Recreational Boating Overview

Presentation to HRSP

May 2010

Susan Shingledecker

Overview

• Who is BoatU.S.?

• Overview of recreational boating/boaters

• How do rec boaters interact with NOAA?

• Hydrographic needs of rec boaters

• Recreational boating in Hawaii

Who is BoatU.S.?

• Boat Owners Association of the United States

• Over half a million members • Membership, Insurance,

Towing, Consumer Protection, Government Affairs and BoatU.S. Foundation

Who are recreational boaters?

• 17 million recreational boats in the U.S.• 1 in 10 U.S. households owns a boat. • In 2009 75 Million adults, or 32% of all adults

went boating• 79% of boat owners - average household

income of less than $100,000

(Source: NMMA Policy Brief)

Recreational Boating and the Economy

• In 2009 $30.8 billion spent on sales and service alone

• Boat-related spending totaled 10.8 billion in 2009, boating trip spending in 2007 totaled 21.1. billion

• In 2007 rec boating impacted 337,758 jobs with a labor income of $10.4 billion. Nearly 19,000 boating businesses employ more than 154,000 US workers

(Source: NMMA Policy Brief)

Registered Boats in the U.S.

7%

Boats under 16 ft

Boats under 16 ft

Boats 16-26 ft

Boats 16-26 ft

Boats 16-26 ft

Boats 26-40 ft

Boats 26-40 ft

Boats 40 ft + Boats 40 ft +

Boats 40 ft + Boats 40 ft + Boats 40 ft +

Rec boaters & NOAA• NESDIS - COSPAS – SARSAT – EPIRB

activation and boating safety

• NMFS – recreational fishing and protected species

• NWS – Marine forecasts and hurricane forecasts

• OOAR – El Nino/La Nina, Invasive species, hurricane research and observing systems

Rec boaters & NOAANOS

Charts, tides, currents, water levels, ocean observing systems, marine protected areas, marine spatial planning, oil spills, marine debris

Depending on the size of your boat – charts and navigation may or may not be an issue. Weather and water observations – vital.

Rec boaters in Hawaii• Roughly 15,000 registered recreational boats

in Hawaii. (less than .1% of all U.S. rec boats)

• Boating infrastructure is in disrepair

• Boats are older and larger than national average most in the 20 – 55 ft range with most around 30 -36 ft

• Deep water, open ocean, fewer safe harbors, requires more experience

Hawaii boaters and NOAA

Water gets deep quickly, charting is pretty good with the exception of a few small harbors

NOAA does a great job with tsunami warnings. This year 8 hours of notice to get boats out of the harbor.

Questions?Susan Shingledecker

AVP & Director of Environmental ProgramsBoatU.S. Foundation

147 Old Solomons Island Rd., Ste 513Annapolis, MD 21401

sshingledecker@boatus.com(703) 461-2878 x8358