INTERNATIONAL NEWS
things a lot more complicated, and often makes access to various mechanicals and other components far more awkward. This further limits do-it-yourself projects and increases overall maintenance and operating costs.
So it should come as no
surprise that the boat share club and various other shared boating approaches continue to grow and are increasingly filling a void. For a fee one can join a club and have the ability to use a boat, or any number of boats, and in some cases not only locally but elsewhere where there are member facilities. In many ways it is similar to the time share industry but without the ownership hassles and issues. As this segment of the market grows, the variety of the boats that will be offered will grow. And while there are variations on a theme, the approach is to make boating more accessible and less expensive to go boating. As one such club’s marketing slogan goes – own the boating, not the boat. Another way to start getting
more traction with Millennials and other non-traditional boaters may be to ride the tiny house wave. Granted it is not the biggest wave out there, but there is growing interest, particularly for the younger set, of foregoing traditional living spaces in favor of these new tiny houses on wheels – theoretically at least allowing their owners to move their house when they want to, have more time and money for
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travel, etc. So why not promote life on a boat as a way of achieving the same ends? And, no, I am not suggesting a push for “paving over” dock space with floating houses, but being more supportive and encouraging of those who are trying to make life aboard an actual boat actually work. I’ve known any number
of young people who were keen to really get into boating, but there was no way they could afford both the boat and their apartment. They were more than happy to give living aboard a go, but hard-pressed to find marinas that would either allow or be supportive of their interest. Most of those I’ve known who succeeded tended to stick with it a few years, essentially paying for their boat, and then moved back to land, but kept the boat and continue to use it. Of course there are also those trying out life with kids aboard, and towards the other end of the generational spectrum a growing number of retirees giving full time life aboard a try. These are trends that could use more support. The challenge to the future of
recreational boating is similar to other industries, and looking beyond the boating industry for potential options and solutions certainly can be useful. Attracting the younger population to boating is essential. So is finding ways to reduce and where possible eliminate the hassles and problems out of the customer experience. In the end, the more marinas and boat manufacturers can find ways to adapt and be supportive of the changing ways that people are using boats, the brighter the future for recreational boating and the overall recreational marine industry will be.
Dan Natchez is president of DANIEL S. NATCHEZ and ASSOCIATES Inc., a leading international environmental waterfront design consulting company specializing in the design of marinas and marina resorts throughout the world. He invites your comments and inquiries by phone at 914/698-5678, by fax at 914/698-7321, by e-mail at
dan.n@dsnainc.com or on the web at
www.dsnainc.com
52 FORE & AFT JUNE 2017
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