Aluminum Powerboat Sales Were UP 30% in Q1


The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) reports that first quarter 2010 sales of new aluminum boats in the 18’ range increased 30% over 2009, which was the lowest first quarter in decades. About 38% of all powerboats sold in the U.S. are made of aluminum. The NMMA said, “This increase in aluminum boat sales provides an early indicator that a recovery in new boat sales is coming.” It should be noted that in 2006 the first category of boats to suffer losses in new boat sales were aluminum boats, which preceded by a year the slowdown in fiberglass boat sales in 2007-8, and the financial meltdown in 2009. Perhaps aluminum boats will lead the industry out of its recession.


Aluminum Boat Sales
The largest-selling type boat in the U.S. is multi-specie freshwater aluminum fishing boats.

From an NNMA Press Release--

"Consumer spending and consumer confidence increases in March and April have helped boost new aluminum outboard powerboat sales, leading a recovery for the recreational boating industry as overall new powerboat sales declines slow," says Thom Dammrich, president of NMMA. "This growth can signal a return of the entry-level boater and the outdoors enthusiast and angler to boating and overall growing trend in fishing."

Aluminum Boat Sales
NMMA Pres. Thom Dammrich

Aluminum powerboats are typically used for fishing throughout inland and Great Lakes states. Discover Boating data shows that 75 percent of boaters have a household income under $100,000 and 96 percent of powerboats on the water in 2009 were 26 feet or under, meaning boaters are primarily middle-class Americans operating small, trailerable boats, not large cruisers or yachts.

In fact, the top ten states for aluminum boat sales in 2009 in ranking order with corresponding new unit sales are: Texas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, and Georgia.

Sales Predictions

"We anticipate 2010 new powerboat sales to remain flat with 2009 as the economic indicators that impact our industry - consumer confidence, housing and credit markets, as well as unemployment-- start to improve and open the door for boat sales to begin increasing in 2011 and 2012," notes Dammrich.

"The growth in the aluminum outboard boat market is consistent with recent trends showing increased fishing license sales and is an indicator of the beginning of a turnaround for new boat sales. Consumer spending has been increasing for seven months and recreational boating will get its share of new consumer spending as the economy continues to recover."

Industry Also Sees Gains From Existing Boaters, Pre-Owned Sales

In addition to first quarter 2010 growth within the aluminum sector and a slowing of overall sales declines, the NMMA's 2009 Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract reveals that boaters remain passionate about being on the water, increasing the time spent on their boats in 2009 by four percent.

What's more, there were an estimated 66 million adult Americans who went boating in 2009, according to NMMA. These boaters helped drive an increase in the boat services sector (repairs/services, storage, insurance, taxes and interest payments) of nearly two percent in 2009 to $6.3 billion.

Reinforcing Americans' passion for boating even during times of economic downturn, sales of pre-owned powerboats increased 7.7 percent to 780,300 and increased 5.4 percent in dollars for a retail value of $8.5 billion in 2009.