Which State Has The Highest and the Lowest Rate of Boat Ownership?

Where in the United States do you think you would find the highest rate of boats per capita? If you guessed Minnesota, you would be correct! According to SIYachts.com’s chart ‘Which U.S. State has the Most Recreational Boats & Yachts per Capita?’, there are 143.6 boats and yachts per 1,000 people in Minnesota. The state boasts the most named lakes in the country with 15,291 natural lakes; 11,824 of which are larger than 10 acres making them a great option to boat on. Due to the vast number of lakes across the state, Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Wisconsin has almost as many lakes as Minnesota with 15,074; although only 6,044 of the lakes are named. A lake is commonly left unnamed if it is too tiny, a farm pond, or a minor lake in a remote area.

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On the flip side, which state do you think would have the lowest rate of boats and yachts per capita? You may be surprised to find that Hawaii ranked last in the nation with a rate of 8.5 boats and yachts per 1,000 people. Minnesota’s rate per capita is seventeen times the rate in Hawaii! Why is the rate so low in a state that is surrounded by water? Apparently a lack of support for the industry and its necessary infrastructure is to blame. Hawaii’s limited number of marinas are small in size, and many are in need of repair. This has led to a high cost for storing boats on land, another deterrent to the state’s boating industry. Which states were you surprised to see had such a high, or low, rate of boat ownership?