Miami International Boat Show sales forecast: $1.3 billion

The 2022 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show is expected to generate $1.34 billion in sales as the boating industry has gained due to a covid-generated demand increase for outdoor activities. Florida far and away leads the nation each year in boat sales revenues.

The Feb. 16-20 Miami International Boat Show, the world’s largest boat and yacht event, will spread out to five locations: the Miami Beach Convention Center, One Herald Plaza, Sea Isle Marina, the Museum Park Marina and the IFY Yacht Haven Grande at Island Gardens.

The show will help buoy the boating industry, which continues to stay strong, to a projected 3% sales increase from 2021.

Record nationwide sales of recreational boats in 2020 surpassed 300,000 for the second time in 15 years and a total of $49.3 billion, up 14% since 2019, the first year that goal was achieved.

In 2021, increased demand for boats created supply chain disruptions, impacting deliveries to retailers and constraining growth, said a Jan. 12 report from the National Marine Manufacturers Association, which owns the Miami show, but boat manufacturing is resurging to meet the demand, with production nearing pre-pandemic levels.

“The pandemic created shifts in how Americans prioritize their time,” said association President Frank Hugelmeyer in a press release, “and boating is an activity they’re doing with family and friends to escape from stresses on land. As a result, US marine manufacturing, which provides an estimated 691,000 jobs across the nation, is standing out as an example of economic resilience.”

Recreational boating and fishing contribute the most to the $689 billion outdoor recreation economy, and 1.8% of the American Gross Domestic Product, according to the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis. Recreational boating and fishing alone contribute $31 billion and support 4.3 million jobs in the country.

In addition, 95% of boats sold in the US are made at home, and Florida, Texas and Michigan are leading sales. Michigan produced $1.3 billion in boat sales in 2020, up 12% since 2019; Texas produced $2.4 billion in 2020, up 22% from 2019; and Florida produced $4.3 billion in 2020, 28% more than 2019, according to the association.

The Discover Boating website reported traffic boosts of 13% in 2021 compared to the previous year, and 91% more traffic than 2019.

This month’s Miami International Boat Show will be the first produced in conjunction with the Miami Yacht Show and the Super Yacht Miami, under the brand of Discover Boating, a website on boating.

“With our return to the Miami Beach Convention Center and alongside our partners at the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the 2022 boat show will be unlike any other winter boat show,” said Andrew Doole, president of U.S. Boat Shows, “and we can’t wait to bring together the boating and yachting community for an unforgettable event.”

The Miami Beach Convention Center will showcase powerboats up to 49 feet long, engine manufacturers, marine accessories and other retail; One Herald Plaza will feature 50- to 125-foot-long motor yachts, among others; Sea Isle Marine will host a test drive of over 150 sea trial vessels; at the Museum Park Marina guests can get an up-close look at the latest sailboats and catamarans; and the IGY Yacht Haven Grande will showcase Super Yacht Miami, the largest and most luxurious yacht exhibition.

The five-day event’s new elements include the Boat Show Experience at the Pride Park, “where guests will have access to the AquaZone, presented by Nautical Ventures, in addition to a collection of experiential boating lifestyle activations, entertainment, innovative cuisines, and a marine accessory pavilion.”

The Boat Show Experience also includes Fred’s Shed, an interactive learning center designed to enhance boating knowledge; Costa Conservation Village, a marine environment protection activation; Charged! Electric Pavilion, a show of electric propulsion systems and other high-tech products; the Wake Sports Experience, featuring sports athletes and a surf simulator; and the Community Corner, where clubs and associations are to share community involvement.

An adult general admission ticket for one day is $40, and $70 for two days. A Prime Time Preview ticket for early access to the show on one day is $60.

“For 80 years, the Miami International Boat Show has put boating in Miami on the international stage while welcoming boaters from across the globe,” Mr. Hugelmeyer said. “The 2022 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show will provide the ultimate boat show experience in a first-of-its-kind all-city event in Miami and Miami Beach.”