While economics have definitely hurt the boating industry, in my opinion, time is what has really cut back on sales and impacted the type boats. People realize they can't justify it economically because they don't get enough use, enough benefit. On any lake, there are boats sitting in dry storage being used twice a year. I saw one resold that have been in the water once in the three years since purchased, had been winterized two years ago and never again used. An owner visited a boat last week managed by a friend of mine. He hadn't seen his boat in 4 years. Parents working 55 hours a week, kids with dozens of activities they're committed to. I grew up on the water every weekend and much more during the summer. When I got out on my own, that pattern continued. Found my wife....make that she found me....I don't know...but we loved it together. But the only way we got the time was that we lived on the lake. Now, somewhat retired, we have it.
The most valuable resource any of us have is time. It's the most finite as well. For the average family in today's US there is far less of it than any prior generation. In many countries a month of holiday at a time is common and two weeks easy to come by. In the US a family having two weeks vacation together is rare, extremely rare. One week isn't easy to come by. Schedules conflict. And other priorities, however illogical or misplaced, take precedence.
In starting our own smaller business after retirement, we had some beliefs that time has proven. Working environment and family time are most important to potential employees. If we can give them time off when they want and need it, they're so much better and happier employees. We forbid even our executives from working in excess of 45 hours any week. Our normal is 37.5 hours. Vacations are not optional, but are required. If you leave the year with unused vacation somehow you will use it in January or February. If your family needs you, you'll be there for them. They are your number one priority, not our business. We've attempted to take an approach more European.
People are taught subjects and means to make money, but there's way too little emphasis on happiness in life. It should be the quest of everyone.
Most people could afford a boat of some sort, even if just an old beaten and battered canoe to take the kids fishing on a small pond on weekends. But they either can't or don't make the time to do it.
Ok, now a bit of a rant somewhat off target but when we're talking boating, we are talking quality of life. I'm tired of hearing businessmen, owners, CEO's and others whine. I'm tired of "we can't." I spent my career working for a company that I was loyal to because they were loyal to me. You can treat employees right and you can be profitable and if you can't figure out how to do that then you shouldn't be in charge. The example we've copied in many ways is a convenience store chain, Quiktrip. We're in retail and we have no minimum wage employees as we have our own minimum. But look at QT's benefit page here.
QuikTrip Corporation > Jobs > Benefits
Now if a convenience store can do it, then why can't everyone else? We had some QT's in the Charlotte area, none in South Florida. We saw it working. Cleanest, friendliest, best service, far superior to their competitors. Wonder why? Maybe caring employees because their employer cared? And you treat employees the best, you'll be able to hire the best employees.
Right now boating is largely split into two groups. Group one is those who can do a bit of weekend boating, starting Saturday morning and ending Sunday night. Generally smaller, faster boats. Many younger singles and some families but fewer and fewer. Group two is retired or semi-retired, in no hurry, time to enjoy the water. And why is it hard to sell the mid range new boat? The younger buyers don't have the time and the retired don't have the disposable income or the need.
Why are we so passionate on this topic? Because I don't think any other activity or sport rivals boating as a quality family experience. But too little of it happening. Even those activities that are somewhat the same, aren't. Decades ago the family gathered around the radio. Then it gathered around the television. Now at night families watch television. The kids watch by themselves in their rooms on their tv's and often the two parents are even watching in separate rooms so they can see different shows. Sad. There's not a television show in the world I'd rather watch than the one I can watch with my wife. And the teen who spends most of here time at our house although technically not our daughter, we'll watch anything she wants if it means sitting and talking to her and getting more insight into what she likes. Quite educational too.