In January 2026, the Marine industry recorded a -10.56% year-over-year (YoY) decline. This marks a decrease in sales, following a +4.31% growth in January 2025.
Category Performance
Outperforming the Market
- Aluminum Fishing Boat, 16-24 feet: +6.20%
- Aluminum Fishing Boat, 8-24 feet: +3.81%
- Aluminum Fishing Boat, 8-15 feet: -6.98%
- Bass: -8.02%
- Saltwater Outboard 13-55 feet: -9.30%
Underperforming the Market
- Pontoon: -19.50%
- PWC: -19.76%
Registrations by Hull Type
- Aluminum: -3.89%
- Fiberglass: -14.80%
Regional Performance – Where Demand is Rising & Falling
While overall sales declined, certain markets are notably outperforming the national average, presenting opportunities for dealers. At the same time, other regions are experiencing sharper declines, highlighting potential challenges to watch. Below are some of the strongest and most-declining markets based on January 2026 data.
Top Growth Markets – January 2026
- Charleston, SC → +5,200.00%
- Greenville-Spartanburg, SC→ +3,400.00%
- Jefferson City, MO → +650.00%
- Columbia, MO → +600.00%
- Corbin, KY → +500.00%
Declining Markets – January 2026
- Portland-Brunswick, ME → -92.31%
- Bangor, ME → -90.00%
- Greenville-Greenwood, MS → -85.71%
- Merced, CA → –83.33%
- Wichita Falls, TX → -83.33%
Top Performing Lengths for Marine
The data below highlights some of the top-performing boat lengths based on year-over-year registration changes.
Top-Performing Lengths
- 17 feet: +13.36%
- 16 feet: +7.03%
- 13 feet: +3.70%
Stay Ahead with Data-Driven Insights
Industry trends are never as simple as being up or down, the real value comes from digging deeper to uncover opportunities and guide smarter decisions.
- Want deeper insights for your market? Reach us at marketing@statisticalsurveys.com to access registration data that drives better business strategies.
- Ready to put insights into action? TI Media helps dealers turn data into growth with expert advertising solutions.
- Looking to reach even more buyers? Connect with BoatMart for additional opportunities to get in front of in-market shoppers.
The data presented in this article reflects monthly new marine sales across the United States, with the exception of the following states: Illinois, Indiana, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
