Boating is a quintessential American pastime – approximately 100 million Americans partake in boating each year. In 2020, annual U.S. sales of boats, services, and marine products reached an incredible $49.3 billion in 2020. Of these boats and yachts, 95% were manufactured in the United States, which truly speaks to how deeply nautical life is anchored to American history and culture. In fact, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that recreational boating and fishing is the biggest contributor to the $689 billion outdoor recreation industry. So which state is the “captain” of recreational boating? This infographic from SIYachts.com explores the states that have the most boats and yachts per capita – the results may surprise readers! Minnesota leads the fleet with 143.6 boats and yachts per 1,000 people. One might imagine an ocean-adjacent state would have the most boats per capita, but Minnesota is called “The Land of 10,000 Lakes”, and it has abundant access to Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in America and the world’s largest lake by surface area.
Infographic by: siyachts
