Fostering B2B editorial excellence

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & TOP 100 DIRECTOR Adam Quandt | aquandt @ epgacceleration . com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jamie Stafford | jstafford @ epgacceleration . com

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Lindsay Zigan | lzigan @ epgacceleration . com

NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Leslie Palmer | lpalmer @ epgacceleration . com | 763.383.4460

AD MATERIALS & QUESTIONS ads @ epgacceleration . com

Welcome to a new year of Boating Industry ! If you ’ re anything like me , the first month of the new year seems like it went by at light speed , but regardless of the pace , I hope your 2023 is off to a great start !

At the beginning of every year , with the help of various industry resources and representatives , Boating Industry takes a deep look at the year ahead and this year is no different . However , I believe this year ’ s comes with a little more importance than past . We as an industry are coming off of some of the most prosperous years we have seen in quite some time .

Some of the latest data from the U . S . Department of Commerce ’ s Bureau of Economic Analysis , released in November , shows the outdoor recreation economy has seen record-breaking years , sustaining remarkable growth despite navigating a post-pandemic environment .

Despite some swirling uncertainties and challenges around the industry and world atlarge , we as an industry are barreling into 2023 with force .

At the start of the year , NMMA reported that the industry was due to head into the new year with momentum to face the headwinds of normalizing demand and sales .

“ Coming off a record year of extraordinary demand in 2021 led to the second highest ranked year in nearly two decades for recreational marine expenditures . New powerboat retail unit sales normalized in 2022 to pre-pandemic growth years ( 2015-2019 ) with an estimated 250,000 new units sold , 25 % above previous averages ( 2008-2014 ),” NMMA reported . “ Looking ahead , early indications point to continued healthy demand with new retail unit sales expected to remain on par with 2022 .”

And even with headwinds , NMMA ’ s early-year boat shows are reporting full show floors and strong crowds with indication that the industry is indeed carrying a strong momentum into 2023 .

The 2023 Discover Boating Minneapolis Boat Show featured a completely sold-out show floor and welcomed nearly 24,000 attendees over the four-day show . Further yet , the show ’ s new online tool , Discover Boating Boat Finder , generated more than 15,000 sessions after its launch . Of note , 23 % of boat shoppers were between the ages of 35-44 , and 16 % between the ages of 25-34 , pointing to a younger demographic of consumers shopping boats .

So , as we navigate new challenges and face some normalizing across sales , it ’ s important to focus on the fact that consumers are still very much out in the marketplace and many are looking to boating for their outdoor recreation .

Now is not the time to take our foot off the gas as an industry . We found a spotlight during some dark times over the last few years and its important that we remain in that spotlight and continue to invite new people to enjoy life out on the water .

CEO : Marion Minor SR . VICE PRESIDENT / MARKET DEVELOPMENT : Joanne Juda-Prainito OPERATIONS DIRECTOR : Bernadette Wohlman

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4 february 2023 www . boatingindustry . com