The total value of all boats and marine services sold last year was $37.5 billion, down five percent from 2006, according to statistics released today by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). Powerboat sales were down eight percent last year, and sailboat sales figures have not yet been released.
The numbers paint a picture of an industry suffering from the one-two punch of decreasing sales and increasing fuel prices, the latter of which are setting records as the Memorial Day weekend kicks off.
