NAICS 336612 Quarterly Industry Report
Boat Building
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 336612Sector: 33Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 336612 draws on verified data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5], Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], and the Small Business Administration[7]. Our research team compiles establishment counts, employment data, and SBA eligibility criteria specific to boat building. Reports are updated quarterly to reflect new Census releases and regulatory changes.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the boat building industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Boat Building (NAICS 336612) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in building boats, including motorboats, sailboats, rowboats, canoes, kayaks, inflatable boats, pontoon boats, and personal watercraft. Products range from small aluminum fishing boats and fiberglass bass boats to large sport fishing yachts, center console boats, pontoon party boats, and high-performance ski and wakeboard boats. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies this industry under ship and boat building, distinct from the large vessel shipyard operations in 336611.
Roughly 1,420 active businesses employ an estimated 34,500 workers in this industry. Production is highly fragmented with numerous regional manufacturers serving local and national markets. Fiberglass construction dominates the powerboat segment, using open mold hand layup, closed mold resin infusion, or chopper gun spray-up processes depending on the manufacturer's technology level. Aluminum welded construction serves the freshwater fishing, commercial workboat, and government patrol boat markets. A handful of large manufacturers including Brunswick (Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Lund), Malibu Boats, and Marine Products account for substantial market share while hundreds of smaller builders serve niche segments.
Boat demand is highly cyclical and discretionary, responding to consumer confidence, marine lending availability, and fuel prices. Manufacturing processes include hull mold construction, fiberglass lamination, structural grid bonding, stringer installation, hardware drilling and mounting, engine rigging, and interior upholstery and electronics installation. Most boats ship by highway trailer from the factory to dealer locations. NMMA certification under ABYC standards governs construction practices for fuel systems, electrical wiring, and flotation. Pontoon boats represent the fastest-growing category by unit volume as family-oriented buyers prefer their stability, space, and relatively affordable pricing compared to traditional fiberglass boats.
What's Included in This Industry
- Fiberglass powerboat manufacturing
- Aluminum fishing boat production
- Pontoon boat manufacturing
- Sailboat and sailing vessel construction
- Personal watercraft production
- Ski and wakeboard boat manufacturing
- Center console boat production
- Kayak and canoe manufacturing
- Commercial workboat and patrol boat building
- Inflatable boat and rigid inflatable production
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336 |
| Industry Group | Ship and Boat Building | 3366 |
| NAICS Industry | Ship and Boat Building | 33661 |
| National Industry | Boat Building | 336612 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 336611 | Ship Building and Repairing | Operates shipyards building large vessels over 100 feet and performing drydock repair rather than the smaller recreational and light commercial boats manufactured here |
| 336214 | Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing | Manufactures travel trailers and campers for highway recreational use rather than the watercraft designed for marine recreational and commercial applications produced here |
| 336999 | All Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | Produces other transportation equipment not classified elsewhere, distinguished from the specific boat manufacturing activities covered by this dedicated marine vessel code |
| 336310 | Motor Vehicle Gasoline Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing | Manufactures motor vehicle gasoline engines rather than the marine powerboats and sailing vessels that use outboard and inboard engines from marine engine suppliers |
| 339920 | Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing | Produces sporting goods and athletic equipment classified separately from the recreational watercraft manufactured for boating and fishing activities in this industry |
| 332312 | Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing | Fabricates structural metal products classified separately from the welded aluminum boat hulls and marine structural components manufactured in this boat building industry |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 22.8% | 204 |
| 2 | Washington | 7.8% | 70 |
| 3 | Maine | 7.3% | 65 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 6.8% | 61 |
| 5 | California | 5.1% | 46 |
| 6 | Texas | 3.6% | 32 |
| 7 | Louisiana | 3.1% | 28 |
| 8 | South Carolina | 3.0% | 27 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | 2.6% | 23 |
| 10 | Tennessee | 2.6% | 23 |
% Of Establishments
0%
23%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
40
Total SBA Loans
$4.0M
Total Loan Volume
$100K
Average Loan Size
8 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.65%
Average Interest Rate
240
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA[7] sets the size standard for NAICS 336612 at 1,250 employees. Firms below this threshold qualify for small business set-aside contracts and SBA-backed lending programs. Federal procurement includes patrol boats for Coast Guard, Customs, and Navy river operations, and workboats for Army Corps of Engineers. The SBA's contracting programs[8] support boat builders pursuing Coast Guard, Navy, and law enforcement vessel contracts. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[9] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[10] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakwood Bank | 8 | $1.9M | $234K |
| 2 | JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | 8 | $800K | $100K |
| 3 | Ion Bank | 8 | $720K | $90K |
| 4 | Stearns Bank National Association | 8 | $400K | $50K |
| 5 | TD Bank, National Association | 8 | $200K | $25K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 336612?
Manufacturers of boats including powerboats, sailboats, pontoon boats, personal watercraft, fishing boats, kayaks, canoes, and workboats classify here per the Census Bureau[5] classification. This code covers vessels generally under 100 feet, distinct from large ship construction.
How is the boat building industry structured?
Roughly 1,420 businesses employ an estimated 34,500 workers per Census data[11]. A few large manufacturers (Brunswick, Malibu) hold notable market share while hundreds of smaller regional builders serve niche segments including custom sportfishing, aluminum utility, and handmade wooden craft markets.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 336612?
The SBA[7] sets the threshold at 1,250 employees. Businesses with fewer than 1,250 average employees qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA-backed financing programs including 7(a) and 504 loans.
What NAICS codes are related to boat building?
Related codes include 336611 (Ship Building), 336214 (Travel Trailers), 336999 (Other Transportation), 336310 (Vehicle Engines), 339920 (Sporting Goods), and 332312 (Fabricated Metal). Each covers either larger vessel construction, other recreational products, or metal fabrication distinct from boat manufacturing.
What industries interact with boat builders?
Boat dealers, marine engine producers, marinas, fiberglass suppliers, and shipyards interact most directly. Consumer confidence and marine financing availability drive purchasing decisions for recreational boats, making industry output highly cyclical compared to defense or commercial vessel production.
What activities are included in NAICS 336612?
Activities include constructing hull molds, laminating fiberglass hulls and decks, welding aluminum boat structures, installing stringers and structural grids, rigging outboard and inboard engines, mounting hardware and electronics, upholstering interior seating, and manufacturing pontoon boat deck structures with aluminum tube flotation chambers.
Can boat builders qualify for SBA loans?
Yes, firms below 1,250 employees qualify for SBA lending programs[8] including 7(a) and 504 loans. Hull mold tooling, resin infusion systems, CNC router tables, aluminum welding cells, and paint booth installations represent capital investments suited to SBA 504 equipment financing.
Where are boat builders concentrated?
Production concentrates in Florida, Tennessee, Indiana, Minnesota, Arkansas, and Wisconsin. Florida leads in fiberglass saltwater boat production near coastal markets. Indiana and Tennessee host major pontoon and performance boat manufacturers. Minnesota and Wisconsin serve the freshwater fishing boat market. Proximity to recreational boating destinations and marine dealer networks influences plant location across all product categories.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [8]SBA's contracting programs sba.gov
- [9]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [10]504 loans sba.gov
- [11]Census data naicslist.com
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