March 4, 2005

OHIO BOATING FACT SHEET

• Ohio ranked eighth nationally in 2004 with 414,938 registered recreational watercraft. An estimated 3 million Ohioans go boating each year.

• Watercraft registrations increased 8 percent overall 1993-2003, including boats over 26 feet (up 27 percent) and canoes/kayaks (up 35 percent).

• 49 percent of all recreational powerboats in the United States are located in the Great Lakes region. Great Lakes boaters spent an average of $2,300 each during 2003 for food, lodging, fuel and related expenses.

• Recreational boating in Ohio contributes an estimated $2 billion annually to the state’s economy and supports the fulltime equivalent of 19,000 jobs.

• More than $5.4 million is paid annually in watercraft registration fees.

• Boaters paid $13.4 million in state marine fuel taxes during 2004.

• Boat sales in Ohio last year generated $18.3 million in state sales taxes and new boat registrations totaled 22,323.

• There are more than 450 marinas and boat dealerships, and more than 55,000 docks and rack storage spaces present in Ohio.

• There are more than 100 boat builders, trailer, accessory and engine manufacturers in the state.

• The average size of a boat in Ohio is 20 feet long and is 15 years old.

• The average Ohio boat owner is 53 years old with an annual household income of $74,300. Boat ownership by women increased from 2.6 percent in 2001 to 4 percent in 2004.

• One in five Ohio boaters say they have taken an approved boating safety education course within the past five years.

• Most boat owners are married with families and dual incomes; average household income was $74,300 in 2004. The average boat owning household in 2004 owned 1.9 boats and/or personal watercraft, enjoyed 38 boating days yearly and traveled an average of 38 miles each way to go boating. Excluding boat payments, the typical boat owning household spent an average of $2,500 annually on recreational boating.

• 69 percent of owners keep their boats at home during the boating season; 74 percent do so during the off-season.

• An estimated 72 million Americans participated in recreational boating during 2004. Nearly half of all Ohioans have participated in boating at least once in their lifetime.