State and national statistics boast booming boating industry

Novi Boat Show © Boat Michigan

Since the onset of the pandemic, Americans have found a great resource in outdoor recreation as a healthy and fun way to relax and have fun with family and friends.

Boating is one of the top categories in outdoor recreation, and in Michigan it is a favorite way to recreate with the abundance of water resources Michigan has to offer. The result has caused a boom in the industry!

• Boating is big business in Michigan, having a $7.8 billion annual impact on the state's economy.
• Annual U.S. sales of boats, marine products and services totaled $56.7 billion in 2021, up 12.7 percent from 2020.
  • Retail expenditures for new boat, motor, trailer, and accessory purchases exceeded $1.5 billion in Michigan in 2021, an increase of 17% over 2020, and the 12th consecutive year of growth.
  • Michigan is the third largest marine market in the county behind Florida and Texas in retail sales, and also in the number of registered boats.
• It's not just new boats being sold; an estimated 1.1 million pre-owned boats were sold in the U.S. in 2021.
• The recreational boating industry supports more than 690,000 American jobs and 35,000 American businesses.
• Outdoor recreation accounts for 1.9 percent of U.S. GDP, generating $862 billion in gross economic output, of which recreational boating and fishing is the single largest segment, contributing nearly $31 billion in gross output and supporting 4.3 million American jobs. (Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis)
• Ninety-five percent of boats sold in the U.S. are American made.
• An estimated 100 million Americans go boating each year.
• Sixty-one percent of boat owners have an annual household income of $100,000 or less.
• Ninety-five percent of boats on the water in the U.S. are less than 26 feet—boats that can be trailered by a vehicle to local waterways.
  • Michigan has more than 1,300 public boating access sites, 80 Harbors of Refuge, and the largest freshwater coastline in the country!

Novi Boat Show - photo © Boat Michigan

The upcoming Progressive Novi Boat Show at Suburban Collection Showplace will feature hundreds of boats on display from top dealers around the state, with many new model introductions, and more than 100 brands represented. Including the brand new all-electric XShore 1 that made its U.S. debut at the recent Progressive Detroit Boat Show. Also, this year, the show will have used "like-new" product from 2021 and 2022 available. Features and promotions will entertain the whole family. Surfing, fishing, and boating simulators, Kids take-home t-shirt craft, Paint a Paddle Nautical Décor ($10 fee), and more.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit here. Regular admission is $12 for adults, children 12 and under free with an adult. Parking is available on-site at the Suburban Collection Showplace for $5.

Suburban Collection Showplace
46100 Grand River Avenue
Novi, MI 48374

Show hours
Thursday and Friday: 2pm - 9pm
Saturday: 11am - 9pm
Sunday: 11am - 5pm