CHICAGO, March 17, 2009 - The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) today released its 2007 U.S. Recreational Boat Registrations Statistics report showing that nationwide, U.S. recreational boat registrations in 2007 increased one percent compared to 2006. A total of 13 million vessels were registered and/or documented in the U.S. in 2007, compared to 12.9 million in 2006.
Florida topped state rankings for registered boats, with nearly 992 million vessels recorded in 2007. That figure is up less than one percent from 2006, led by an increase (2.5 percent) in Personal Watercraft (PWC) registrations.
California ranked second overall (964,881 registrations) with an increase of nearly eight percent in 2007. Minnesota (866,496 registrations), Michigan (830,743 registrations) and Wisconsin (617,366 registrations) rounded out the top five states. The remaining top 10 states for registrations in 2007 include (in order): Texas (599,567); New York (494,020); South Carolina (442,040); Ohio (415,228); and Illinois (379,454).
"The Boat Registrations report provides a big picture look at trends within the recreational marine industry, especially on a state level," says Jim Petru, NMMA director of Industry Research and Statistics. "We work with numerous government agencies and research groups to gather the most comprehensive recreational boating registration data and are excited to be able to offer such a useful resource for our industry."
On a regional basis, Great Lakes states earned the top spot accounting for nearly 3.4 million (nearly 26 percent) of the total 13 million registered vessels in 2007. The Inland and South Atlantic regions, ranked number two and three in 2007; the Inland region accounted for 2.4 million of total boat registrations in 2007 and the South Atlantic with 2.2 million. All regions, except the North Atlantic, posted increases in boat registrations in 2007; the largest increase was in the Pacific region which climbed nearly five percent in 2007, primarily reflecting California's eight percent increase.
The 2007 U.S. Recreational Boat Registration Statistics report is based on data collected from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2007, as reported by the individual 50 states. Other sources used in compiling the report include the U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Info-Link Technologies Inc.; and, Statistical Surveys Inc. Boat registration statistics are the basis for allocating Aquatic Resources Trust Fund dollars among the states each year.
Electronic copies of the study, in PDF format, are available at no charge to NMMA members. The price for non-members is $300. Requests and orders may be placed by contacting NMMA fulfillment coordinator Chris Keil at (312) 946-6209, orderdesk@nmma.org.
National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters in the United States. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy, market research and data, product quality assurance and marketing communications.
