Is boating dying

Could this be one of those slow "shifts" in what people do for enjoyment? I mean if you think about it, younger people (today) seem to find "joy" in a lot of other things than I what I grew up with. Look at the "stuff" that exists today that did not 10,20,30 years ago - when most of us were younger. I grew up with a dad that loved to do the cross-country motor home thing (and that was when he was in his 30's and 40's). That sounds so gawd-aweful boring to me (today). Our two teenage girls thought the whole boat thing was a hoot- at first. Now they are pretty ho-hum with the whole idea.
 
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Boating is not the only leisure activity that is seeing a mass decline.
It may be more acute due to the high cost but it’s not alone.
Using the example of motor homes, they are also having a significant reduction.




Chris R said:
Could this be one of those slow "shifts" in what people do for enjoyment? I mean if you think about it, younger people (today) seem to find "joy" in a lot of other things than I what I grew up with. Look at the "stuff" that exists today that did not 10,20,30 years ago - when most of us were younger. I grew up with a dad that loved to do the cross-country motor home thing (and that was when he was in his 30's and 40's). That sounds so gawd-aweful boring to me (today). Our two teenage girls thought the whole boat thing was a hoot- at first. Now they are pretty ho-hum with the whole idea.
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How many of us spent leisure time participating in online forums two decades ago?
 
Presentation said:
Boating is not the only leisure activity that is seeing a mass decline.
It may be more acute due to the high cost but it’s not alone.
Using the example of motor homes, they are also having a significant reduction.






How many of us spent leisure time participating in online forums two decades ago?
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Great point!! I finally succumbed to getting a touch screen Black Berry Storm last month after my old flip phone came apart....took me about 2 days to learn how to use it as a phone.(LOL) Now I'm spoiled...love getting my e-mail everywhere I go. I am trying to keep up with changes. I have noticed the younger crowd like less than 20 don't get real excited about boats.....unless some hip hop artist says that it's cool. Maybe boating wont be the thing for them as it has been for us. :huh:
 
Is boating dying
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Not where i live. We have a waiting list at my marina. Ron[the owner] started out with 80 slips now he's up to 140 slips and growing. :smt038, Life is good out here. :smt001
 
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JV II said:
The manufacturers are listening. The boating industry will survive. You'll see them build that Trojan again. Here's what it will look like: 26 feet, single screw IB diesel of low HP, semi displacement, no electronics, basic head, single burner alcohol stove for the tax credit, hot water only from the engine, no windlass, no carpet, no generator, half of the cost of a new 270DA.
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Bayliner's gonna start putting inboard diesels in? :lol: Lets see, it should only be about a 25k upgrade so still, nobody's buying it.

I don't see it happening any time soon at reasonable prices unfortunately.
 
Newbie said:
Bayliner's gonna start putting inboard diesels in? :lol: Lets see, it should only be about a 25k upgrade so still, nobody's buying it.

I don't see it happening any time soon at reasonable prices unfortunately.
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History repeats. Sea Ray did it in the early 80s. It was called the 355T. "T" was for trawler due to the semi displacement hull with 9 degrees of deadrise. It had a single inboard engine with an option for a Perkins diesel. If they produced a no-frills 30-35 foot single engine boat using one of their old hull molds and off the shelf parts at $100,000 it would fly off the lots. The major obstacle to boat sales today is credit. If they can keep the loan under $100,000 more sales would result.
 
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Boating is not dying for me! I will be taking my first "big" boat to my covered berth this weekend I am hoping. The survey is complete and my list of things to do are scheduled. The week between Christmas and New Year will be fine tuning, cleaninig and cruising the beauty!
 
Daddubo said:
I got out of boating about 10yrs ago hadn't really thought about it then we went to Vegas and a friend invited us to go out to Lake Mead and started thinking about it again then we went to a 4th of July Fire works where I use to go boating and got the bug back and the hunt was on we looked for months and I found the one I have now in October I got it for very short money now we are back . I don't care what the price of gas is I am going Boating.
Obama and all his Globalist ain't keeping me off the water.and if the sky falls I'll be out there watching it. I will be plowing snow all Winter to boat all Summer.:grin:
Clubs come and go peoples lives change some times the older members just don't want to let the younger ones in and let them be a part of running it. :smt009
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Al Gore's a boater - he's got his 125' - that's right - 125' houseboat on a lake in TN. But he doesn't want you or me to have a boat - he wants the lake for himself and the global elite.
 
Thanks I am really looking forward to spring time so I can use it. I'm Jealous of you warm weather People we are at 2 deg with a -15 wind chill BRRRRRRRRR.
 
After reading the "winterizing" posts, I realize how lucky we are.

I flew out of ORD for one winter back in the early '80's, and as a southerner, I truly was not prepared for that weather!

Do you stay on the lift all winter?
 
