November 20, 2009
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Mad Mariner Poll Results
Updated August 19, 2008

The Mad Mariner Poll queried 400 boat owners – 200 men and 200 women – on a broad range of topics, including gender issues, fuel prices, education and safety practices. The 30-question poll was conducted for Mad Mariner in June by Mountain West Research Center, an Idaho-based polling firm, using secure surveys delivered and completed online. The margin of error was plus or minus five percentage points.

 
What is your gender?
Male 200
Female 200
How old are you?
  Total Male Female
18 to 29 25% 24% 27%
30 to 39 23% 21% 25%
40 to 49 24% 22% 26%
50 to 59 18% 19% 17%
60 to 69 10% 14% 6%
70 and older 1% 2% 1%
Are you . . .
  Total Male Female
Married 66% 59% 74%
Single 23% 30% 17%
Living with a partner 11% 12% 10%
Do you have children under 19? How many?
  Total Male Female
None 42% 45% 39%
One to two 42% 41% 43%
Three to five 15% 14% 17%
Six or more 1% 1% 2%
How would you describe your boating skills?
  Total Male Female
Expert/Captain Level 12% 19% 5%
Veteran boater with strong understanding of boats 35% 47% 23%
General understanding of boating basics 34% 27% 41%
Novice but actively learning 15% 8% 23%
Novice but not actively learning 3% 1% 6%
No understanding of how the boat works 2% 0% 3%
Don't Know 0% 0% 1%
Have you ever taken a boating course?
  Total Male Female
Yes 44% 57% 31%
No 56% 43% 70%
Don't Know 1% 0%
How many courses have you taken in the last five years?
  Total Male Female
None 20% 24% 11%
1 to 3 61% 55% 74%
4 to 6 10% 10% 11%
7 to 9 1% 1% 0%
10 to 12 2% 3% 0%
13 or more 3% 4% 2%
Don't Know 2% 3% 0%
Do you . . .
  Total Male Female
Use all the skills you learned on a regular basis? 56% 58% 51%
Use only some of the skills you learned? 43% 42% 46%
Use none of the skills you learned? 1% 0% 3%
Why?
  Total Male Female
No need to take a course 44% 49% 40%
No time to take a course 27% 26% 28%
Didn't know they existed 25% 26% 24%
I cannot afford to take a course 16% 11% 19%
Would not have a chance to use any skills you might learn 6% 6% 6%
Don't want to learn boating skills 5% 0% 8%
Don't Know 5% 4% 6%
When you take the boat out, do you wear a lifejacket?
  Total Male Female
Always 31% 33% 29%
Almost Always 29% 30% 28%
Almost Never 28% 26% 31%
Never 12% 11% 14%
Boat Size Always Almost
Always 		Almost
Never 		Never
0 to 4 0% 0% 0% 0%
5 to 9 33% 33% 0% 33%
10 to 14 33% 37% 22% 7%
15 to 19 34% 29% 25% 12%
20 to 24 31% 18% 38% 14%
25 to 29 29% 29% 33% 9%
30 to 34 24% 26% 32% 18%
35 to 39 21% 36% 36% 7%
40 to 44 46% 38% 15% 0%
45 to 49 50% 25% 8% 17%
50 to 54 43% 43% 14% 0%
55 to 59 0% 100% 0% 0%
60 to 64 80% 20% 0% 0%
65 to 69 100% 0% 0% 0%
70 to 74 67% 33% 0% 0%
75 to 79 0% 0% 0% 0%
80 or more 0% 100% 0% 0%
How do you think the price of fuel will impact your boating season?
  Total Male Female
Not at all/No change 32% 34% 31%
I will go boating less often 45% 45% 45%
I will take short trips 32% 33% 31%
I will not go boating at all 5% 4% 6%
Don't Know 1% 1% 2%
Has the price of fuel caused you to . . .
  Total Male Female
Delay launching your boat? 43% 43% 44%
Think about purchasing a different boat? 18% 21% 16%
Put your boat up for sale? 8% 8% 8%
Don't Know 31% 28% 34%
What do you think is the largest factor that keeps people from becoming boaters?
  Total Male Female
Cost of a boat 67% 69% 66%
Cost of maintenance, berthing and upkeep 65% 58% 73%
Cost of fuel 64% 63% 66%
Cost of boating equipment 36% 35% 38%
No access to a boat 22% 18% 26%
Required registration, certification and other government requirements 21% 23% 20%
Lack of courses and education 20% 21% 19%
Difficulty of operating a power or sailboat 16% 16% 16%
Don't Know 1% 2% 1%
What kind of boat do you currently own?
