Boat Dealers NAICS 441222

Feb 19, 2026 - Discretionary Boat Segments See Declines

• The National Marine Manufacturers Association reported continued softness in the US recreational boating market through November 2025, pressuring boat dealers heading into 2026. On a rolling 12-month basis (Dec. 2024–Nov. 2025), retail sales fell 8.6% to 215,736 units, reflecting moderated demand amid elevated interest rates and cautious consumer sentiment. More discretionary segments including pontoons, wakesports, and cruisers saw retail declines, while freshwater fishing boats showed relative stability. Broader economic indicators reinforce the challenging sales environment: the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index dropped to 88.7, its lowest since April; the 30-year fixed mortgage rate remained high at 6.3%; and housing starts were steady at 1.4 million annualized units. For US boat dealers, weaker consumer confidence and high financing costs are dampening big-ticket purchases, increasing inventory risk and underscoring the importance of closely tracking economic indicators to manage pricing, promotions, and stock levels in 2026.
• While five services industries reported contraction in January, 11 industries reported growth, including the Retail Trade industry, according to an ISM Services PMI Report. Executives in the Retail Trade industry reported increases in business activity, new orders, employment, prices paid for materials and services, and inventories, along with a decrease in order backlogs in January. Other industries reporting growth during the period were Health Care & Social Assistance; Utilities; Construction; Information; Accommodation & Food Services; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Public Administration; Educational Services; and Finance & Insurance. Industries reporting contraction during the period include Other Services; Transportation & Warehousing; Management of Companies & Support Services; Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; and Wholesale Trade. Overall economic activity in the services sector continued to expand in January, registering 54.2%.

• According to a report in Boating Industry, US boat dealers entered 2026 navigating a softer sales environment but with cautiously improving sentiment. Through mid-2025, new powerboat sales were down about 10% year over year, with pressure concentrated in entry-level segments where financing costs weigh most heavily. Dealer performance in 2025 was mixed: 36.8% reported revenue slightly up versus 2024, while 21.1% said revenue was slightly down and 19.3% reported flat or significantly lower results. Unit sales were also uneven, with 29.8% of dealers reporting slight declines and 21.1% significant declines. Looking ahead, expectations are more positive: 48.1% of dealers anticipate slightly higher revenue in 2026 and 9.3% expect significant growth. Dealers forecast the strongest performance in service departments, followed by used boats, reflecting a shift toward recurring revenue as consumers delay new boat purchases amid economic uncertainty.
• Sales for the US boat dealers industry are projected to grow at a CAGR of 1.91% between 2025 and 2029, according to a forecast from Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. The expected growth rate is slower than the overall economy‘s anticipated growth. The retail and wholesale sectors are driven by consumer spending, along with expenditure by businesses and government. The forecast said retail spending could soften with the growth of spending on consumer services but noted that consumers have maintained strong spending on goods even as costs on some services have risen. High interest rates reduce demand by raising the costs of debt-financed spending. The report noted that interest rates have begun to decline, but new tariffs threaten to renew inflationary pressures and delay further rate cuts. Inflation is subsiding gradually, but it has proved persistent.