Boat Building Industry Profile

Companies in this industry manufacture boats intended primarily for consumers' personal use, including inboard and outboard motor boats, sailboats, rowboats, yachts, and rubber and plastic inflatable boats. Major US companies include Brunswick, Malibu Boats, Marine Products, MasterCraft Boat Holdings, and Viking Yacht.

The US boat building industry includes about 860 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $10 billion.

Construction of commercial and military vessels is covered in the Shipbuilding & Repairing industry profile.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand from end users depends on consumer income. The profitability of individual companies is linked to manufacturing efficiencies. Large companies have advantages in marketing and distribution. Small companies can compete by specializing in niche markets. The US industry is concentrated: the largest 50 companies generate about 75% of revenue.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major product segments of boat building companies include plastic motorboats and outboards, which account about 50%, wood or metal motorboats and outboard (about 25%), plastic center console motorboats and outboard (about 20%). Other products include wood or metal pontoon, fish and ski motorboats and outboard, inboard-outdrive boats.

Boat building facilities vary from a few thousand to more than 100,000 square feet, and outside storage areas may extend to several acres. Most manufacturing locations for larger boats are on navigable waterways, as the finished product can't easily be shipped over land. Other boat manufacturers locate as close to primary markets as possible to minimize ...