Info-link: U.S. Freshwater Fishing Boat Market Snapshot

US_Freshwater_Fishing_Boat_Market_Snapshot

Freshwater Fishing Boats are higher content aluminum or fiberglass boats purpose built for fishing, primarily on inland lakes and rivers. This category does not include jon boats which are low content. Freshwater fishing boats represent approximately 20% of all registered powerboats in the US.


Here’s a quick summary:

  • There are currently about 2 million freshwater fishing boats registered in the U.S., almost half of which were purchased new or pre-owned during the past 5 years.
  • The average freshwater fishing boat is 19 years old and roughly 37,000 of them are being retired from the fleet each year.
  • Last year, 75% of all freshwater fishing boats were purchased pre-owned (25% New).
  • 25% of the people that purchased freshwater fishing boats in 2019 were first-time-boat buyers and 34% of them own another boat (including PWC)
  • Freshwater fishing boat buyers tend to be well established. 76% of them are over 40 years-old; almost all own their home; and they have usually lived there for a while.

Related Content

American Whitewater Toolbox

An Open Source Signage Toolbox from American Whitewater

American Whitewater is proud to announce the release of our new turn-key toolbox for developing river signs! We’re all about open-source, river information sharing and this is the motivation and rationale behind our Open-source Signage Toolbox. The first of its kind in the river community, the Toolbox houses a database of templates for safety messaging […]

Read More

Recreational Boating Statistics 2021

An annual compilation of recreational boating statistics in the United States, compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard using data supplied by the U.S. states and territories. Recreational Boating Statistics 2020 was released on June 30, 2021. New reports are published in early summer using certified data from the previous year.

Read More
Emergency Boarding Ladder

3 Boating Safety Tips Just Right for Fall Boating

Annapolis, Md., Sept. 07, 2022 – Fall boating season has arrived, and with it come different types of risks that cold water and air temperatures bring. Here are three boating safety tips from the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water just right for leaf peeping season. A float plan is needed: A float […]

Read More