Jet Drive Boats are boats propelled by a jet of water ejected from the back of the craft; they have no propeller and can maneuver in shallow water. PWCs are also driven by jet water and come in several styles: Stand-Ups or Sit-Downs. They are often referred to as jet skis. Sit Downs are designed for one, two or three persons in a sitting position, one in front of the other. PWC Stand-Ups are designed for one rider standing or kneeling on the watercraft.
This product information comes from industry interviews and from two proprietary databases maintained by Power Systems Research: EnginLink™ , which provides information on engines, and OE Link™, a database of equipment manufacturers.
Market Share: Yamaha leads in production of PWC in North America with a combined plant total of 48%. In second position is Bombardier with 40.5%; third, is Kawasaki with 10.5%.
Export: Collectively, up to 30% worldwide.
Trends: In 2022, production of PWCs gained nearly 8.5% over 2021. Production is expected to drop 4% from 2022-2023. The increase in 2022 was based on high demand for recreational items, including Personal Watercraft and jet drive boats.
Even though sales skyrocketed in 2022, PWC builders experienced supply chain disruptions during the pandemic that impacted deliveries for calendar year 2021. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), this trend is here to stay – the boating industry is booming with demand at an all-time high as Americans plan for a summer on the water. As the country returns to a new normal, people are reassessing how they spend their quality time with loved ones, and many are continuing to choose boating as the preferred choice in recreation. Sales of these recreational vehicles depend on disposable income and leisure time. Expect the production of Personal Watercraft to gain an additional 10% by 2025.
Battery Electric. Taiga Motors (Canada) produced electric PWC in 2021 (137 units). The company produced the same number in 2022, but electric production is expected to drop to about 125 units in 2023. PSR
Carol Turner is Senior Analyst, Global Operations for Power Systems Research
