The National Shipbuilders Association (NMMA) reports that 187,000 new powerboats were sold from July to date, down 18 percent compared to the same period last year.

The new NMMA data also shows that while overall sales of new powerboats fell 11 percent in the run-up to the 2019 pandemic compared to January to July, sales of float boats, tailboats and yachts exceeded sales in the same period in 2019.



"Through the first seven months of the year, new vessel sales have fallen below our 2019 pace, indicating that economic uncertainty and the expected return of consumer attention are starting to show an impact," NMMA President and CEO Frank Hugelmeyer said in a statement. "This is not unique to the recreational boating industry, as most industries are under pressure with increasing talk of inflation, stock market turmoil and a global recession."

Hugelmeyer said that while supply chain challenges remain, they have prevented the recreational boat industry from overproducing, as other sectors have done in the past two years.

"Inventories at seaborne dealers remain fairly thin, indicating that the channel is still replenishing, leaving the industry in a healthier position than it has slowed recently," he said.

To date, new float boat unit sales are down 13% compared to the same period in 2021, but up 3% in the same period in 2019.

To date, unit sales of new tailboats are down 11 percent compared to the same period last year, but up 16 percent compared to the same period in 2019.

New yacht unit sales to date are flat compared to the same period in 2021 and up 16% compared to the same period in 2019.

Original writer: Trade Only Today Editors