  Total Male Female
Power 64% 65% 64%
Sail 9% 10% 8%
Both 16% 20% 11%
Other 12% 6% 18%
What style best describes your powerboat?
  Total Male Female
Sportfisherman/Convertible 41% 51% 31%
Outboard-engine/Trailerable Boat 40% 40% 41%
Go-Fast Performance Boat 25% 29% 20%
Open/Express Cruiser 18% 16% 19%
Trawler 4% 6% 2%
Motoryacht 4% 8% 1%
Other 4% 3% 5%
How big is your boat?
  Total Male Female
0 to 4 Feet - 0% 1%
5 to 9 Feet 1% 0% 2%
10 to 14 Feet 7% 7% 7%
15 to 19 Feet 23% 26% 21%
20 to 24 Feet 22% 22% 23%
25 to 29 Feet 11% 12% 11%
30 to 34 Feet 9% 9% 9%
35 to 39 Feet 4% 4% 3%
40 to 44 Feet 3% 6% 1%
45 to 49 Feet 3% 4% 2%
50 to 54 Feet 2% 2% 2%
55 to 59 Feet 1% 1% 1%
60 to 64 Feet 1% 2% 1%
65 to 69 Feet - 1% 0%
70 to 74 Feet 1% 1% 1%
75 to 79 Feet 0% 0% 0%
Larger than 80 Feet 0% 1% 0%
Don't Know 1% 1% 2%
Roughly how many days in an average month during the boating season do you go boating alone?
  Total Male Female
None 24% 8% 40%
1 to 5 37% 41% 33%
6 to 10 19% 23% 15%
11 to 15 8% 13% 4%
16 to 22 5% 7% 4%
23 to 31 5% 6% 4%
Don't Know 3% 4% 2%
Roughly, how many days in the average month during the boating season do you go boating with your spouse, children, or friends?
  Total Male Female
None 3% 3% 3%
1 to 5 34% 32% 37%
6 to 10 34% 37% 31%
11 to 15 15% 17% 13%
16 to 22 7% 6% 8%
23 to 31 5% 4% 7%
Don't Know 2% 3% 2%
Where is your primary cruising area?
  Total Male Female
Inland Lakes and/or Rivers 71% 64% 79%
Coastal Cruising 23% 30% 17%
Offshore Cruising 5% 7% 4%
Don't Know 0% 0% 1%
When on the boat, do you . . .
  Total Male Female
Relax 81% 75% 87%
Drive 76% 87% 66%
Enjoy water sports 56% 54% 57%
Lower the anchor 53% 59% 48%
Keep watch over children 45% 42% 49%
Clean 43% 44% 42%
Handle the lines 42% 51% 33%
Navigate by reading printed or electronic charts 32% 39% 26%
Perform maintenance on the engine 29% 43% 15%
Monitor the AC/DC panel 27% 41% 13%
Cook 20% 22% 19%
Speak on the VHF radio 20% 30% 11%
Perform maintenance on other systems 5% 9% 1%
Don't Know 0% 0% 1%
Who was primarily responsible for selecting the boat now own?
  Total Male Female
You 67% 93% 40%
Your spouse 28% 4% 51%
A third party 6% 3% 8%
Don't Know 1% 0% 1%
Are you happy with the boat you own or would you prefer . . .
  Total Male Female
A different style of boat 20% 19% 22%
A larger boat 35% 37% 32%
A smaller boat 8% 9% 7%
A faster boat 11% 14% 8%
No boat at all 4% 4% 5%
Don't Know 23% 19% 28%
On your boat to what extent are features such as helm seats and controls built in a way that fits your body's height and shape?
  Total Male Female
They fit my body shape and height very well 52% 55% 48%
They fit my body shape and height fairly well, but not perfectly 40% 39% 41%
They do not fit my body shape and height at all 7% 6% 9%
Don't Know 2% 1% 3%
What is your favorite place onboard your boat?
  Total Male Female
At the helm 44% 64% 24%
On the foredeck or sundeck 35% 14% 56%
In the cockpit or flybridge 14% 17% 10%
In the salon 1% 1% 2%
In the engine room 1% 1% 0%
In a stateroom 0% 1% 0%
Other 4% 3% 4%
Don't Know 3% 1% 5%
What is your least-favorite place onboard your boat?
