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Mark your calendar for Friday, March 20.

That’s the first day of spring, and warming weather will mean Missouri’s boating season won’t be far away. 

And it means many Missourians will be in the market for a new or used boat to enjoy the state’s numerous waterways. There are 289,854 registered boats in Missouri, and boating continues to be big business in the Show Me State, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

NMMA data shows that Missouri’s sale of new and used boats and related boating equipment ranked 17th in the country in 2018 (the most recent data available), with sales worth $468.49 million.

That topped a trend in Missouri, with boat sales steadily increasing from previous years:

  • 2017 – $444,669,182
  • 2016 – $403,122,607
  • 2015 – $359,747,765
  • 2014 – $321,469,055
  • 2013 – $290,671,871
  • 2012 – $295,735,681 

The strong sales numbers are no surprise for Greg Mustain, owner of The Ski Shack in Springfield, which sells wakeboard, wakesurfing and pontoon boats. The Ski Shack also has locations in Shell Knob and Indian Point on Table Rock Lake. 

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“We still think 2020 will be positive for us. We had a record year in 2019,” Mustain said.  “Our sales were up 11.2 percent from the year before. We’re looking forward to a good economy, especially with the financing companies that work with us.”

If there’s a trend in new 2020 boats, Mustain said it’s that manufacturers are adding more powerful engines and more electronics to all categories of boats he sells. 

“We’ve got pontoon boats that will do 50 miles per hour comfortably on the water,” he said. 

Prices for wakeboard boats continue to rise, but he said that’s driven by customer demand. An entry-level wakeboard at The Ski Shack starts at about $80,000, with top-end boats selling for $250,000. 

“Malibu just came out with a brand new one that we just sold for north of $200,000,” Mustain said. “We’re in a kind of a lull right now (in the middle of winter) but when the boat shows start up, you’ll see a lot of interest pick up in new boats.”

According to NMMA, boating directly and indirectly supported 16,420 jobs in Missouri, and there were 673 boating-related businesses in Missouri in 2018 (the latest available numbers for the state), according to NMMA. 

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With the stock market setting records through 2019, NMMA said retail sales of new powerboats nationwide last year held steady at approximately 280,000 boats, the second highest total since 2007. Final boat sales numbers are still being tallied.

2020 retail powerboat sales

NMMA predicts new powerboat sales in 2020 to be up as much as 2 percent. 

“Sales in 2019 were nearly on par with the 11-year high we saw in 2018, even with some softening particularly in the freshwater fishing category, which we attribute to unseasonably cold and rainy weather in spring and early summer,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, NMMA president. “Looking at 2020, with the economy on solid footing and key economic indicators like consumer spending remaining strong, we expect another healthy year for new boat sales, which could be up as much as 2 percent.”

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Here’s a closer look at powerboat sales by category in 2019:

  • New personal watercraft sales are estimated to be up 6 percent to 73,000 units in 2019. Personal watercraft typically cost less than larger boats and are often considered a gateway to boat ownership.
  • Sales of new wake sport boats — popular for wakesurfing and wakeboarding and attractive to new and younger boaters — are estimated to be up 6 percent to 11,000 units in 2019.
  • New cruiser sales — boats between 22 and 32 feet, popular for relaxing, entertaining and ‘cruising’ — are estimated to be up 3 percent to 9,000 units in 2019.
Fishing boats are available in several different types, lengths and with different sized motors. From aluminum hulled boats with V shaped bottoms to sleek fiberglass modified V Hulled boats, every boat has a different purpose depending on what the operator plans to do with it.
A modified V Hull aluminum bass boat at Bass Pro Shops on Monday, June 18, 2018. This type of boat is designed to cut through the water instead of over it, is fairly short and comes in various lengths and typically has a motor with 60 to 70-horsepower, allowing speeds of 30-35 miles per hour.
A V bottom aluminum bass boat at Bass Pro Shops on Monday, June 18, 2018. Shaped like a V from bow to stern, this typeof boat is taller, heavier and more stable in the water. They come in various lengths, from 16 to nearly 20 feet, with motors that range from 60 to 75 horsepower.
Fiberglass V boats are bigger and taller models. They have more curves and are heavier, allowing for a smoother ride in rough water. They are ideal for fishing for walleye and on larger, deeper lakes. They tend to have bigger motors.
Jon Boats have flat bottoms and are streamlined. The boats come in a variety of lengths and motor sizes. Typically used for duck hunting and fishing in rivers or shallow parts of lakes.
A modified V Hull aluminum bass boat at Bass Pro Shops on Monday, June 18, 2018. This type of boat is designed to cut through the water instead of over it, is fairly short and comes in various lengths and typically has a motor with 60 to 70-horsepower, allowing speeds of 30-35 miles per hour.
A 200-horsepower motor on the back of a bass boat at Bass Pro Shops on Monday, June 18, 2018. The largest motor allowed in bass tournament is 250-horsepower.
The steering wheel on a modified V Hull aluminum bass boat at Bass Pro Shops on Monday, June 18, 2018.
Bass boats can come with several different sized motors depending on the hull shape of the boat and what the owner wants to use it for.
A 200-horsepower motor on the back of a bass boat at Bass Pro Shops on Monday, June 18, 2018. The largest motor allowed in bass tournament is 250-horsepower.
A fiberglass modified V Hull bass boat at Bass Pro Shops on Monday, June 18, 2018.

