Outboard Engine Sales Up In 2015

According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the industry trade association that represents North American manufacturers of boats and marine equipment, both wholesale and retail sales of outboard motors in 2015 were up for both the United States and Canada.

For the 12 month period ending in January 2016, US outboard engine wholesale shipments were up by 3.1% year-over-year, while shipments in Canada were up by a full 15%, according to NMMA. At a retail level, warranty card registrations in the US were up by a full 7.7% for the period, and up by 3.4% in Canada.

The strongest gains were reported to be in four-stroke outboards and higher-powered engines.

The sharp rise in Canadian wholesale shipments may be the result of dealers ordering overstock inventory in order to offset a rising currency exchange rate, since corresponding dollars were reported to be up by 24.1%.

US wholesale shipments of diesel inboard and sterndrive engines of less than 800 horsepower were also up in 2015, buy a healthy 10.1% year-over-year according to NMMA. No data has yet been released for Canada, although the majority of inboard and sterndrive-powered boats sold there are sourced from US builders.