Analysis of more than 2.5 million boats finds limited brand loyalty, highlighting the opportunity for manufacturers to stay relevant throughout the ownership journey
MIAMI, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- New analysis from Boats Group reveals that repeat boat ownership is a significant part of the recreational marine market—but returning to boating rarely means returning to the same brand.
k5:G 4=2DDlQ!#}0x>365565pDD6E#676C6?46Q :5lQs:GpDD6E!=246w@=56C`QmkAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^>>I]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^|$`eeaca`^q@2ED\vC@FA\{@8@];A8n:5l~pahff_cdQ E:E=6lQq@2ED vC@FAQ 2=ElQq@2ED vC@FAQ ^mk^Amk^5:Gm
kAmsC2H:?8 @? @H?6CD9:A C64@C5D 7@C >@C6 E92? a]d >:==:@? 3@2ED 24C@DD u=@C:52[ ~9:@[ %6I2D[ 2?5 ':C8:?:2[ q@2ED vC@FA :56?E:7:65 2AAC@I:>2E6=J ebf[___ C6A62E @H?6CD—@H?6CD 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 EH@ @C >@C6 3@2ED—E@ 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5 9@H 4@?DF>6CD >@G6 E9C@F89 E96 3@2E:?8 >2C<6E @G6C E:>6]k^Am
kAm%96 2?2=JD:D 7@F?5 E92E ;FDE eT E@ `bT @7 C6A62E 3FJ6CD DE2J H:E9 E96 D2>6 >2?F724EFC6C @? E96:C ?6IE 3@2E[ 2 A2EE6C? E92E H2D C6>2C<23=J 4@?D:DE6?E 24C@DD E96 DE2E6D DEF5:65] qFJ6CD D9@H 8C62E6C =@J2=EJ E@ 3@2E EJA6 E92? 3C2?5[ 3FE 6G6? E96?[ >@DE >@G6 :?E@ 2 5:776C6?E 42E68@CJ]k^Am
kAm%96 7:?5:?8D A@:?E E@ 2? :?4C62D:?8=J :>A@CE2?E @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C >2C:?6 >2?F724EFC6CDi DE2J:?8 C6=6G2?E E@ @H?6CD 36EH66? AFC492D6D[ 2D E96J C6D62C49 2?5 4@?D:56C H92E 4@>6D ?6IE]k^Am
kAmQ#6A62E @H?6CD9:A C6AC6D6?ED 2 >62?:?87F= A2CE @7 E96 3@2E:?8 >2C<6E[ 3FE E96 ?6IE AFC492D6 :D 72C 7C@> 8F2C2?E665 7@C 2?J @?6 3C2?5[Q D2:5 r=2:C6 {@@<[ w625 @7 s2E2[ 2E q@2ED vC@FA] Q~H?6CD 2C6 C64@?D:56C:?8 >2?F724EFC6CD[ 3@2E EJA6D[ 2?5 H96E96C E@ 3FJ ?6H @C FD65] u@C ~t|D[ E92E >2<6D E96 6?E:C6 @H?6CD9:A ;@FC?6J :>A@CE2?E—?@E ;FDE E96 >@>6?E H96? D@>6@?6 :D C625J E@ EC2?D24E]Qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#6A62E ~H?6CD pC6 2 $:8?:7:42?E !2CE @7 E96 |2C<6Ek^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp4C@DD E96 7@FC DE2E6D 2?2=JK65[ 2AAC@I:>2E6=J ebf[___ @H?6CD H6C6 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 EH@ @C >@C6 3@2ED] #6A62E @H?6CD C6AC6D6?E65 ad]eT @7 @H?6CD 2?2=JK65 :? u=@C:52[ b`]bT :? ~9:@[ a_]eT :? ':C8:?:2[ 2?5 `g]_T :? %6I2D]k^Am
