Market for Motor and Sailing Yachts in the USA (2024–2025)

As of 2024, the U.S. yacht market is one of the largest in the world.
The North American region is estimated at around $16.8 billion (about 30%+ of global volume), with the USA accounting for ~85% of this market.

For comparison, the global yachting market (including yacht sales, charter, and related services) reached around $54 billion by 2024. Thus, the USA is the largest single national yacht market, comparable to Europe in terms of volume.

Yacht categories. The market covers all categories: from mass-market motorboats and sailing boats to large superyachts. Motor yachts dominate by revenue: they generate ~80–90% of the market according to various estimates. Sailing yachts occupy a smaller niche (around 10–20%), but show growing interest due to environmental aspects and the romance of sailing. Catamarans (twin-hull yachts) are a separate trend: their popularity in 2024–2025 has grown sharply due to high stability on the water, spaciousness, and efficiency. Once considered a narrow charter segment, catamarans are now “moving to center stage” in the global market . Buyers appreciate their comfort (minimal rolling), wide decks, and eco-friendly solutions (hybrid engines, solar panels) . In addition, shallow draft allows catamarans to enter shallow bays inaccessible to conventional yachts, which is a major advantage for cruises in the Bahamas and Pacific atolls.

Premium vs mass segment. Conventionally, the market is divided into:

• Premium segment – large luxury yachts priced from approximately $500,000 and above
  
  
• Mass segment – boats and smaller yachts below this price bracket
  
  

The mass segment in the USA accounts for the lion’s share by number of units: in 2023, 176,600 new motorboats and small yachts were sold  – mostly fishing boats, pleasure boats, and watersports craft priced from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

By contrast, premium yachts are sold in dozens or hundreds of units per year, but generate a significant revenue volume.

For example, the U.S. luxury yacht market in 2024 is estimated at ~$3.3–3.75 billion with a projected growth of ~8% per year. It is expected to grow to ~$6.9–7.2 billion by the early 2030s.

Globally, demand for superyachts is also increasing: in 2023, 201 superyachts of 30+ meters were delivered (a 20% increase vs 2022) , and the order book for new superyachts reached ~600 units.

The USA is one of the main sources of this demand thanks to the growing number of ultra-wealthy clients. For example, sales of the largest yachts (50+ m) in the USA increased by 15% year-on-year by 2024 , and in Florida – the key yachting state – registrations of yachts over 100 feet increased by 41% in 2023–2024.

The key players in the U.S. yacht-building market are a combination of domestic shipyards and foreign brands actively selling their models to American clients. In the premium segment, large international groups, often from Europe, dominate:

• Italian groups – Azimut|Benetti and Ferretti Group – recognized global leaders offering a wide range of luxury motor yachts. Their brands (Azimut, Benetti, Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Custom Line, etc.) are popular among American buyers . They set design and technology trends in the 50–150+ ft range.
  
  
• British and Northern European brands – Sunseeker (UK), Princess Yachts (UK), Heesen (Netherlands), Feadship (Netherlands), Lürssen (Germany), etc. – are also firmly established in the U.S. market. For example, Princess and Sunseeker compete in the 50–100 ft segment, while Feadship and Lürssen build bespoke megayachts for American billionaires .
  
  

Other European brands: Sanlorenzo, CRN/Fincantieri, Oceanco, Heesen, etc. – focus on superyachts and regularly deliver vessels to U.S. owners.

American yacht manufacturers retain strong positions, particularly in sportsfishing yachts and mid-size motor yachts:

• Westport – the largest American superyacht yard (series composite yachts 112–164 ft), based in Washington State.
  
  
• Viking Yachts – the leader in the sportfishing yacht segment (Sportfish) from 40–90 ft, extremely popular in the USA.
  
  
• Hatteras Yachts – a well-known producer of motor yachts and sportfish convertibles from North Carolina, with models from ~45 to 100 ft.
  
  
• Burger Boat Company (Wisconsin), Delta Marine (Seattle), Derecktor Shipyards (Florida/New York) – build custom yachts and expedition vessels to order.
  
  
• Lazzara Yachts (Florida) – designs luxury yachts of 60–120 ft.
  
  
• Hargrave Custom Yachts and Horizon USA – specialize in custom mid-size motor yachts for the U.S. market.
  
  

Mikelson Yachts, Kadey-Krogen, Scout Boats, etc. – examples of niche and mid-size players. For example, Kadey-Krogen builds transoceanic trawlers, Scout Boats produces premium boats and smaller yachts up to ~50 ft.

A U.S. luxury-segment report classifies the following companies as key players in the U.S. market: Mikelson, Westport, Derecktor, Hatteras, Lazzara, Hargrave, Horizon (USA), Burger, Delta Marine, Alexander Marine (Ocean Alexander), as well as Feadship, Kadey-Krogen, Scout, and others.

This means that almost all major global brands are present in the USA: from Italian Azimut and Ferretti to domestic Viking and Westport. This reflects high competition and a wide choice for buyers.

According to a global review, the top luxury yacht manufacturers for 2025 include Azimut-Benetti, Ferretti, Lürssen, Feadship, Fincantieri, Horizon (USA), Heesen and others  – most of them are actively working with American clients through dealer networks or direct orders.

Sailing yachts and catamarans. 

In the sailing segment, both domestic brands and major international players are visible on the U.S. market:

• Domestic: Catalina Yachts, Marlow-Hunter
  
  
• International: French Beneteau and Jeanneau (mass cruisers 30–60 ft), premium brands like Oyster, Hallberg-Rassy, as well as catamaran builders: Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot (France), Leopard (South Africa), and high-end Sunreef (Poland) and HH Catamarans (Asia).
  
