It may be too cold and rainy to be out on the lake this weekend, but that is not keeping you from dreaming about warner times. In fact, after a morning of looking online at boats for sale, you and your husband have decided to drive across town to consider one of the boats that you saw online. And while looking at boats for sale may not be as fun as actually being out on the lake and fishing with your family, it might put you one step closer to getting ready for when this long winter finally comes to an end.
The latest research shows that as many as 95% of all Americans live within an hour’s drive of a navigable body of water. Perhaps because of this statistic, a growing number of people in the U.S. are considering buying used boats for sale or at least renting pontoon boats for a family vacation. In fact, a growing number of boat dealers are finding that they are selling their products to first time buyers. The attraction of being out on a lake with family and friends has grown so popular that many of the best fishing and skiing locations have waiting lists for people who want to rent their products.
Consider some of these facts and figures about the boating and recreation industry and the impact that it has on the nation’s economy:
- Recreational boating industry dollar sales are expected to rise between 10% and 11% from $8.4 billion in 2016. This is in addition to increases in unit sales of new boats.
- During the year 2016, sales of new powerboats were projected to have increased between 6% and 7%.
- 95% of boats sold in the U.S. are made in America.
- With 72% of boat owners having a household income of less than $100,000, boating is predominantly considered a middle class activity.
- Including direct, indirect and induced spending, the recreational boating industry in the U.S. has an annual economic impact of more than $121.5 billion. It also supports 650,000 direct and indirect American jobs and nearly 35,000 small businesses.
It may be another cloudy and cold weekend where you are living, but that does not mean that you cannot do your research and get ready for a weekend out on the lake as soon as the temperatures warm up1
