A Snapshot of Recreational Boating in America –

Background
Dr. Glenn E. Haas, Professor Emeritus, Colorado State University
July 21, 2010

Background for this Snapshot

It’s impossible for anyone to predict the future. However, thoughtful analysis of the historical trends in
the past can allow us to paint a more accurate picture of what we may be able to expect. The ‘Snapshot’
document is the result of a team of researchers from the Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Division, led by
Dr. Glenn Haas of Colorado State University, who explored past and current factors affecting recreational
boating, as well as how these changing factors may influence recreational boating participation in the
future.

Recreational boating in America, like all outdoor recreation activities, is influenced by the ever-present
trends, fads, and changes in society. Influences can be of a social, economic, demographic, or
technological nature. Certainly, key factors affecting outdoor recreation demand include employment;
disposable income and leisure time; increasing dual-spousal employment and even multiple family jobs
decreasing leisure time; increasing aging and cultural diversity of society; and emerging technologies
that attract people to new outdoor activities. Some influences will attract people to recreational boating
and others detract or even displace current participants. This ever changing dynamic needs to be
monitored.

The ‘Snapshot’ of facts and figures is instrumental in anticipating the future of the recreational boating
landscape. They also enable the Coast Guard to take a proactive approach in resource planning and
allocation, targeting outreach efforts, identifying potential causes of recreational boating accidents and
deaths, and then in turn setting attainable goals for reductions in both. It also illustrates the tremendous
monetary benefits that recreational boating offers to the struggling economy, which are amplified even
more when the overlap between fishing and boating is considered. Data sets from a variety of both
Federal and private industry were considered, evaluated, and selected based on credibility.

We selected the recreational boating factors that provided the clearest snapshot of the economic
relevance, estimated participation, and injury and death related statistics. Listed are the estimated number
of participants in recreational boating, projections of future participants, boat sales data, and the number
of accidents and deaths, highlighting the lack of education. More research and outreach is necessary to
continue to understand and reduce accidents and deaths on the water.

A key piece of the current funding for the Boating Safety Division is the Sport Fish Restoration and
Boating Trust Fund – Created in 1984 and originally called the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, it
consisted of two accounts—a Sport Fish Restoration Account and a Boat Safety Account. The trust fund
was subsequently amended to support a variety of programs administered by three federal agencies,
including fishing programs, access, wetlands management, recreational transient vessel docking and
sewage disposal infrastructure, and aquatic resource education. In 2005, the Boat Safety Account was
terminated and remaining programs were consolidated and renamed into the current Sport Fish
Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.

The five sources of income to the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund are (1) the portion of
federal fuel taxes attributable to motorboat fuel from the Highway Trust Fund; (2) annual tax receipts
attributable to small engine fuel used for outdoor power equipment from the Highway Trust Fund; (3)
annual receipts from a manufacturers’ excise tax on sport fishing equipment; (4) annual receipts from
import duties on fishing tackle and on yachts and pleasure craft; and (5) interest on funds invested prior to
disbursal. Total FY2009 income from these five sources was approximately $691 million.
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The key points to know about the history of the current Trust Fund are:
 The Aquatic Resources Trust Fund was established in the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 to
improve funding to the States for the RBS program administered by the Coast Guard and the
Sport Fish Restoration program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Aquatic
Resources Trust Fund (commonly referred to as “Wallop-Breaux” for the members of Congress
who sponsored the legislation) was renamed the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund
in legislation enacted in 2005.
 The financial assistance provided to the States has contributed significantly to the States' ability
to assume an increasingly larger share of responsibility for RBS program activities. This funding
stream is critical to the continued success of the Program.
 The Enactment of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) in Fiscal Year 05 (FY-05) brought a significant amount of
much needed additional funding for State Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Programs.
 FY-05 funding for USCG and State RBS program funds - $56M prior to reauthorization.
 FY-06 funding for USCG and State RBS Programs increased to $91M following reauthorization.
 And in FY-09 distribution increased to $133M
 In March 2010, Congress extended the authorization thru the end of calendar year 2010.
 The Administration has proposed a legislative change proposal (LCP) that will reauthorize the
trust fund through 2014. The LCP continues and slightly increases the share of funds the Coast
Guard and the states receive to combat preventable deaths and injuries.

