Boating: Big for Business...and the Environment
The Ohio Recreational Boating Economic Impact and Customer Satisfaction Survey (2022–2023) provides valuable insight into both the economic influence of recreational boating and the behavioral drivers of boater participation in Ohio. With annual revenues exceeding $6.4 billion and more than 45,000 jobs supported, the survey highlights boating as a critical industry for the state. Beyond measuring economic health, the study evaluates user satisfaction and points toward opportunities for innovation in program development and environmental stewardship.
In 2022 the agency — using third-party contractor Penn and Associates — conducted the Ohio Recreational Boating Economic Impact and Customer Satisfaction Survey. The results of this study were released in the first quarter of 2023.
The focus of the survey was the economic impact of recreational boating in Ohio as well as the drivers that influence boater participation and satisfaction.
Economic impact includes associated industry and commercial sectors and trends in recreational boater spending over time. It also indicates other economic parameters that could affect recreational boating trends going forward.
Boater satisfaction data provides insight into boater participation and economic behaviors and identifies potential agency program areas to be addressed.
By surveying boaters in Ohio, ODNR can not only see the impact of boating on the environment but also on the economy. They have a direct link to see what is lacking and what is satisfying the customers in their system, which helps create opportunities for new boaters and returning boaters to feel they have a voice in the management of the parks.
Of special note in the survey findings:
A total of $6.4 billion is generated annually by recreational boating in Ohio.
$3.66 billion is generated directly from recreational boaters in the form of expenditures related to both the vessels themselves (e.g., insurance, boat purchases, docking fees, registration, etc.) and trip item expenditures associated with the activity (lodging, restaurant meals, fishing supplies, etc.).
This portion of economic benefit supports an estimated 25,476 jobs within the state.
An additional $2.75 billion is generated by the Marine Trades industry through charters, dealers, education, liveries, marinas, manufacturers, and storage.
This portion of the economic benefit supports 20,380 positions within the state.
In 2022, Ohioans spent 315 million human exposure hours boating in Ohio.
187 million of the human exposure hours were spent on motorized boats, while 128 million human exposure hours were spent on non-motorized boats.
In 2022, there were 631,563 registered boats in Ohio.
An estimated 241,993 additional boats in the state currently are not registered.
The findings suggest pathways for innovative business models that could reduce human impact on waterways. For example, investment in sustainable marina services, expansion of tourism boating charters, or incentivized non-motorized rentals can redirect consumer spending while lowering ecological strain. Additionally, customer satisfaction scores demonstrate a willingness among boaters to engage with programs that balance recreation and conservation, offering fertile ground for adaptive business strategies.
References.
Recreational Boating Trends and Customer Satisfaction. Ohiodnr.gov. https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-odnr/division-parks-watercraft/boating-paddling-ohio/boating-economic-impact-customer-satisfaction
This text reflects contributions from the original article Recreational Boating Trends and Customer Satisfaction (~45%), the author’s direction in requesting structure and conservation-focused analysis (~30%), and AI assistance in summarizing, excerpting, synthesizing, and composing the review (~25%). All interpretations remain the responsibility of the author.
