Overall nationwide women make up about 12% of boat owners. Our personal experience here at boat registration stickers is about 95% of our customers are men. Why is it that men are boat owners and women are not? And how could we make more boaters out of women?
Traditionally boating has been marketed to women, same as cars, but since most women need to go places in cars, that has evened out over the decades. Not so much with boating. Boating and RVing has largely still remained the domain of men. Boats are marketed toward men, sold by men, registered and operated by men.
Discover Boating has a whole series aimed at getting more women into boating! https://www.discoverboating.com/resources/women-boating-resources
Market boats toward women:
A lot of boats are sold with marketing geared toward guys – guys on jetskis, guys on fishing boats, guys on the flying bridge of a boat or at the center console. What if we replaced that with women? Beyond just women at the helm, as marketed to guys, but women loading the boat on the trailer, and stowing the gear (which women also do), women helping their families on board their boats, women enjoying the water with their friends.
Expand education and access to boats to women:
Education – particularly boater education – should be required for all boaters (most states don’t require it). But these courses, accessible through many boating organizations, are great ways to understand safe boating and gain experience in launching, operating on the water, and trailering a boat regardless of who you are.
There’s nothing inherently “guy or gal” when it comes to boating. I love taking my friends out on my boat. The food is generally better, the camaraderie is excellent, and I get a day in the sun on the water with my gal pals. I once sailed in a regatta (national regatta) with two other women and we had a belly-laugh-out-loud funny day, one of my fellow sailors brought a roast chicken with veggies and dip and cocktails in the cooler (a ROAST CHICKEN!) I can assure you no guy I’ve ever sailed with has brought a roast chicken. We set the whole thing up in the cockpit and sailed under blue skies back to the marina. On an average sunny day on your favorite lake, at least 50% of the participants are women; we should start being 50% of the owners of our boats too!
Women tend to make decisions about the boat’s asthetics – so picking out matching boat registration stickers or boat name stickers is where we see a higher percentage of women ordering from our website. That holds true for purchases like large coolers, beach towels, drink containers, seat cushions and other boating purchases that are considered more aesthetic. Personally, my boat has matching boat registration numbers that match my hull’s pinstriping, and the larger custom graphic on the side of the boat. I tend to purchase accessories (coolers, cushions) in these colors too (although my throwable required flotation cushion is still in Coast Guard Red).
If you’re unsure about boating, or think it’s a “guy thing” – reconsider. A purchase of a boat is not just a thing, it’s days on the lake spent in the sunshine with your friends. And I’m 100% sure you’ll be fine backing that trailer into the water with your friends too. A pro tip – hold your hands at the bottom of the steering wheel together and think “left or right” – your hands will do it correctly from that position.