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 A Snapshot of Recreational Boating in America
Dr. Glenn E. Haas, Professor Emeritus, Colorado State University
March 15, 2010

Participation Figures

82 million adult Americans participated in recreational boating U.S. Forest Service, 2009

12.7 million boats registered in the United States U.S. Coast Guard, 2009

2020 projections of the number of adult recreationists: U.S. Coast Guard, 2009
60.4 million motorboaters 23.3 million canoers
21.1 million PWC users 20.9 million rafters
19.1 million waterskiers 13.5 million kayakers
11.4 million sailing 9.7 million rowers

25.8 million fishing participants were boating Recreational Boating and Fishing
Foundation 2009
Economic Figures

$30.8 billion in recreational boating sales and services National Marine Manufacturers
Association, 2009 report
$21+ billion in recreational boating trip expenditures Recreational Marine Research
Center, 2009
$44+ billion total impact value added Recreational Marine Research
Center, 2009
18,940 boating businesses National Marine Manufacturers
Association, 2009 report
154,300 people employed
Boating Safety

4,730 boating accidents U.S. Coast Guard, 2010

736 deaths & 3,358 injuries Recreational Boating Statistics
$36 million dollars of damage from recreational boating accidents. (2009 statistics)

86% of deaths occurred on boats where the operator had not received any U.S. Coast Guard, 2010
boating safety instruction/course. Recreational Boating Statistics
(2009 statistics)
76% of anglers boat fishing did not complete a boating safety course. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2006

The National Recreation Boating Safety Program performance goal: Strategic Plan of the
2010 - 675 deaths 2011 - 659 deaths National Recreational Boating Safety
Program 2007-2011
Note: All data in this chart are the most recently available.

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 A Snapshot of Recreational Boating in America -
Projections
Dr. Glenn E. Haas, Professor Emeritus, Colorado State University
March 15, 2010

Methodology for the 2020 projections of the number of recreationists:

The general concept behind the recreational boating participation model is that probability of participation is related
to certain factors like a person’s age, ethnicity, education, gender, region, income, etc. Thus, forecasts of changes
in demographics can be used to forecast probability of participation. The forecast methodology used to develop the
2020 projections is based on National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association’s (NOAA) “Projected
Participation in Marine Recreation: 2005 & 2010”. The NOAA study used National Survey on Recreation and the
Environment (NSRE) 2000 as baseline data to predict saltwater recreation participation via logit equations based on
forecasts of explanatory variables (age categories, gender, census divisions by region, level of education attained,
income, ethnicity).

The model developed for the 2020 projections is similar to the logit equation used in NOAA’s model, with NSRE
2000 used for the baseline data. The estimates of various boating activities were adjusted using the values contained
in “Outdoor Recreation for 21st Century America”. 1 The 2020 projections were based mainly on U.S. Census
Bureau forecasts of demographic variables.

Participation Figures

Current baseline of the number of recreationists: NSRE, 2000

52.0 million motorboaters 20.7 million canoers
20.3 million PWC users 20.9 million rafters
17.4 million waterskiers 7.4 million kayakers
10.9 million sailing 9.4 million rowers

2020 projections of the number of recreationists: U.S. Coast Guard, 2009

60.4 million motorboaters 23.3 million canoers
21.1 million PWC users 20.9 million rafters (same as in previous table)
19.1 million waterskiers 13.5 million kayakers
11.4 million sailing 9.7 million rowers

1
Data from Outdoor Recreation for 21st Century America (H. Ken Cordell) -- Year 2000-2001
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 A Snapshot of Recreational Boating in America –
Reference Document
Dr. Glenn E. Haas, Professor Emeritus, Colorado State University
March 15, 2010

Primary Facts Source/Description Methodology/Links

(Dr. Haas)
1. 82.1 million ages 16 and  33.5 million more (68.9 percent  Based on the NSRE multifaceted
over (annually 2005-2009) increase) participants since the survey focusing on a variety of issues
participated in recreational '82-'83 NSRE survey. related to outdoor recreation.
boating  Released May 2009.  http://warnell.forestry.uga.edu/
 Long-Term National Trends in nrrt/nsre/IRISRec/IRISRec12rpt.pdf
Outdoor Recreation Activity
Participation---1980 to Now, A
RECREATION Research Report in
the IRIS Series, May, 2009, H.
Ken Cordell, Gary T. Green and
Carter J. Betz.
2. 12.7 million (2008)  US Coast Guard – Office of  States report their numbers to the
registered recreational Auxiliary and Boating Safety, office.
boats Boating Safety Division  Data is summarized in Recreational
Boating Statistics 2008:
http://www.uscgboating.org/statistic
s/accident_statistics.aspx
Participation Figures

