Marine Statistics

• The National Marine Manufacturers Association has estimated the number of adults who went boating last year was up almost 6% from the year before.

• 75% of U.S. adults who go online say the Internet has made it easier to start a business.

• In 2008, Florida ranked number one in total expenditures for new powerboats, engines, trailers and accessories followed by Texas, California, New York, and North Carolina.

• Online retailers are acquiring new customers at a 15% annual rate versus 2% for brick and mortar stores.

• 75% of online shoppers say they would not return to a website that took longer than 4 seconds to load.

• Pre-owned boats and yachts accounted for 77% of all power and sailboats sold in 2008.

• 60% of new powerboats and sailboats purchased in 1997 were still owned by the original owner after 12 years.

• Consumers are 50% more likely to be influenced by blogs and e-mails than radio or TV advertising.

• Florida held the top spot for boat registrations in 2007, followed by California, Minnesota and Michigan.

• Recreational fishing is big business, generating more than $125 billion in economic output and more than one million American jobs.

• More Americans fish than play golf (24.4 million) and tennis (10.4 million) combined.

• Nearly 95% of mechanically propelled boats registered in 2008 were less than 26 feet in length.

• Three out of four current boat owners have an average household income of under $100,000.

• Nearly 50% of all recreational boats in use in the U.S. are outboard boats.

• 704,500 new boats and yachts were sold in 2008; kayaks led unit sales followed by outboards.

• The economic activity generated by sport fishing is greater than the Gross State Product of 23 states.

• Approximately 10,000 diesel engine charter vessels are registered in the United States.

• There are approximately 15,000 marinas and boatyards in the United States.

• 8 out of 10 adults who currently participate in boating went boating as children.