kAm*6E AC6G:@FD @H?6CD9:A 2AA62CD E@ AC@G:56 >2?F724EFC6CD H:E9 C6=2E:G6=J =:EE=6 3F:=E\:? 25G2?E286 H96? E92E @H?6C C6EFC?D E@ E96 >2C<6E] p4C@DD 2== DE2E6D DEF5:65[ @?=J eT E@ `bT DE2J65 H:E9 E96 D2>6 >2?F724EFC6C 7@C E96:C ?6IE 3@2E]k^Am
kAm!6CD@?2= H2E6C4C27E :D E96 ?@E23=6 6I46AE:@?] ~H?6CD @7 *2>292[ $62\s@@[ 2?5 z2H2D2<: AC@5F4ED D9@H65 D@>6 @7 E96 DEC@?86DE D2>6\3C2?5 C6A62E 3692G:@C[ 2?5 E9@D6 3C2?5D 2=D@ 2AA62C65 7C6BF6?E=J 2>@?8 4@>>@? 4C@DD\D9@AA:?8 4@>3:?2E:@?D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 }6IE q@2E xD &A 7@C vC23Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmu@C >2?F724EFC6CD[ =@H 3C2?5 =@J2=EJ 492?86D E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 E96 A6C:@5 36EH66? AFC492D6D]k^Am
kAm|2C:?6 >2C<6E:?8 92D EC25:E:@?2==J 4@?46?EC2E65 D:8?:7:42?E C6D@FC46D 2C@F?5 562=6CD9:AD[ 3@2E D9@HD[ 2?5 @E96C 6?G:C@?>6?ED 4=@D6 E@ E96 EC2?D24E:@?] %9@D6 C6>2:? :>A@CE2?E A2CED @7 E96 3FJ:?8 6IA6C:6?46[ 3FE 4@?DF>6CD 368:? C6D62C49:?8 2?5 4@?D:56C:?8 E96:C @AE:@?D H6== 367@C6 E96J C6249 E92E A@:?E—2?5 >F49 @7 E92E 5:D4@G6CJ 2?5 C6D62C49 ?@H 92AA6?D @?=:?6]k^Am
kAm%92E >62?D >2?F724EFC6CD 2C6 4@>A6E:?8 7@C E96 ?6IE AFC492D6 =@?8 367@C6 2 3FJ6C H2=<D :?E@ 2 562=6CD9:A @C 2EE6?5D 2 3@2E D9@H]k^Am
kAms62=6CD A=2J 2? 6DD6?E:2= C@=6 :? =@42= >2C<6E:?8 2?5 4@?G6CE:?8 56>2?5[ 3FE E96 7:?5:?8D F?56CD4@C6 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C >2?F724EFC6CD E@ E2<6 8C62E6C @H?6CD9:A @7 9@H E96:C 3C2?5D[ >@56=D[ 2?5 3@2E EJA6D 2C6 C6AC6D6?E65 E9C@F89@FE E96 C6D62C49 ;@FC?6J] (:E9 ?62C=J ?:?6 @FE @7 `_ C6A62E 3FJ6CD 49@@D:?8 2 5:776C6?E >2?F724EFC6C[ C6=J:?8 @? AC6G:@FD @H?6CD9:A @C 562=6C\=6G6= 25G6CE:D:?8 2=@?6 C:D<D >:DD:?8 E96 A6C:@5 H96? 3FJ6CD 2C6 7@C>:?8 E96:C ?6IE 4@?D:56C2E:@? D6E]k^Am
kAmQq@2E D9@HD 2?5 562=6CD9:AD 2C6 @7E6? H96C6 E96 AFC492D6 4@>6D E@86E96C[ 3FE E96 564:D:@?\>2<:?8 AC@46DD DE2CED >F49 62C=:6C[Q D2:5 {@@<] Q|2?F724EFC6CD 92G6 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ DE2J :? 7C@?E @7 @H?6CD H9:=6 E96J 2C6 6IA=@C:?8 H92EVD ?6IE—3F:=5:?8 2H2C6?6DD 2?5 4@?D:56C2E:@? 7@C E96:C 3C2?5D 2?5 AC@5F4ED 367@C6 3FJ6CD ?2CC@H E96:C 49@:46D]Qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mq@2E %JA6 {@J2=EJ xD $EC@?86C %92? qC2?5 {@J2=EJ—qFE |@DE qFJ6CD $E:== $H:E49k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 u=@C:52 52E2 AC@G:56D 2? 6G6? 566A6C =@@< 2E 9@H AC676C6?46D G2CJ 24C@DD 3@2ED]k^Am
