For the third year in a row, American powerboat registrations have risen, reflecting the growing optimism in the US market
The US boating market continued its recent boom in 2014, according to the latest American powerboat registration figures.
The data, released this week by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), shows a 8.7% rise.
This makes for the third consecutive annual rise in new powerboats being registered in the USA.
Personal watercraft led the charge, with a 21.2% increase in this sector, which is dominated by Kawasaki Jet Skis and Sea-Doos.
Jet-drive boats also saw a bit of a boom, with a 15.7% rise in registrations last year. In terms of regions, the west coast performed the best, with 15.9% more boats registered in 2014.
The export market also remained strong, with 5.5% more outboard motors sent overseas. The NMMA commented that four-strokes and more powerful units were particularly popular.
Thom Dammrich, president of the NMMA, predicted that 2015 will be even more successful: “We’re seeing boat dealers and manufacturers increase their space at boat shows around the US, signalling their anticipation of a strong boat show buying season, especially with the variety of exciting new boats being offered and as more people turn to boating in an improving economy.
“Should the economic indicators remain positive, we anticipate sales growth of new boats to continue over the next three years.”
