However , manufacturers continue to take watercraft to the next level , bringing the segment well beyond simply an entry point to boating and created a lifestyle around owning and operating PWC around the world .

While much like many other segments across the recreational boating industry , sales numbers for the PWC segment have begun to slow in the most recent data from the National Marine Manufacturers Association ( NMMA ) – down 15.9 % compared to 2023 . However , until recently , the segment was one of the few remaining marine segments to continue climbing in sales . And despite a drop in sales , retail unit sales remain strong , with NMMA ’ s rolling 12-month numbers reporting over 70.5K retail units in 2024 through June .

Who ’ s buying ?

A recent study from CDK Lightspeed focused on 71,000 new and used PWC units sold from September 2023 through August 2024 .

“ Roughly nine out of ten personal watercraft sold were new units ,” the Lightspeed study reported . “ 88 % were new , and 12 % were used .”

In terms of where the sales are taking place , the southern region of the U . S . accounts for the largest share , contributing 44 % of total sales . The Midwest follows with 22 %, while the Northeast makes up 11 % of the sales . Both California and the West represent 6 % of sales each , and the Northwest has the smallest share , contributing 3 %. This distribution highlights the significant concentration of sales in the South and Midwest regions compared to the others .

Generation X ( those born between 1965-1979 ) again accounted for the largest share , making 43 % of the purchases , with an average unit price of $ 20,783.40 . Millennials ( those born between 1980-1995 ) followed with 28 % of sales , with an average price of $ 20,530.51 . Baby Boomers ( those born between 1946-1964 ) represented 20 % of purchases , paying a higher average price of $ 21,669.76 per unit . Generation Z ( 1996-current ) continues to contribute the smallest portion , with 8 % of sales , and pays the lowest average price at $ 19,017.14 .

Despite the expected slowdown , or normalization , after the record and unprecedented sales during the covid-19 pandemic , manufacturers continue to remain optimistic about the segment and are full steam ahead in innovation to push watercraft into the future .

Boating Industry editor-in-chief Adam Quandt fishes off of the new 2025 Sea-Doo FishPro Apex during an event in Minnesota .

Blast off !

Yamaha Watercraft ’ s reveal this year came in the form of an entirely new series for the manufacturer , the JetBlaster WaveRunner line . Moving into the builder ’ s rec-lite offering , the newly designed JetBlaster line aims to offer riders a light and playful ride at a lower cost to entry .

Measuring 116 inches in length , 44.5 inches in width and weighing as light as 529 lbs ., the JetBlaster Series is the most compact-sized sit-down WaveRunners available . The series includes four models , powered by the 100-horsepower Yamaha TR-1 marine engine in the JetBlaster and Jet- Blaster DLX , and the 110-horsepower TR-1 HO motor in the JetBlaster PRO and JetBlaster LTD .

All of the new JetBlaster models feature a reinforced polypropylene deck , a first for Yamaha , but not necessarily new to personal watercraft . www . boatingindustry . com october 2024

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