Replay

  • Fishing boats are available in several different types, lengths and with different sized motors. From aluminum hulled boats with V shaped bottoms to sleek fiberglass modified V Hulled boats, every boat has a different purpose depending on what the operator plans to do with it. 1 of 11
  • A modified V Hull aluminum bass boat at Bass Pro Shops on Monday, June 18, 2018. This type of boat is designed to cut through the water instead of over it, is fairly short and comes in various lengths and typically has a motor with 60 to 70-horsepower, allowing speeds of 30-35 miles per hour.2 of 11
  • A V bottom aluminum bass boat at Bass Pro Shops on Monday, June 18, 2018. Shaped like a V from bow to stern, this typeof boat is taller, heavier and more stable in the water. They come in various lengths, from 16 to nearly 20 feet, with motors that range from 60 to 75 horsepower.3 of 11
  • Fiberglass V boats are bigger and taller models. They have more curves and are heavier, allowing for a smoother ride in rough water. They are ideal for fishing for walleye and on larger, deeper lakes. They tend to have bigger motors.4 of 11
  • Jon Boats have flat bottoms and are streamlined. The boats come in a variety of lengths and motor sizes. Typically used for duck hunting and fishing in rivers or shallow parts of lakes.5 of 11
  • A modified V Hull aluminum bass boat at Bass Pro Shops on Monday, June 18, 2018. This type of boat is designed to cut through the water instead of over it, is fairly short and comes in various lengths and typically has a motor with 60 to 70-horsepower, allowing speeds of 30-35 miles per hour.6 of 11
  • A 200-horsepower motor on the back of a bass boat at Bass Pro Shops on Monday, June 18, 2018. The largest motor allowed in bass tournament is 250-horsepower.7 of 11
  • The steering wheel on a modified V Hull aluminum bass boat at Bass Pro Shops on Monday, June 18, 2018.8 of 11
  • Bass boats can come with several different sized motors depending on the hull shape of the boat and what the owner wants to use it for.9 of 11
  • A 200-horsepower motor on the back of a bass boat at Bass Pro Shops on Monday, June 18, 2018. The largest motor allowed in bass tournament is 250-horsepower. 10 of 11
  • A fiberglass modified V Hull bass boat at Bass Pro Shops on Monday, June 18, 2018.11 of 11

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One surprise: Freshwater fishing boat sales are estimated to have dipped 7 percent to 69,000 units in 2019. That’s likely due to extreme rain and extended spring flooding in 2019 in the Midwest.

Recreational boating by the numbers

According to NMMA:

  • Annual U.S. sales of boats, marine products and services are estimated to total $42 billion in 2019, up slightly from 2018.
  • Leading the nation in sales of new powerboats, engines, trailers and accessories in 2018 were the following 10 states (2019 estimates available in the spring):
  1. Florida: $3.2 billion, up 8 percent from 2017
  2.  Texas: $1.8 billion, up 9 percent from 2017 
  3. Michigan: $1.1 billion, up 10 percent from 2017 
  4.  North Carolina: $914 million, up 9 percent from 2017
  5. Minnesota: $861 million, up 6 percent from 2017
  6. Wisconsin: $781 million, up 9 percent from 2017
  7. New York: $775 million, up 5 percent from 2017 
  8. California: $765 million, up 6 percent from 2017
  9. Georgia: $680 million, up 8 percent from 2017 
  10. South Carolina: $661 million, up 4 percent from 2017
  • There were an estimated 11.9 million boats registered and documented in the U.S. in 2019, relatively unchanged from 2018.
  • Ninety-five percent of boats on the water (powerboats, personal watercraft and sailboats) in the U.S. are small in size, measuring less than 26 feet in length — boats that can be trailered by a vehicle to local waterways.
  • Sixty-two percent of boat owners have a household income less than $100,000.

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