kAmpAAC@I:>2E6=J abT @7 C6A62E 3FJ6CD DE2J65 H:E9:? E96 D2>6 3@2E 4=2DD[ C@F89=J EH:46 E96 C2E6 @7 >2?F724EFC6C =@J2=EJ] $E:==[ >@C6 E92? E9C66\BF2CE6CD >@G65 E@ 2 5:776C6?E 3@2E 42E68@CJ]k^Am
kAmr6?E6C 4@?D@=6D DE2?5 @FE :? u=@C:52 2D 3@E9 E96 >@DE 4@>>@? 7:CDE 3@2E 2?5 E96 >@DE 4@>>@? C6A62E 3@2E[ >2<:?8 E96 42E68@CJ 2? :>A@CE2?E 6?ECJ A@:?E 2?5 2 7C6BF6?E 49@:46 7@C DF3D6BF6?E @H?6CD9:A]k^Am
kAm%96 =6G6= @7 42E68@CJ DH:E49:?8 2=D@ 3C@256?D E96 4@>A6E:E:G6 =2?5D42A6 7@C >2?F724EFC6CD] %96 ?6IE AFC492D6 >2J ?@E D:>A=J 36 2 49@:46 36EH66? 4@>A6E:?8 3C2?5D :? E96 D2>6 D68>6?Ej 2? @H?6C >2J 36 4@?D:56C:?8 2? 6?E:C6=J 5:776C6?E EJA6 @7 3@2E 2D E96:C ?665D 2?5 E:>6 @? E96 H2E6C 92G6 6G@=G65]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 !2E9 uC@> &D65 E@ }6H xD?VE {:?62Ck^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 C6D62C49 2=D@ 492==6?86D E96 4@?G6?E:@?2= :562 E92E 3@2E @H?6CD9:A 7@==@HD 2 AC65:4E23=6 AC@8C6DD:@? 7C@> FD65 E@ ?6H]k^Am
kAmp>@?8 C6A62E 3FJ6CD H9@ DE2CE65 H:E9 2 FD65 3@2E[ f_T AFC492D65 FD65 282:?[ H9:=6 @?=J 23@FE @?6 :? ?:?6 >@G65 7C@> FD65 E@ ?6H @? E96:C DF3D6BF6?E AFC492D6]k^Am
kAm!6C92AD >@C6 DFCAC:D:?8=J[ 3FJ6CD H9@ 3682? H:E9 2 ?6H 3@2E H6C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ >@G6 :? E96 @AA@D:E6 5:C64E:@?i 2AAC@I:>2E6=J cdT AFC492D65 FD65 E96 ?6IE E:>6]k^Am
kAm%96 7:?5:?8D DF886DE E92E DF3D6BF6?E AFC492D6D 2C6 ?@E ?646DD2C:=J 2 DEC2:89E7@CH2C5 QEC256\FA]Q qFJ6CD >2J 36 492?8:?8 3@2E:?8 24E:G:E:6D[ 255:?8 2?@E96C 3@2E[ @C =@@<:?8 7@C 2 5:776C6?E 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 762EFC6D[ AC:46[ 2?5 FD6 42D6]k^Am
kAmu@C >2?F724EFC6CD 2?5 562=6CD[ E92E >2<6D F?56CDE2?5:?8 H92E 2? @H?6C H2?ED E@ 5@ ?6IE >@C6 :>A@CE2?E E92? 2DDF>:?8 H96C6 E96J H:== 8@ 32D65 @? E96:C AC6G:@FD AFC492D6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m}@E tG6CJ #6A62E !FC492D6 xD 2 #6EFC? %C:Ak^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 2?2=JD:D 2=D@ F?4@G6C65 2? :>A@CE2?E 5:DE:?4E:@? :? C6A62E AFC492D:?8 3692G:@C]k^Am