Chris R said:
Could this be one of those slow "shifts" in what people do for enjoyment? I mean if you think about it, younger people (today) seem to find "joy" in a lot of other things than I what I grew up with. Look at the "stuff" that exists today that did not 10,20,30 years ago - when most of us were younger. I grew up with a dad that loved to do the cross-country motor home thing (and that was when he was in his 30's and 40's). That sounds so gawd-aweful boring to me (today). Our two teenage girls thought the whole boat thing was a hoot- at first. Now they are pretty ho-hum with the whole idea.
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I think that is true but the younger ones come full circle a lot of the times. I had boats when my kids were little and had great times. Then I was out of it for a while then I got my Formula in 88. My daughter was 19 then and would take the train from Milwaukee Wis. to Fox Lake IL. to spend the weekend boating with me then my younger son got in to sports and the Formula got sold now he is out of school so I got this one. My daughter tells me that she is so glad I have a boat again so she can bring my Grand Daughter because some of her best memories were on boats. My oldest son was driving the boat when he was 6 now he has 3 kids and has had a couple of boats but now is boat less. So as I see life circumstances decide what you will not be doing and your interests. I’m 62 so how many years do I have left boating?
 
carterchapman said:
After reading the "winterizing" posts, I realize how lucky we are.

I flew out of ORD for one winter back in the early '80's, and as a southerner, I truly was not prepared for that weather!

Do you stay on the lift all winter?
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. Yea the winter sucks but I plow snow and make enough to buy my toys. We were thinking about moving south about to 10 or 15 years ago but my wife is terrified of storms so that ended that between Hurricanes and Tornados so we stayed on boring IL. And now with my Grand Daughter living close by I can’t leave here.

The picture of the boat on the lift is from where I bought it in Grand Haven Mi., looks better than it sitting on the trailer
That is a pretty nice looking Ride you have there.:thumbsup:
 
Again...as I read this thread I see one recurring idea: Boating is not dead...it is evolving.

Once business and cash flow improve as well as my wife's overall health (which is improving:thumbsup:)...getting another boat is very high on my priority list. I still keep up with my 390s current owner about changes and upgrades even though I sold it 6 months ago!

I guess we here are all a bunch of guys who will always be boaters. We love being on the water...just like some guys live to be on the golf course or deer hunting. Boating is our "thing".

The adventurer in all of us draws us to boating and the water...whether its inland rivers, lakes or the open ocean.

Think about it...because a group of guys 500+ years ago liked getting in their boats and sailing over the horizon, our ancestors settlled here in the "New World".

Boating is an important part of who we are and always will be.
 
Lets look at this from "the glass is half full" perspective. My top 10 reasons this is the best of times for boating:

10. Slip availability is better.
9. Boat prices are lower.
8. Service turnaround time is shorter.
7. Fuel, while not cheap, is lower than this time last year.
6. People who can't afford a boat can't buy one.
5. Less manufacturers means easier buying decisions.
4. Less new boats sold means more used boats serviced (looking out for the starving mechanics).
3. Less folks in the boat club of which several had to be part of the group no one really liked anyway. :wow:
2. When I run aground less boaters to see me and laugh at me.
And the number 1 reason these are great times for boating.......global warming means rising seas and more "boatable surface area!"

:smt038
 
Daddubo said:
I think that is true but the younger ones come full circle a lot of the times. I had boats when my kids were little and had great times. Then I was out of it for a while then I got my Formula in 88. My daughter was 19 then and would take the train from Milwaukee Wis. to Fox Lake IL. to spend the weekend boating with me then my younger son got in to sports and the Formula got sold now he is out of school so I got this one. My daughter tells me that she is so glad I have a boat again so she can bring my Grand Daughter because some of her best memories were on boats. My oldest son was driving the boat when he was 6 now he has 3 kids and has had a couple of boats but now is boat less. So as I see life circumstances decide what you will not be doing and your interests. I’m 62 so how many years do I have left boating?
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Yeah, I'm looking forward to the days when they get older and appreciate these kind of things (boating). This is what a 15 year old does on a boat :smt009

IMG_2724.jpg
 
sfergson727 said:
I suppose this is good for Bayliner, as the SR workers will probably work both lines. I wonder though, that while Bayliner will probably get better, what's going to happen to SR. I believe that SR will be dumbed down even more, look for the fit and finish quality to take a nose dive.
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Well, have to disagree, I think the only real difference between the two US Marine built boats is the hardware and type of finish in the cabins... quality is good on both boats and each is built for a specific market... Many more SR's seem to be "tunnel style" and BL, traditional cabin built... It depends on what you want to buy. The SR's are a higher class boat in that they have a better quality of finish for the most part... The third party stuff is pretty much the same in both...

BL reputation went south when Brunswick owned them and have since tried to overcome that. Brunswick was not building boats for quality, just mass production and large profit margin. They skimped too much on quality back then. I think the quality is back and the newer models show it (no more Motor yachts), all the new ones are "Meridians"... higher quality now then before...

Not trying to start a war...
 
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