USA vs. North Carolina Boating Numbers
USA
North Carolina
Boats in use
18 Million
Registered boats (11th in USA)
363,000
New boats sold
$10.3 Billion
New boats sold
$379 Million
New motors sold
$3.1 Billion
New motors sold
$126 Million
New trailers sold
$250 Million
New trailers sold
$10.8 Million
Aftermarket accessories sold
$ 2.9 Billion
Aftermarket accessories sold
$109 Million
Total expenditures
$16.6 Billion
Total expenditures (6th in USA)
$625 Million
Total sales and service
(Fuel, finance, insurance, docking, maintenance, etc.)
$37 Billion
Total sales and service
$ unknown
Over $500 million in NC built boats sold in 2005 (Bradley)
(2006 NMMA Reporting)
North Carolina Boating Industry Numbers at a Glance
NC boat builders
100+
Marine construction firms
206
NC haulout boatyards
99
Boat product companies
>700
Marinas
450
Boat repairs and service firms
>1,500
Boat sales businesses
492
Boating industry employees
Est. 30,000
Approximate NC boating businesses in NCwaterways database 3,500
(2007 SBTDC Boating Industry Services figures – www.NCwaterways.com)
North Carolina Viewed as #1 Growth State for Boating Industry
Although Florida maintains its position as the leader in total value of shipments, North Carolina has the highest rate of growth in shipments. For example, in 2002, Florida achieved the highest value of shipments of inboard boats ($792 million), the category currently experiencing the greatest growth. However, from 1997 to 2002, North Carolina experienced a growth of 250 percent compared to Florida’s 66 percent and California’s (the state with the highest growth rate after North Carolina) growth of 86 percent (U.S. Department of Commerce, 2005). By type of boat, North Carolina’s boat-building industry experienced 173 percent growth in outboard motorboats, 250 percent growth in inboard motorboats, and 246 percent growth in inboard-outdrive/sterndrive boats, from 1997 to 2002.
Back to Marine TradeWinds Newsletter Home