months. Longer-term expectations remained more measured, with many leaders anticipating stable conditions as they plan for the year ahead.

Across all manufacturing segments, respondents reported improving sentiment around business conditions, product demand and workforce stability. Expectations of increased product demand rose sharply in Q4, up 16% from Q3, as leaders reported greater confidence entering 2026 and the boat show selling season.

Regulatory and policy considerations remain a key factor shaping executive sentiment. While regulatory concerns persisted in Q4, sentiment moderated compared with earlier in the year. Trade and economic policies, particularly tariffs and cross-border trade uncertainty, remained the primary areas of concern, while tax and broader policy measures continued to be viewed as the leading sources of potential positive impact.

Workforce outlooks remained stable, with most respondents planning to maintain or modestly increase staffing levels over the next 12 months.

Now in its fourth edition, NMMA’s Marine Leadership Barometer remains a key indicator of industry sentiment, offering timely insight to support strategic planning, advocacy efforts, and investment decisions across the recreational boating sector.

The full report includes insights across recreational boat, marine engine and accessory executives’ sentiment, offering a look at how each segment perceives the market and any headwinds and tailwinds.

Participation in the survey is open to NMMA manufacturer member executives. Participating companies receive the full report, while NMMA manufacturer members who did not take part are provided with an executive summary and encouraged to participate in future surveys.

All NMMA members have the option to access the complete Barometer series through an annual subscription (Association/affiliate members: $3,500; Manufacturer members: $2,500) or to purchase individual quarterly reports (Association/affiliate members: $1,000; Manufacturer members: $750).

If interested in purchasing the report or to take part in the survey, contact NMMA’s Business Intelligence team at [email protected].