Top Boating States

The top boating states were announced this morning by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

The NMMA's press release ranks states by how much money was spent on "new powerboats, motors, trailers and accessories in 2009."

Without further adieu, here is the list and amount spent in each state, along with our first impressions.

1. Florida ($1.2 billion)
Not surprising to see Florida at the top given its combination of profuse coastline, warm weather, and an abundance of mega yachts in Miami and Fort Lauderdale (pictured).

2. Texas ($906 million)
Everything is bigger in Texas, so why wouldn't they be near the top of a list like this?

3. California ($417 million)
From San Francisco to San Diego, when you think of all the great seaside cities in this state, it's no surprise California is in the top three.

4. North Carolina ($395 million)
NC is the home of Hatteras Yachts, Fountain Powerboats, Tiara Yachts, Albemarle Boats and many other boat manufacturers, as well as the beautiful Outer Banks.

5. New York ($381 million)
If you're a boater, there's a lot to love about NY: Long Island Sound, the Hudson, Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes, to name a few.

6. Louisiana ($370 million)
Sadly, 2010 will probably see a dramatic decrease in spending on boats in this gulf state. Will Louisiana be on this list next year? If so, probably much lower.

7. Washington ($339 million)
Its position on the Pacific Ocean and the harbors of Puget Sound make the state of Washington a wonderful boating destination, even though it is so far north.

8. Delaware ($330 million)
Surprised to see such a small state on this list, but Delaware is densely populated and offers easy access to the Delaware River, Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

9. Michigan ($317 million)
No other state borders as many of the Great Lakes as Michigan. The state also boasts 11,000 inland lakes and rivers, making it a boater's paradise – at least during the summer.

10. Minnesota ($305 million)
The "Land of 10,000 Lakes" is number one in boats per capita in the US with about one boat for every six people in the state despite its short boating season.

Where do you boat?
Are you surprised your state did or didn't make the list? Speaking of top boating states, our new local boating section is launching soon with information about boating destinations in every state. It's still under construction, but our readers can get a sneak peak here.

###