The Spanish boating market is off to a strong start this season, showing remarkable stability. Between January and May 2026, registrations of recreational boats, including personal watercraft, reached 2,228 units, representing a 10.6% increase compared to the 2,013 registered during the same period the previous year. The data, taken from the latest report published by the National Association of Nautical Companies (ANEN) based on official records from the General Directorate of the Merchant Marine, reflects a clear upward trend in the sector heading into the summer and reinforces the industry’s momentum.
By boat type, motorboats remain the main driver of the overall market, with 1,046 registrations and a 17.5% increase. Jet skis ranked second in volume with 604 units and year-over-year growth of 15.5%, while sailboats posted the segment’s strongest percentage growth, rising 25% to 95 registrations. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the market for semi-rigid inflatable boats contracted by 7.9%, and folding inflatable boats remained virtually stable with a slight decline of 0.9%.
The boat rental market also continues to establish itself as a preferred business option for the sector. Through May, the charter market recorded 726 registrations, compared to 654 in the previous year, marking an 11% increase. This rental business was concentrated mainly on vessels up to 6 meters in length, which totaled 473 units and saw a 15.6% increase. As for the types of boats most in demand for this tourism purpose, jet skis stood out notably, with their charter registration volume surging by 39.1%, followed by motorboats with a 6.2% increase and sailboats with a 19.4% increase.
Geographic Overview and Analysis of the Maritime Industry by Vessel Length
A detailed analysis by length shows that vessels up to 6 meters continue to account for the largest share of the market, with 65.6% of the total market share and 1,462 registrations. However, the highest percentage growth has been seen in larger vessels. Boats between 12 and 16 meters in length rose by 21.7% with 84 units, while yachts over 16 meters reached 42 registrations, demonstrating the strong performance of the premium segments. Boats between 8 and 12 meters also saw double-digit growth, up 13.4%, while the 6- to 8-meter segment totaled 429 units, an increase of 5.1%.
Geographically, the national nautical map reveals some clear commercial drivers. The Balearic Islands lead the market with 308 registrations, accounting for 13.8% of the national total and representing an 11.6% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The island province also leads the charter sector with 165 registrations. Barcelona ranks second with 291 vessels and a 14.6% increase overall, in addition to contributing 119 registrations to the charter market. The most spectacular growth in the first five months of the year was seen in the province of Murcia, which climbed 65.2% to a total of 266 registrations and added 65 boats for charter. On the other side of the annual balance sheet, other areas with a strong maritime tradition recorded significant declines in their registration levels compared to last year, such as Alicante with a 12.2% drop, Pontevedra with a 32.3% decline, and Asturias with a 39.7% decrease.