Boating: The Good Old Days

September 23rd, 2009

I was listening to a presentation by Halsey Herreshoff at the ABBRA Newport Summer Social on August 3rd. Halsey is the President of Herreshoff Marine Museum and America’s Cup Hall of Fame. Halsey was a four-time America’s Cup winner and the grandson of legendary yacht designer Nathanael Herreshoff.

Halsey was reflecting on the economy and the boating lifestyle in general that he has personally watched evolve over the past 70 years. He believes, and I agree, that boating needs to become simple again. Boating has become too complex, we have far too many systems on-board and the amenities that we think we need on our boats mimic what we have in our homes.

Why do we need granite counter tops, audio/visual systems that rival home theaters, and a host of other electronic and mechanical systems that attempt to replicate the creature comforts found in our homes? What we wind up doing is spending more time maintaining these systems rather than enjoying our boats with our family. While the family sits at the dock, gear in hand ready to disembark, dad is below deck trying to figure out where the beeping noise is coming from.

Halsey argues that in the “good ole days” boating was more akin to camping . The systems were simpler, there were fewer things that required maintenance therefore fewer things could break down. Our technology is far superior than it was years ago which is a good thing. But this has lead many manufacturers to cram as much technology into a boat that they can fit.

Boats in general have become much larger, faster and more luxurious in the last five to ten years. If we re-focus our efforts on boating being an alternative to life on “terra firma”, which in essence is the true appeal of boating in the first place, maybe we can get more people interested in boating again.

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8 Responses to “Boating: The Good Old Days”

  1. Mike Flaugh Says:
    October 2nd, 2009 at 8:21 am

    Where did you find that old picture of me and Jenny for your blog?

    The application of an old evinrude on the back of that cabin cruiser is really funny, and interestingly ahead of the times.

    Mike Flaugh, ASLA
    Natural Balance Design Studio, Inc.

  2. Phil Friedman Says:
    October 2nd, 2009 at 9:10 am

    Cam,

    Very pointed observations for these times in the recreational marine industry. The hard truth is that the idiosyncracies of the current “boater” are the result of the industry’s marketing choices over the past 30 years.

    At one time, the entre to sailing was via local dinghy racing and sailing clubs. You started in a 8 to 12 footer, learned to sail — and to love sailing — then you bought a 16 to 18 footer of your own as soon as you could afford it, then something in the 20s, then in the 30s, etc. if you could manage it. A similar progression obtained for entrants to powerboating: a progression from 12 to 14 footers, then up to small cabin boat, then to cruisers.But the bottom line was the cost of using and maintaining your sailboat or powerboat was not exhorbitant; and most would reduce the average winter temperature in their houses in order to save on fuel oil, rather than give up boating.

    Unfortunately, somewhere along the line, we in the industry made the decision to chase the big “new and fast” consumer bucks, mostly during the early years of the “.com” era, when instant millionaires wanted to step into their first boat or yacht, and wanted that to be a 100-footer or bigger.

    Granted, this is somewhat of an exageration, but the point is that the industry chose to court those without long standing commitments to boating or yachting, to the point where such consumers make up the majority of our current market. And with the result that, when economic times get tough, the market all but evaporates.

    Hopefully, the industry will come out the other end of this recession appropriately leaned-down and smarter when it comes to long-marketing strategies.

  3. James J. Knoska Says:
    October 19th, 2009 at 9:35 am

    Great article on “Boating: The Good Old Days.” It seems that all the fancy electronics packages are taking away from the fun of boating. I am in shear terror when I see all the stuff on the bridge of a boat. Who can possibly know how to understand all these products?

  4. Keith Beaty Says:
    October 19th, 2009 at 9:37 am

    Good advice, well said.

  5. Nell Collins Says:
    October 19th, 2009 at 9:38 am

    Like this

  6. Keith Parker Says:
    October 19th, 2009 at 9:42 am

    Interesting stuff. how is your initiative going.

  7. Ken Solnoky Says:
    October 19th, 2009 at 9:45 am

    Thanks for sharing! Keep me on your list!

  8. GNPCAP Says:
    October 19th, 2009 at 9:47 am

    Amen!!

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