NMMA Canada Releases First Two Sections of the 2018 Canadian Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract

| Statistics

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Canada announced today the release of the first two sections of the 2018 Canadian Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract – Economic Facts and Retail Markets (New Boats). According to the Retail Markets section, total unit sales of new boats in Canada increased 7 per cent in 2018, driven by growth in the first two quarters of 2018.

“We are encouraged to see the uptick in 2018 sales as a result of the strong performance in January through June 2018, prior to the adverse impact experienced by the Canadian recreational boating industry as a result of the U.S.' aluminum and steel tariffs and subsequent countermeasures in the second half of the year,” said Sara Anghel, president of NMMA Canada. “Despite those conditions, the increase in new boat sales indicates Canadians’ demand for recreational boats and marine accessories remains strong heading into the busy summer boating season.”

Additional data from the 2018 Canadian Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract’s Economic Facts and Retail Markets sections include:

  • Estimated retail dollar sales for new boats and outboard engines totaled nearly $2.5 billion in 2018, up 21.2 per cent from 2017.
  • In 2018, new boat sales in Canada totaled 41,700 units, up 7 per cent from 2017.
  • In 2018, unit sales were up for the following boat categories: inboard ski/wakeboard boats (up 16 per cent), personal watercraft (up 13 per cent), inflatable boats (up 6 per cent) outboard boats (up 6 per cent) and inboard cruisers (up 4 per cent).
  • Outboard engine unit sales totaled 42,700 in 2018, up 2 per cent from the previous year. Corresponding dollars were up 8 per cent to $348.5 million.
  • Outboard engine sales were up in several provinces with growth led by Prince Edward Island (up 14 per cent), Nova Scotia (up 9 per cent), Quebec (6 per cent) and Ontario (up 5 per cent). Together, these provinces accounted for nearly 60 per cent of outboard engine unit sales in 2018.
  • Consumer confidence, which closely correlates to new boat sales, averaged 116 in 2018, up 1.8 index points compared to the 2017 average of 114.2.
  • Disposable income, a key economic indicator for new boat sales, was up a seasonally adjusted 2.2 per cent through the fourth quarter of 2018.


NMMA’s annual Canadian Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract is the most comprehensive collection of statistics on the Canadian recreational boating industry, containing thousands of data points and insights on the recreational boating industry.

Added Anghel, “We encourage NMMA members and industry stakeholders to download the 2018 Canadian Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract to learn more about these valuable insights, as it continues to be one of the most significant data resources, providing critical insights and statistics year over year for Canada’s recreational boating industry.”

The remaining sections will be released as the data becomes available:

  • May: Pre-Owned Boat Market
  • June: Exports/Imports (Trade); complete Abstract


As each section is released, reports can be downloaded here within the Statistics section of nmma.ca. NMMA members receive unlimited complimentary access to the digital versions of each section as they’re available, in addition to the full compilation report, which will be released in June.

The Abstract and its sections are available for purchase by non-NMMA members. The print edition of the full report can be pre-ordered here.

Please visit www.nmma.ca/statistics/ or contact [email protected] for more information.