kAmp>@?8 A6CD@?2= H2E6C4C27E 2?5 ;6E 3@2ED[ 2AAC@I:>2E6=J e_T @7 A2:C65 AFC492D6D @44FCC65 @? E96 D2>6 52J[ DF886DE:?8 E92E >2?J C6AC6D6?E D:>F=E2?6@FD AFC492D6D—DF49 2D >F=E:A=6 A6CD@?2= H2E6C4C27E 7@C 2 9@FD69@=5—C2E96C E92? 2? @H?6C C6EFC?:?8 E@ E96 >2C<6E 27E6C D6G6C2= J62CD]k^Am
kAm|@C6 EC25:E:@?2= D6BF6?E:2= AFC492D:?8 :D >@C6 AC6G2=6?E 2>@?8 42E68@C:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 46?E6C 4@?D@=6D[ 32DD 3@2ED[ 2?5 4CF:D6CD[ H96C6 @H?6CD EJA:42==J C6EFC? E@ E96 >2C<6E 27E6C 2 >F=E:\J62C A6C:@5]k^Am
kAmx? u=@C:52 2?5 ':C8:?:2[ E92E :?E6CG2= :D 86?6C2==J 2C@F?5 E9C66 E@ 7@FC J62CD] %6I2D C64@C5D D9@H 2 =@?86C :?E6CG2= @7 2AAC@I:>2E6=J D6G6? J62CD[ 2=E9@F89 5:776C6?46D :? E96 H2J %6I2D C68:DEC2E:@? C64@C5D 2C6 42AEFC65 >2<6 5:C64E 4@>A2C:D@?D H:E9 @E96C DE2E6D =6DD AC64:D6]k^Am
kAmu@C >2?F724EFC6CD[ E9@D6 >F=E:\J62C @H?6CD9:A 4J4=6D 4C62E6 2 D:8?:7:42?E H:?5@H :? H9:49 AC676C6?46D 42? 492?86[ ?6H AC@5F4ED 42? 6?E6C E96 >2C<6E[ 2?5 4@>A6E:?8 3C2?5D 42? 82:? 4@?D:56C2E:@?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$E2J:?8 #6=6G2?E q6EH66? !FC492D6Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%2<6? E@86E96C[ E96 7:?5:?8D A@:?E E@ 2 3@2E:?8 4@?DF>6C H9@D6 ;@FC?6J :D 72C >@C6 7=F:5 E92? EC25:E:@?2= =@J2=EJ >@56=D >:89E DF886DE]k^Am
kAm~H?6CD >@G6 36EH66? >2?F724EFC6CD[ 3@2E 42E68@C:6D[ 2?5 ?6H 2?5 FD65 :?G6?E@CJ] x? >2?J 42D6D[ J62CD A2DD 367@C6 E96 ?6IE AFC492D6] p?5 H96? 3FJ6CD 5@ C6EFC?[ >@DE 2C6 @A6? E@ 2 5:776C6?E 3C2?5]k^Am
kAmu@C >2C:?6 >2?F724EFC6CD[ E92E >2<6D E96 A6C:@5 36EH66? EC2?D24E:@?D 2? :>A@CE2?E A2CE @7 E96 4FDE@>6C ;@FC?6J] |2:?E2:?:?8 2 5:C64E 4@??64E:@? H:E9 @H?6CD[ 3F:=5:?8 G:D:3:=:EJ 7@C ?6H >@56=D 2?5 3@2E EJA6D[ 2?5 D9@H:?8 FA 5FC:?8 E96 @?=:?6 C6D62C49 AC@46DD 42? 96=A >2?F724EFC6CD C6>2:? :? E96 4@?D:56C2E:@? D6E H6== 367@C6 2 3FJ6C C62496D E96 562=6CD9:A @C 3@2E D9@H]k^Am