  

The sailing catamaran segment in the USA is growing particularly strongly due to charter demand in the Caribbean and the trend toward comfortable family cruising.

Yacht sales in the USA are carried out through an extensive network of dealers, brokers, and showrooms. Dealers play a key role in the B2C segment, providing local brand presence and customer service.

The largest dealer in the country is MarineMax, a public company with:

• ~70 dealership centers across the USA
  
  
• 120+ locations globally
  
  

MarineMax describes itself as “the largest boat and yacht retailer in the world”. It represents an entire portfolio of premium brands (Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Azimut, Galeon, Ocean Alexander, etc.), manages marinas (the IGY Marinas network), and even owns shipyards (Cruisers Yachts, Intrepid Powerboats).

MarineMax divisions are also involved in superyacht services – the company owns brokerage firms Fraser Yachts and Northrop & Johnson.

Other major dealer networks include OneWater Marine (which has consolidated dozens of regional dealers), as well as prominent regional dealers/brokers:

• Galati Yacht Sales (strong in Florida and Texas, sells Viking, Princess, Prestige, etc.)
  
  
• HMY Yacht Sales
  
  
• Denison Yachting
  
  
• Allied Marine (Ferretti Group’s U.S. retail network)
  
  
• and others
  
  

These companies offer both new yachts from partner shipyards and brokerage (pre-owned yacht sales).

In the premium segment, sales often go through yacht brokers – specialized intermediaries who help clients select and acquire a yacht (new or used) based on individual requirements. Leading brokerage houses, in addition to the ones mentioned above, include IYC, Burgess, Camper & Nicholsons, Moran Yacht & Ship – many of them have offices in the USA (especially in Florida, California, New York).

The main “yachting cluster” in the USA is Florida: favorable year-round climate, hundreds of marinas, and major global boat shows. Florida leads in the number of registered large yachts (more than 68% of foreign yacht arrivals to the USA occur in Florida ports).

Specifically, the counties of Miami, Broward (Fort Lauderdale), and Palm Beach are traditional centers of the yachting industry.

The second key region is California, where demand for luxury yachts is growing thanks to active coastal tourism and a large number of wealthy owners along the Pacific coast.

Also significant are:

• the Northeast (New York, New England) – a historic summer yachting market
  
  
• the Great Lakes (Chicago, Michigan region)
  
  
• the Pacific Northwest (Seattle) – though with a shorter season
  

B2C demand (private buyers)
After the sales surge in 2020–2021 (when the pandemic stimulated interest in private boating), the market cooled slightly but remains at a high level.

According to NMMA, in 2023 new boat sales in the USA decreased by ~6.8% compared to the overheated 2022 , but still exceed pre-pandemic levels.

In unit terms, as mentioned, this is about 177,000 new vessels per year. The main categories are:

• motorboats for watersports (~35% of unit sales),
  
  
• fishing boats (~31%),
  
  
• pontoons and others .
  
  

Average price in these segments is relatively modest (tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars), which ensures the mass nature of the market.

The premium segment shows steady growth due to the rising number of wealthy buyers and their desire to invest in on-water leisure.

Luxury yachts in the USA grow at about 8% annually by revenue   – higher than the global average growth rate of ~5%.

Key drivers:

• growth in the number of UHNWIs (net worth > $30 million) and millionaires,
  
  
• the popularization of yachting as a safe luxury leisure option after COVID-19,
  
  
• technology improvements that make yacht ownership more attractive (more efficient engines, intelligent navigation systems, etc.).
  
  

According to forecasts, the U.S. luxury yacht market will double from $3.3 billion in 2024 to ~$6.9 billion by 2033 (CAGR ~8% in 2025–2033).

In unit terms, growth is expected in both mid-size 20–30 m yachts and megayachts above 50 m.

However, the market is sensitive to economic conditions: amid high inflation and rising interest rates in 2023, there was some cooling in demand for large purchases (according to BEA, in 2024 spending on luxury goods in the USA fell by ~12% YoY ).

Nevertheless, the overall wealth of the richest Americans continues to grow, and the outlook for the ultra-high-end segment remains positive.

From a B2B perspective, the U.S. yachting market presents numerous opportunities for companies serving the yacht industry. In addition to shipyards and dealers themselves, a broad ecosystem operates:

• manufacturers of components and marine equipment,
  
  
• service providers (marina operators, service centers, charter companies).
  
  

For them, marketing and lead generation at a professional level are critical – that is, finding clients among other businesses (B2B sales).

Examples:

• shipyards compete for dealers,
  
  
• charter operators compete for brokers and travel agencies,
  
  
• marinas compete for attracting fleets, etc.
  
  

Strong B2B relationships are reinforced by participation in:

• boat shows (Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Miami Yacht Show, etc.),
  
  
• industry associations (e.g., International Yacht Brokers Association), etc.
  
  

It is also worth mentioning that many large yacht purchases are financed and insured by specialized bank divisions – this is also a B2B service (financial services in yachting).

The U.S. yacht market in 2024–2025 is huge and diverse, from small boats to megayachts worth hundreds of millions.

It shows confident growth, especially in the upper price segment, fueled by economic prosperity and the desire of wealthy individuals for exclusive leisure on the water.

Competition between global brands and local players is intense:

American buyers have access to the best products from Italian, British, Dutch, and domestic manufacturers.

To enter this market, both:

• strong product expertise
  
  
• and powerful marketing are required.

Given the forecast growth in the number of wealthy clients and ongoing technological developments (eco-engines, “smart” yachts), the U.S. market remains one of the most promising for the yachting business and related services.

In the coming years, further expansion is expected both in the number of yachts in U.S. waters and in infrastructure (marinas, services), as well as marketing innovations that connect the dream of a yacht with its conversion into a deal.