3. 2020 projections  US Coast Guard – Office of  Logistic regression model where the
a. 60.4 million Auxiliary and Boating Safety, explanatory variables are bits of
motorboaters Boating Safety Division demographic data
b. 23.3 million canoers  Based on work that was done by  Link to NOAA’s report that provided
c. 21.1 million PWC users NOAA who used the NSRE 2000 the foundation for the Division’s
d. 20.9 million rafters survey data work:
e. 19.1 million waterskiers http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/ja/j
f. 13.5 million kayakers a_leeworthy002.pdf
g. 11.4 million sailing
h. 9.7 million rowers
4. 25.8 million fishing  Recreational boating and fishing  41,500 online interviews were
participants were boating foundation special report on carried out with a nationwide sample
boating and fishing of individuals and households from
the US Online Panel operated by
Synovate. A total of 15,013 individual
and 26,487 household surveys were
completed. The total panel has over
one million members and is
maintained to be representative of
the US population.
 http://www.rbff.org/uploads/
Research_section/
SpecialReportonBoatingandFishing.o
nline.pdf

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 Primary Facts Source/Description Methodology/Links
(Dr. Haas)
5. 30.8 billion in recreational  2009 Recreational Boating  Data is collected by the National
boating sales and services Statistical Abstract Marine Manufacturers Association
(2009)  National Marine Manufacturers (NMMA) through a coalition of
Association, released in 2010 sources brought together by the
NMMA Industry Statistics & Research
Department. Boating Population
includes new data from a study
conducted by the Recreational
Marine Research Center (RMRC)
analyzing the impact of fuel prices on
boating habits. An introduction to
the Boating Access Surveillance and
Indexing System (BASIS) has been
added to the Economic Factoids
Economic Figures

chapter as well.
 http://www.nmma.org/facts/
boatingstats/2009/files/Abstract.pdf
6. Over 21 billion (2008) in  Recreational Marine Research  RMRC:
recreational boating trip Center (RMRC), 2008 http://35.8.125.11/rmrc/index.html
expenditures

7. In 2007  2008 Recreational Boating  a & b: Same as above, #5

a. 18,940 boating Statistical Abstract  RMRC:
businesses  National Marine Manufacturers http://35.8.125.11/rmrc/index.html
b. 154,300 people Association, released in 2009
employed  Recreational Marine Research
In 2008 Center (RMRC), 2008
c. 26.4 billion in total
impact on labor income
8. Over 44 billion in total  Recreational Marine Research  RMRC:
impact value added (2008) Center (RMRC), 2008 http://35.8.125.11/rmrc/index.html

9. 4,789 boating accidents  Recreational Boating Statistics  This annual statistics report contains
a. 709 deaths 2008 boating accidents during calendar
b. 3,331 injuries  US Coast Guard – Office of year 2008. The majority of data
c. $54 million dollars of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, comes from the States who are
damage Boating Safety Division required by law to forward info to
the Coast Guard through a casualty
Boating Safety

reporting system.
 http://www.uscgboating.org/
assets/1/Publications/
Boating_Statistics_2008.pdf
10. 90% of deaths occurred on  Same as above, #8  Same as above, #8
boats where the operator
had not received any
boating safety
instruction/course.

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 Primary Facts Source/Description Methodology/Links
(Dr. Haas)
11. 76% of anglers boat fishing  2006 National Survey of Fishing,  One of the oldest and most
did not complete a boating Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated comprehensive continuing recreation
safety course. Recreation surveys. Data collection by the US
Boating Safety Continued

 US Fish and Wildlife Service Census Bureau.

 http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/
Subpages/NationalSurvey/
nat_survey2006_final.pdf

12. The National Recreation  Strategic Plan of the National http://www.uscgboating.org/

Boating Safety Program Recreational Boating Safety assets/1/Page/
performance goal: Program 2007-2011 National_RBS_Strategic_Plan.pdf
a. 675 deaths in 2010
b. 659 deaths in 2011

Additional facts that were considered

Fact Source/Description Methodology/Links
Fact
Description
Number that  The Outdoor See above “Participation Figures #4”
135.9 million
participated in Foundation/Recre
aged 6 or older
outdoor ational boating
(2008) (non-
recreational and fishing
motorized
activity foundation special
recreation)
report on boating
& fishing
 2008 Recreational See above “Participation Figures #5”
Boating Statistical
70.1 million Abstract
adults (2008)  National Marine
Manufacturers
Number that Association, released
participated in in 2009
recreational 27.8 million ages NSGA, Released April  For the survey, a participant is someone age seven or
boating 7 and older 2009 older who takes part in a sport or activity more than
(powerboating once in a calendar year. “Sports Participation in 2008
only - 2008); 10.3 – Series I and II” cover 41 sports, recreation and
million Canoeing; fitness activities.
5.6 million Water  http://www.nsga.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?
Skiing pageid=4201

