The recreational boat and equipment industry embraces manufacturers of boats such as sailboats, powerboats, personal watercrafts and human-powered boats. It also includes companies that make marine equipment for boats of all sizes, docks and mooring equipment, marine and safety clothing, maintenance products, cleaning products and marina equipment.

In 1999, the industry consisted of approximately 250 boat manufacturers and employed about 6 000 people. Annual shipments were $925 million for boats and $100 million for marine equipment and accessories. Of the total, $580.6 million was made up of export shipments.

Canadians own 2.0 million recreational boats including 637 350 canoes, 148 500 sailboats, 349 650 rowboats, 823 200 outboards and 120 000 other boats of all sorts. For 1999, the estimated expenditures on recreational boating in Canada, including storage, fuel, marina and club rental, membership fees as well as boats and accessories total $2.0 billion or 1.8 percent of total estimated world expenditures of US$40.5 billion.