In April 2026, the Marine industry recorded a -1.86% year-over-year (YoY) decline, following a larger -10.18% drop in April 2025. This may signal an improvement in demand for the boating market.
Category Performance
Outperforming the Market
- Aluminum Fishing Boat, 16-24 feet: +3.35%
- PWC: +2.82%
- Aluminum Fishing Boat, 8-24 feet: +1.56%
Performing in Line with the Market
- Bass: -1.49%
- Saltwater Outboard 13-55 feet: -2.78%
Underperforming the Market
- Pontoon: -4.19%
- Aluminum Fishing Boat, 8-15 feet: -9.25%
- Ski Wake: -11.11%
Registrations by Hull Type
- Aluminum: -0.71%
- Fiberglass: -2.77%
Regional Performance: Where Demand is Rising & Falling
While overall sales increased when compared to last year, 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 April 2026 data.
Top Growth Markets: April 2026
- Flagstaff, AZ → +500.00%
- East Liverpool-Salem, OH → +450.00%
- Selma, AL → +400.00%
- Keene, NH → +375.00%
- Bartlesville, OK → +300.00%
Declining Markets: April 2026
- Big Spring, TX → -83.33%
- Yuba City-Marysville, CA → -80.00%
- Houghton, MI → -75.00%
- Erie, PA → -71.43%
- Michigan City-La Porte, IN → -68.75%
Top Performing Lengths for Marine
The data below highlights the top-performing boat lengths based on year-over-year registration changes.
Top-Performing Lengths
- 17 feet: +6.30%
- 15 feet: +6.19%
- 23 feet: +5.72%
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: Oregon and Vermont.
