BoatUS has more than 600 tow boats in its fleet scattered across the country.
BoatUS by the Numbers 2020
What is the number one reason BoatUS Tow Boats get calls for help and how many of the calls come from fishermen. Find the answers according to BoatUS “By the Numbers.”
The nation’s largest recreational boating advocacy group, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), strives to make boating better for everyone. Here’s an annual look at some noteworthy numbers behind the boating organization.
BoatUS Membership
700,294: Total number of BoatUS members nationwide (annual dues: $24)
28.4 feet: Average length of a BoatUS member’s primary boat
27: Average number of years of boating experience per BoatUS member
76%: BoatUS members who day cruise, the No. 1 boating activity, followed by fishing (59%), overnight cruising (44%), watersports (26%) and sailing (20%)
24: The number of BoatUS App features that save boaters time and money, from requesting a tow on the water to finding member discounts at local marinas
BoatUS Magazine
481,972: Circulation of BoatUS Magazine
38: The number of YouTube videos BoatUS Magazine editors produced last year, from “100-hour 4-Stroke Outboard Maintenance” to “Topsides Gelcoat Repair”
92,638: The number of hours boaters spent watching BoatUS videos on YouTube last year
On-Water, On-Road Towing and Assistance
312: The number of TowBoatUS towing port locations across the United States
624: The number of towboats in the TowBoatUS towing fleet
54%: Requests for on-water assistance calls attributed to mechanical breakdown (e.g., engine, transmission, drives), the number-one cause for recreational boat breakdowns. 12% were for running aground (No. 2); 9% for battery/electrical issues and for suspected fuel issues tied for No. 3: and engine overheating: 5% (No. 4)
73,285: Annual boater requests made for on-water assistance with the BoatUS App, by cellphone or VHF radio to TowBoatUS 24-hour dispatch centers in Virginia, Florida and California and local TowBoatUS companies
$790: The nationwide average cost of on-the-water towing service for a non-BoatUS member
$0: Amount BoatUS members paid for covered services with an Unlimited Towing Membership
100: Miles that BoatUS Unlimited Trailer Assist will haul a boat trailer and its tow vehicle to the nearest repair shop or safe area with no out-of-pocket expense to the member (annual fee $14)
44%: Requests for roadside Trailer Assist service to the BoatUS 24-hour dispatch centers attributed to flat tires/no spare, the number-one reason. Wheel bearings (21%) were second, followed by 3. trailer axle (11%), 4. trailer failure (6%) and 5. tow vehicle failure (5%)
Boating Safety and Clean Water
16: The number of advanced online training courses offered by the BoatUS Foundation, from “How to use GPS” to “Weather for Boaters”
1,742,423: Students who have taken the BoatUS Foundation’s free online Boating Safety Course to date, which provides the required boating safety certification for recreational boaters in 36 states
769: Students who completed the BoatUS Foundation’s On-Water Training Courses that provide affordable at-the-helm instruction
1,551: Marina staff trained through the free BoatUS Foundation Spill Prevention Training for Marinas online course
589: Locations across the United States where you can borrow child-size life jackets for free from the BoatUS Foundation’s Kids Life Jacket Loaner Program
