PWC growth for 2019 revealed by NMMA

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) announced the growth percentage for sales of new personal watercraft in 2019 in the association’s December New Powerboat Registrations Report.

PWC retail sales increased 5 percent during 2019, the NMMA reports. New powerboat retail unit sales closed the fourth quarter up 4 percent overall on a rolling 3-month year-over-year (R3M YOY) basis and closed 2019 down 1 percent on a rolling 12-month year-over-year basis, marking the second highest level of new powerboat sales in 12 years.

“It was encouraging to see new boat sales pick up in the second half of 2019 with demand across a range of boats reaching their highest or near highest year-over-year sales volumes in 10-12 years,” said Vicky Yu, director of business intelligence for NMMA. “A pick-up in the second half of 2019 and healthy demand in most powerboat categories offset softness in the smaller freshwater fishing boat segment. From what we’re hearing from manufacturers, that sales momentum is carrying through the start of winter boat show season.”

Insights from the December report include:

 · Segment growth leaders in 2019 were new personal watercraft (up 5 percent), wake sport boats (up 5 percent), cruisers (up 4 percent), and jet boats (up 1 percent) YOY.

· Sales of new freshwater fishing boats were down 7 percent R12M YOY, primarily reflecting moderation in sales of smaller freshwater fishing boats (<21’) following 10-year highs in 2018.

· New yacht sales ended 2019 down 6 percent.