The Spanish recreational boating market has continued its downward course, with boat registrations totalling 4,084 for the January to August 2025 period.
This represents a 5.3% drop from the same period in 2024 when 4,313 units were registered.
The figures are from the Recreational Boat Market Report (January-August 2025), published by the Asociación Nacional de Empresas Náuticas (ANEN), based on records provided by the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine.
The report confirms the downward trend the sector has been experiencing over the last two years.
Worst August in years
August was particularly bad for the market with 400 registrations, representing a 25.4% drop compared to August 2024 and making it the worst August in recent years.
The charter market also accentuated the downward trend, with a 20.8% drop compared to the same period in 2024.
The analysis by length shows that boats up to 6 meters, which account for the bulk of the market with a 69.5% market share, totalled 2,837 registrations, down 5.5% compared to 2024.
The 6- to 8-meter and 8- to 12-meter segments also declined, with drops of 4.1% and 6.3% respectively.
Motorboats retain lead
Boats from 12 to 16 meters had a small decrease in the number of registrations – down 2.6%, while those over 16 meters decreased by 13%.
The figures for boat type show motorboats maintain their lead with 1,687 registrations and a 41.3% market share, although this was a decline of 6.2% compared to 2024.
Jet skis were the second largest segment in volume with a 30.7% market share. This was a decrease of 12.9%, with 1,252 units registered.
Semi-rigid inflatable boat registrations fell by 10.2% and sailboat registrations declined by 7.7%.
Folding inflatable boats remained positive, with an increase in registrations of almost 42% and 471 registrations recorded in the period.
Charter market
The charter market – recreational boat rentals – accentuated the downward trend.
Between January and August 2025, 1,273 boats were registered for rental, representing a decrease of 20.8% compared to the same period in 2024.
The decline is concentrated in the smaller segments, especially boats up to 6 meters, which fell by 24.5%.
By type, the largest decline was experienced by inflatable boats, both semi-rigid and folding, with decreases of 25.6% and 26.5% respectively, followed by jet skis, which fell by 22.5%.
Registrations by province
Boat registrations by province showed the highest number of registrations from January to August 2025 were the Balearic Islands with 544 registrations – a 13.3% share. However this was a decline of almost 24%.
Barcelona had 513 registrations – a 12.6% share – and a 0.4% drop.
Murcia had 383 registered registrations – a 9.4% market share – and a 75.7% increase.
And Alicante had 358 registrations, an 8.8% market share, and a 19.3% increase.
