JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Robert Newsome, chief administrative officer and senior vice president of operations for the National Marine Manufacturers Association, joined In Depth with Kristine Bellino to talk about Florida’s place as the largest recreational boating market in the country, how big the industry is in the state and how boating is changing.
With Florida’s beaches, warm weather and plenty of access to the water, Newsome said boating has become a major part of life in the state.
Boating is big business in Florida
According to Newsome, recreational boating creates about $31.5 billion in economic activity every year in Florida and supports roughly 110,000 jobs across the state.
Florida is also home to about 1.2 million registered boats.
“That’s about one out of every 10 boats in the United States,” Newsome said.
Newsome said there are plenty of reasons Florida has become such a big boating state. There’s the year-round weather, access to the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf, inland waterways and, of course, plenty of fishing.
“It’s just part of the DNA,” Newsome said. “It’s always been.”
The boating industry is seeing a slowdown
The boating industry is also feeling some of the same economic pressures as other industries.
Newsome said lower consumer confidence, inflation and higher fuel prices have affected new boat sales and even changed how some people are using their boats.
Still, he said the industry remains relatively stable despite the slowdown.
And buying a boat isn’t the only way people are getting on the water.
Newsome said boat rentals and boat clubs have become more popular, giving people another option if they don’t have the time or money to own a boat.
Some boat clubs also have several types of boats available. That means someone could take out a pontoon one day and go offshore fishing another.
Technology is changing boating
Boats are changing too, with new technology making them easier and safer to use.
Newsome pointed to things like joystick docking and augmented reality systems that can help boaters see channel markers and other important information while on the water.
Manufacturers are also using artificial intelligence to help boat owners quickly find information about repairs and how to operate their boats.
Engines are becoming more powerful while also becoming more fuel efficient, and boats that were once made for one specific purpose are now being designed to do more.
And Florida isn’t just buying a lot of boats. The state is also building them.
Newsome said 95% of boats sold in the United States are built in the U.S., with Florida leading the country in boat manufacturing.
For Newsome, who said he has been boating since he was about 4 years old, the industry’s popularity comes down to something pretty simple.
“It creates joy. It creates opportunity for friends and family. It connects you to water,” he said.
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