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 Fact Source/Description Methodology/Links
Fact
Description
54.1 million OUTDOOR  Data comes from the 2005 through 2009 edition of
motorboaters, RECREATION ACTIVITY the National Survey on Recreation and the
21.0 million TRENDS: What’s Environment. Results from NSRE surveys provide the
canoers, 19.5 Growing, What’s chance to compare the trends in US outdoor
million PWC Slowing?, A recreation activity participation because the survey
users, 17.2 RECREATION Research data were collected in consistent ways over the
Continued -
million rafters, Report in the IRIS years.
Number that
18.0 million Series, September  http://warnell.forestry.uga.edu/nrrt/nsre/IRISRec/
participated in
waterskiers, 12.5 2008, H. Ken Cordell, IRISRec7rpt.pdf
recreational
million kayakers, Carter J. Betz, Gary T.
boating
10.2 million Green, & Shela H. Mou
sailing, 8.5
million rowers
(2005-2009 when
they conducted
the survey)
Annual change  2008 Recreational See above “Participation Figures #5”
29.2 percent
in number that Boating Statistical
(2007) to 30.5
participated in Abstract
percent (2008) or
recreational  National Marine
1.3 percent
boating Manufacturers
increase
Association, released
in 2009
Registered  2008 Recreational See above “Participation Figures #5”
recreational Boating Statistical
boats Abstract
13 million (for
 National Marine
2007)
Manufacturers
Association, released
in 2009
Number of 17 million anglers USFWS, 2006 National See above “Boating Safety #10”
recreational fishing from Survey of Fishing,
boaters who boats (73 percent Hunting, and Wildlife-
went fishing motorboats), Associated Recreation,
spent 246 million pages 93-94, Released
days fishing from Oct-07
boats (in 2006)

Boat sales ($) 13 billion dollars 2007 Outdoor No link available

contribution to in non-motorized Recreation Report -
the economy boat sales and The Outdoor
accessories Foundation
(2007)
 2008 Recreational See above “Participation Figures #5”
Boating Statistical
41.5 billion-dollar Abstract
Fishing $ sportfishing  National Marine
industry Manufacturers
Association, released
in 2009
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 Fact Source/Description Methodology/Links
Fact
Description
40 billion dollars USFWS National http://www.rbff.org/uploads/Research_section/
spent by anglers Survey Preliminary Related_Research/
on trips, Report 2006 2006_USFWS_National_Survey_Preliminary_Report.pdf
equipment,
licenses,etc.
(2006)
NSGA Consumer “The Sporting Goods Market in 2008” is a copyrighted
Purchases of Outdoor NSGA consumer study that projects 2007 purchases of
2.2 billion spent Products Report, June sporting goods products based on a survey of 100,000
in consumer 2008 U.S. households. National Family Opinion, Inc. (NFO)
purchases of maintains the consumer panel used in the survey, which
fishing is balanced to parallel actual American household
equipment distribution as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Census, so
(2007) that the data can be projected nationally.
http://www.nsga.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3968
Continued
Fishing $
 ASA Sportfishing in Expenditure and participation data obtained from the
America Report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2006 National Survey of
40 million anglers
January 2008 Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.
generate over
 ASA - The Impacts developed using the IMPLAN model from MIG,
$45 billion in
American Inc. of Stillwater, Minnesota. Revised Jan. 2008.
retail sales with a
Sportfishing http://www.asafishing.org/images/statistics/resources/
$125 billion
Association (ASA) SIA_2008.pdf
impact on the
is the sportfishing
nation’s
industry’s trade
economy
association
creating
committed to
employment for
looking out for the
over one million
interests of the
people
entire sportfishing
community.
33 percent of  2008 Recreational RMRC conducted a boat ownership survey of 1,553
current boat Boating Statistical households. 395 boat owners surveyed in the RMRC
owners had a Abstract participation study were also included here, bringing the
Income levels
household  National Marine total to 1,948.
of boat owners
income of 75,000 Manufacturers http://www.nmma.org/facts/boatingstats/2008/
dollars or greater Association, released
in 2009

9
 Fact Source/Description Methodology/Links
Fact
Description
Continued 33.2 percent of Participation in Marine This percentage was secondarily calculated from values
Income levels participants in Recreation: 2005 & obtained in the report. Table O2: Population
of boat owners coastal 2010, March 2005 Distributions for Explanatory Variables by Year, page 7,
motorboating http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/ja/ja_leeworthy002.p
had household df
incomes
between $25,000
and $50,0000 per
year, that made
it the highest
income segment
for coastal
boaters (year
2000)

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