How do you feel about the state of the recreational Sailboat market? Do you think it's gaining in popularity or declining?
I think it is harder for young people to get into the recreational market. Costs for owning and maintaining recreational sailboats are increasing more and more. Speaking with young people about getting into sailing, the responses become more about how it is too expensive to buy and maintain boats.
I reflect back on how I got into sailing, the cost to buy was notably lower, even looking at dollars then compared to dollars now. My first boat cost me $20. Other than paint, varnish, wood and fasteners to rebuild or maintain my early boats, there were no other costs to sail and use those boats. My first ocean capable boat had minimal costs to keep, I made my own mooring and it cost nothing to any entity to put it on my mooring. I only had to maintain the boat as I wished.
The costs of keeping a boat are substantially higher now. There are few places where you can drop a mooring without having permission, and that is typically associated with some kind of yearly cost. My first boats cost me almost nothing to keep and use. Maintenance costs were much lower - launching and using them had no fees. Today it is increasingly more difficult to find low or no cost options to use a boat.
Most of the young people i speak to today say to me that they do not want to have the expenses involved with owning a sail boat. They would rather rent or become involved in a club that shoulders the costs of boat ownership. I just don't see how that bodes well for a strong recreational sailing market.
Just my two cents worth.
dj