US powerboat registrations flat in August

New powerboat registrations in the US were down less than 1% in August, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s (NMMA) 12-month, year-over-year rolling scale while down 2% on the rolling three-month, year-over-year basis.

NMMA reports the numbers reflect a total of 274,200 new boats sold thus far in 2019, and that the industry is on target to meet year-end registration numbers that equal or are slightly below 2018.

During the period, new personal watercraft sales rose 8% over 12 months and 4% on the rolling three-month measure.

Tow boat sales were up 5% and 3% respectively, while larger fibreglass boats, like cruisers and yachts, were up 9% and 13%.

New aluminium powerboats suffered during the period, down 6% and 8%.

“Despite a softening we’re seeing in small to mid-sized aluminium-hulled powerboat sales, we’re continuing to see healthy growth in other segments, including entry-level personal watercraft and wake sport boats,” said Vicky Yu, director of NMMA Business Intelligence. “There was a pickup in sales in July and August but it wasn’t enough to offset the softening we saw in early spring and summer and as a result, it’s likely that overall new powerboat sales in 2019 will be flat or down slightly from 2018.

”We have had, on average, 7% growth every year for the past seven years and while that’s expected to ease in 2019, it would still mark the second highest level of new boat sales in 12 years.”