The recreational boating market - France

Boating is becoming increasingly popular, with nearly four million pleasure boaters and almost 11 million water sports enthusiasts. Boating began to develop in the 19th century, with the deployment of the railroads, which made it easier for the French to reach the coast. Then, in the 20th century, boating intensified thanks to the rise of the motorboat and the democratization of water sports, making these activities accessible to a wider public. This growth in leisure activities accelerated the development of the pleasure boat market. Pleasure boats are sailing or motor boats used for leisure purposes, as opposed to boats for professional use or racing boats. Typically, this class of vessel focuses on comfort and safety. This market can be segmented by the type of product offered: propulsion boat (sail or motor) and by boat size (from small craft under 4 meters to yachts over 20 meters long). There are an estimatedone million boats registered in France, of which nearly 66% are motorboats. Thanks to its history, boating culture and extensive network of ports and industries, France is one of the world's and Europe's leading markets. The sector is a stronghold of French industry, as evidenced by the leading position held by the Bénéteau Group, a French group. growth in the pleasure boat market today is driven by the dynamism of its players, as evidenced by the consolidation movement in the sector and the rise of some major French giants. Innovation is also at the heart of the sector, with new boat models boasting increasingly complex technological capabilities (connectivity, artificial intelligence, navigation data capture and management, etc.). While the new-boat sales segment seems to be running out of steam, although production is buoyed by exports, the practice of pleasure boating is gradually becoming more democratic. this is supported by the continuing demand for driving licenses, a buoyant rental market and the development of new offers such as digital platform rentals and boat clubs.