20 NATCHEZ ON THE WATERFRONT


Marinas make it easy and fun for boaters by going back to basics.


off. Again the emphasis is clean and safe, and by appointment only is stressed.


Some marinas have offered free


start-up checks for their customers, making sure the boats start and are fully operational after putting them in the water. As one marina operator said, “It is amazing how well this has gone over in getting owners back into their boats”. Others have offered various online or call-in advance provisioning options, from nominal to full meals, depending upon the facility’s resources and customer desires. Deep cleaning and disinfecting services have become popular offerings at many marinas. Again, the emphasis is making


it safe, easy and inviting to cast off and go boating.


Significant increase There has been a significant increase in boat sales across the board in almost all sectors and an overall significant return to boating. Boat sales in terms of speciality boats have far outpaced supply.


MARINA INDUSTRY • OCTOBER 2020


Such segments as small bass boats have surged. Manufacturers of waterski and wakeboard boats have ‘sold out’ their entire production. Inventories across most regions o America have gone from plentiful to empty showrooms. In some cases, there are still also production problems with difficulty in obtaining parts for completing new builds. This has limited some of the new boat sale potential, but has helped to increase sales of pre-used boats. Lakes and rivers where one


can find coves or other marinas to spend a night or two or more are great incentives for boat usage. Many facilities are offering maps with areas that are conducive for ‘camping out’ while many, though not all, marinas are actively taking reservations for overnight visits, so boaters should be advised and also offered help to plan ahead. For the large lakes and coastal


marinas, usage of the boats for day trips, as well as cruising, is up dramatically, although much of the cruising may be being kept somewhat closer to home due


to various travel and quarantine restrictions. Sailing and cruising the waters to other marinas or coves and other points of destination provides a significant change of pace.


If a marina has a restaurant and


it’s up and running, it’s important make sure people know about it. Outside dining is definitely in and what better place to do it than at a marina. A number of areas are reporting up to hour-long waits for boaters without reservations – since reservations are the best way to avoid those waits, make sure customers know that reservations are available and encouraged, especially if a marina did not need to take reservations prior to the onset of this new normal.


Back to basics The common thread for marinas and dealers are back to basics – make it easy and fun. As one operator agreed, “The more we can do to make it easy and safe for the customer, the more the boats are used, the more they use our


services, from the soda machine, to ice, supplies, food and, yep, even additions to or repairs to the boats”. The more hassle-free the


greater the enjoyment. Providing pointers from where the fish are running, tides and water temperature, weather forecasts and other restaurants on the water to whatever else is happening adds to the pleasurable mindset. Boaters then keep in touch with each other and love to tell them what a great time they had ... in detail. Such energetic and descriptive recounting can be contagious, but in a good way!


*Dan Natchez is President of Daniel S. Natchez and Associates Inc, a leading international environmental waterfront design consulting company specialising in the design of marinas and marina resorts throughout the world. Your comments and enquiries are invited on Tel: +1 914 698 5678, by Fax: +1 914 698 7321, by E-mail: dan.n@ dsnainc.com or on his Website: www.dsnainc.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32