Cautious optimism reflects industry sentiment - MarineBusinessWorld North America newsletter
by Peter Rendle 3 Dec 2025 11:00 PST
Q3 Marine Leadership Barometer © National Marine Manufacturers Association
As the recreational boating industry enters the final quarter of 2025, NMMA's Q3 Marine Leadership Barometer shows slightly improved sentiment among top executives from NMMA marine manufacturer members in the U.S. and Canada.
While long-term sentiment has improved modestly, short-term expectations remain restrained, reflecting a group balancing cautious optimism with the realities of a complex economic and policy landscape. According to the latest results, completed in mid-October, 54% of survey participants reported feeling cautiously optimistic about the state of the recreational boating industry over the next 12 months, up seven points from Q2.
The Race to Abu Dhabi broadcast on November 23 drew an all-time high 3.469 million viewers (Nielsen) - the most-ever for a SailGP broadcast in the U.S. and the most-watched sailing race in history in the country, surpassing the previous high (3.266 million) from the 1992 America's Cup on ABC. Sir Russell Coutts, co-founder and CEO of SailGP, said that this "underscores what we've believed from day one — that high-octane, nation-vs-nation racing has mainstream appeal."
The inaugural Marine Impact Lab at Metstrade brought together leaders from across the global marine industry for a full-day workshop focused on turning sustainability insight into concrete action. Thanks to support from 11th Hour Racing, the day focused not just on discussion but on real outcomes.
NMMA is accepting nominations for the 2026 Alan J. Freedman Memorial Award, recognizing individuals who have made outstanding and lasting contributions to the marine accessories industry. Presented annually, the award honors those who demonstrate exceptional leadership, creativity, innovation, and personal motivation in advancing the industry. Eligible nominees may include accessory manufacturers, sales representatives, media members, dealers, distributors, or association staff.
On Nov. 17, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI-04) visited Tiara Yachts in Michigan to see first-hand how hundreds of men and women design and build American-made boats, contributing to the economic strength of the recreational boating industry. The visit provided an opportunity for workers and company leaders to demonstrate that policies have an impact on boat builders, small businesses, and local communities across the state. The industry supports more than 45,000 jobs and $11.7 billion in annual economic impact, benefiting boat builders, suppliers, marinas, and countless small businesses throughout the region.
Lightbug, a UK-based leader in GPS trackers and IoT devices, launched Unattended RTK on November 25, a first-of-its-kind autonomous real-time kinematic (RTK) solution that delivers centimeter-level positioning without human supervision. Launching alongside it, RH2, Lightbug's first device engineered specifically for Unattended RTK, combines rugged, long-lasting hardware with intelligent on-device processing, enabling precision GNSS for IoT deployments at scale.
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@worldmarine.media