  Total Male Female
In the engine room 31% 34% 28%
At the helm 16% 13% 19%
On the foredeck or sundeck 9% 13% 6%
In the cockpit or flybridge 5% 4% 6%
In the salon 5% 7% 3%
In a stateroom 4% 7% 2%
Don't Know 31% 24% 38%
Are the manual features onboard your boat, such as tables that convert to beds or swim platforms that can be removed, easy or difficult for you to operate in terms of the strength required?
  Total Male Female
Very easy 36% 41% 31%
Somewhat easy 41% 40% 43%
Somewhat difficult 7% 6% 8%
Very difficult 1% 0% 3%
Don't Know 15% 14% 16%
Do you feel your boat is . . .
  Total Male Female
Primarily yours? 46% 78% 21%
Primarily your spouse's? 19% 2% 32%
Shared equally in terms of maintenance, handling, expenses and pleasure 35% 21% 46%
Don't Know 0% 0% 1%
How often, if at all, have you felt embarrassed while trying to perform boating skills such as anchoring or driving?
  Total Male Female
Often 6% 8% 4%
Sometimes 23% 19% 27%
Hardly ever 38% 42% 35%
Never 33% 32% 33%
Don't Know 1% 0% 1%
How often, if at all, have you been yelled at by a spouse or friend while trying to perform boating skills such as anchoring or driving?
  Total Male Female
Often 7% 8% 6%
Sometimes 27% 24% 29%
Hardly ever 63% 66% 60%
Don't Know 4% 3% 6%
How often, if at all, have you ever been praised by a spouse or friend while trying to perform boating skills such as anchoring or driving?
  Total Male Female
Often 29% 33% 25%
Sometimes 49% 44% 54%
Hardly ever 20% 22% 18%
Don't Know 3% 2% 4%
Do you feel the sport of boating, in general, is more friendly to men or to women?
  Total Male Female
Much more friendly toward women 5% 7% 3%
Somewhat more friendly toward women 4% 6% 2%
About equally friendly toward both genders 39% 48% 31%
Somewhat more friendly toward men 37% 32% 42%
Much more friendly toward men 14% 7% 22%
Don't Know 1% 2% 1%
Which of the following activities are your favorites when boating?
  Total Male Female
Fishing 74% 81% 68%
Sightseeing 65% 64% 66%
Swimming 63% 60% 67%
Sunbathing 52% 39% 66%
Driving 50% 61% 39%
Reading 32% 26% 38%
Navigating 30% 39% 22%
Sailing 28% 31% 24%
Sleeping 20% 17% 24%
Performing maintenance or upgrades 7% 12% 3%
If you have children, who is primarily responsible for watching them while you are boating?
  Total Male Female
You 64% 46% 80%
Your spouse 28% 48% 10%
A third party 4% 5% 4%
Don't Know 4% 2% 7%
Why do you go boating?
  Total Male Female
Because you enjoy the sport 83% 88% 79%
Because your spouse enjoys the sport 12% 8% 16%
Because your children enjoy the sport 5% 5% 5%
Because you have a friend who enjoys the sport 0% 0% 1%
What percentage of your boating friends are women?
  Total Male Female
0 to 25 percent 45% 39% 52%
26 to 50 percent 38% 41% 35%
51 to 75 percent 12% 16% 9%
76 to 100 percent 2% 3% 2%
Don't Know 3% 2% 4%
How many years have you been boating?
  Total Male Female
0 to 5 25% 22% 29%
6 to 10 23% 21% 25%
11 to 15 61% 55% 67%
16 to 20 12% 12% 13%
21 to 25 6% 5% 8%
26 to 30 7% 9% 5%
31 to 35 5% 6% 3%
36 to 40 4% 6% 3%
41 or more 5% 9% 2%
Don't Know 1% 1% 1%
Since you started boating, has the sport . . .
  Total Male Female
Become more enjoyable 52% 54% 50%
Remained about the same 39% 36% 42%
Become less enjoyable 9% 10% 9%
Don't Know 0% 1% 0%
Please state the reasons boating is less enjoyable.
  Total Male Female
Rising cost of fuel 75% 79% 71%
Rising cost of boats and equipment 56% 63% 47%
Rising cost of upkeep and maintenance 64% 63% 65%
Advancing technology 3% 0% 6%
Fewer friendly people 39% 42% 35%
More physically taxing 47% 37% 59%
Less time to spend on the water 53% 53% 53%
Don't Know 3% 0% 6%
 
 
Women in Boating Series
Are Fuel Prices Changing Boating
Do Boaters Wear Lifejackets?
Women in Boating Series
Are Fuel Prices Changing Boating
Do Boaters Wear Lifejackets?
[FLASH MOVIE GOES HERE]
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