Explanation of Indicator
Florida offers an abundance of navigable waters that range in size and character. The Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean provide unlimited coastal and deep sea waters, and there are also numerous intracoastal and inland bodies throughout the state. This
abundance of navigable waters has provided many opportunities to commercial and recreational boaters. There are thousands of boats registered with the state, and commercial boating has become a major force in Floridas economy. Although recreational boa
ting accounts for a substantial number of registered boats in the state, only commercial boating will be considered here.
Commercial boating includes boats used for fishing and boats which are rented to tourists. Aside from charter boats, most of the larger commercial boats are used for fishing. The larger commercial vessels require permanent docking facilities, and most r equire some dredging and navigational aids. Even the smaller commercial vessels often require docks because an enterprise usually owns more than one vessel; thus, the vessels are not transported to and from the area of business.
In addition to a one-time titling requirement, commercial vessels must be registered every year. The number and size of commercial boats registered with the state are excellent indicators of the demand for commercial boating. This information will help the state in its decision to invest in capital improvements needed for various sizes of boats. The state will be able to invest in those capital improvements most demanded because it can link demand to trends in the number and size of boats registered. Thus, the state can maintain opportunities for commercial boating by supplying services most needed to facilitate commercial boating.
Data Characteristics
SOURCE
Information about the number and size of registered boats is available through Sally Cole at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Vessel Titling and Registration, Neil Kirkman Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0500, or
at (904) 488-1195.
ACQUISITION
The data are available in hard copy format at no cost.
COLLECTION
The information is continually updated and tabulated annually.
Data Limitations
The data are quite accurate. However, the method of data collection merely counts the number and size of boats registered in each county; the data do not reflect where the boats are used. Though those who own boats in coastal counties are more likely to
use the coast than those who own boats in non-coastal counties, those who own boats in non-coastal counties may use their boats in the coastal counties and vice versa. Thus, the state is not given accurate information pertaining to where the capital inv
estments should be made. Also, boats which are rented to tourists for recreational activities are counted as commercial boats; the figures may therefore underestimate the demand for recreational boating and overestimate the demand for commercial-oriented
boating. Hence, the state might be less inclined to invest in amenities attractive to tourists and recreational boaters such as public restrooms and park areas near docks.
Data Analysis
During the period from 1984 to 1993, there was an overall increase in the numbers of registered commercial vessels in coastal counties for the three largest sizes of boats; the increase was 19.4% for the 16 - 25 11 vessels, 12.6% for the 26 - 39 11
craft, and 15.8% for the 40 - 64 11 boats. The number of registered vessels decreased 13.7% for the 12 - 15 11 vessels and increased 164% for watercraft smaller than 12. The vessels located in coastal counties are most likely to be fishing vessel
s which represent businesses, often family businesses, that would be reluctant to sell their vessels because the boats are their primary capital investment. The boats in coastal counties also tend to be larger than the boats in non-coastal counties; ther
e are nearly nineteen times as many 26 - 39 11 vessels in coastal counties than in non-coastal counties, and nearly thirty times as many 40 - 64 11 vessels in the coastal counties. These larger vessels require a substantial investment and cannot be
sold as quickly as other smaller, more moveable vessels.
The vessel registration in non-coastal counties differs significantly from that of coastal counties. The most popular size vessel is 12' to 15' 11", in comparison to the 16' to 25' 11" vessel size favored in coastal counties. In non-coastal counties, th e two largest size of boats comprise less than 7% of the total, whereas these vessels account for more than 26% of the registered commercial vessels in the coastal counties. Most vessels in non-coastal counties probably serve tourists who wish to rent a boat.
Year <12' 12'-15' 11" 16'-25' 11" 26'-39' 11" 40-64 11" Total 1984 1,175 4,969 12,010 4,421 1,890 24,465 1985 1,221 5,069 12,207 4,689 2,053 25,239 1986 1,218 5,813 12,115 4,712 2,132 25,990 1987 1,289 4,746 12,242 4,490 2,109 24,876 1988 1,782 4,670 12,417 4,623 2,241 25,733 1989 1,892 4,361 11,611 4,428 2,244 24,536 1990 2,201 4,176 12,836 4,729 2,181 26,123 1991 2,468 4,150 12,906 4,786 2,179 26,489 1992 2,784 4,106 14,067 4,985 2,160 28,102 1993 3,099 4,287 14,340 4,979 2,188 28,893 Total 19,129 46,347 126,751 46,842 21,377 260,446
Year <12' 12'-15' 11" 16'-25' 11" 26'-39' 11" 40'-64' 11" Total 1984 418 5,309 1,157 159 51 7,094 1985 239 2,574 1,172 172 41 4,198 1986 398 1,821 1,261 155 57 3,692 1987 289 2,471 1,655 304 60 4,779 1988 294 2,289 1,529 240 72 4,424 1989 301 2,310 2,396 519 70 5,596 1990 257 2,062 1,606 243 84 4,252 1991 318 2,086 1,884 245 91 4,624 1992 322 1,923 1,529 249 96 4,119 1993 354 1,888 1,615 238 97 4,192 Total 3,190 24,733 15,804 2,524 719 46,970
