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North America 2026 PWC Production
Sign-up for DataPoint Reports92,000 units is the estimate by Power Systems Research of the number of Personal Watercraft (PWC) expected to be produced in the United States during 2026. This production number includes jet drive boats and jet drive pontoons.
There are several types of personal watercraft (PWC), depending upon the number of people the vessel is designed to carry, anywhere from one to three or more people.
PWC Sit-Downs 1-2 People is defined as a type of vessel which is specifically designed to haul one or two riders in a sitting position, one in front of the other; commonly referred to as jet skis. A larger PWC sit-down model carries three people. Finally, PWC Stand-Ups are a type of water scooter with the purpose of one rider standing or kneeling on the watercraft.
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.
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. With a combined plant total of 50%, Yamaha leads in production of PWC in North America. In second position is Bombardier (BRP Mexico & US) with 39.5%; third, is Kawasaki (Mexico) with 9%.
Exports: Up to 30% worldwide.
Trends. In 2025, production of Personal Watercraft (including pontoon and jet drive boats) dropped 17.2%, caused in part by increasing interest rates which reduced demand. However, production is expected to gain 5.3% in 2026.
The 2026 increase is based on slight demand for new products in the market, especially for jet drive boats and pontoons. Following the pandemic (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. Expect the production of Personal Watercraft to gain an additional 10% by 2035. PSR
Carol Turner is Senior Analyst, Global Operations

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