kAm%96 2?2=JD:D :D A2CE @7 q@2ED vC@FAVD @?8@:?8 H@C< E@ AC@G:56 E96 C64C62E:@?2= >2C:?6 :?5FDECJ H:E9 2 4=62C6C F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 3@2E D9@AA6CD[ @H?6CD[ 2?5 >2C<6EA=246 3692G:@C]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp3@FE q@2ED vC@FAk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmq@2ED vC@FA @A6C2E6D E96 H@C=5VD =625:?8 @?=:?6 >2C<6EA=246D 7@C 3FJ:?8 2?5 D6==:?8 3@2ED[ :?4=F5:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfgdchg\`U2>Aj9laccefeagahU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]3@2EEC256C]4@>TauU2>Aj2lq@2EZ%C256CQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmq@2E %C256Ck^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfgdchg\`U2>Aj9lbfddceh``dU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]J249EH@C=5]4@>TauU2>Aj2l*249E(@C=5Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm*249E(@C=5k^2m[ 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcfgdchg\`U2>Aj9lafghdcbdgU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]3@2ED]4@>TauU2>Aj2l3@2ED]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm3@2ED]4@>k^2m] (:E9 2 8=@32= 2F5:6?46 @7 >:==:@?D @7 3@2E 3FJ6CD[ q@2ED vC@FA AC@G:56D 52E2\5C:G6? >2C<6E:?8 D@=FE:@?D[ px\5C:G6? E@@=D[ 7:?2?4:?8 D6CG:46D[ 2?5 :?5FDECJ :?D:89ED E@ 96=A ~t|D[ 562=6CD[ 2?5 3C@<6CD >2I:>:K6 E96:C D2=6D A@E6?E:2=]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!C6DD r@?E24Eik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmr@FCE?6J r92=>6CDk^Am
kAmk6>mr9:67 qC2?5 U2>Aj r@>>F?:42E:@?D ~77:46C[ q@2ED vC@FAk^6>mk^Am
kAmt>2:=i k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@iAC6DDo3@2ED]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmAC6DDo3@2ED]4@>k^2mk^Am
kAm!9@?6i `\gff\bdc\c_ehk^Am
kA :5lQ!&#{Qmk:>8 E:E=6lQr:D:@?Q H:5E9lQ`aQ 96:89ElQ`aQ 2=ElQr:D:@?Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^:>8^72G:4@?]A?8nD?lu{dhce_U2>AjD5la_ae\_h\b_Q ^m ':6H @C:8:?2= 4@?E6?E E@ 5@H?=@25 >F=E:>65:2ik2 :5lQ!#}&#{Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^3@2ED\8C@FA\52E2\D9@HD\>@DE\C6A62E\3@2E\3FJ6CD\DH:E49\3C2?5D\b_aghbgch]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^3@2ED\8C@FA\52E2\D9@HD\>@DE\C6A62E\3@2E\3FJ6CD\DH:E49\3C2?5D\b_aghbgch]9E>=k^2mk^Am
kAm$~&#rt q@2ED vC@FAk^Am
kAmk:>8 2=ElQQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^CE]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^CE]8:7n}6HDxE6>x5lu{dhce_U2>Aj%C2?D>:DD:@?0x5la_ae_hb_`___!#0}t($0&$!#00000u{dhce_U2>Ajs2E6x5la_ae_hb_Q DEJ=6lQ3@C56Ci_AIj H:5E9i`AIj 96:89Ei`AIjQ ^mk^Am