Sad News For Sailing.......

[sailorhokie]

I like the idea of keeping a running list:

1. Increasing access to affordable sailing through non-profits, rentals, timeshare/fractional ownership

2. Innovation in manufacturing to drive down cost

3. Restoration/value-add of the existing sailboat inventory to create a pool of low-cost/high-quality used entry boat options

4. Focus on youth access and participation. Summer camps, school partnerships, family days, open-sailing (read: free/low-cost) family days out

5. Vote/lobby/encourage/establish policies and laws that support/facilitate (sail)boat ownership, maintanence, storage, and use

 

[John Nantz]

When the economy in the US tanked back in 2010 there were LOTS of powerboats being repoed. But, very few sailboats.

By the way, if someone applies for a boat loan it would be good to bring this up and ask the lender why the interest rate is the same for a sailboat as for a powerboat.

Anyway, now that the economy is picking up, based on the statements above, the new-soon-to-be-rich hopefuls are apparently out buying their toys.

To some degree, the same thing is happening in Europe but perhaps not to the extent as in the US. I just checked the fuel price in Vienna, Austria (not the highest around), and it is running between € 1.40 and € 1.50/l. With 1.07l/qt and the exchange rate at $1.35/€, that works out to $7.31/gal (if I did the math correctly). And people here complain about the high price of gas? In Italy the price is even more.

In one of the Mediterranean yacht races, the Barcolana Yacht Race, they're getting about 2,000 boats. Now that is what I'd call a pretty good turnout.

That doesn't mean to say that the Europeans don't like powerboats, they do, but I suspect the cost of fuel is a factor.

In the Northwest it seems, and this is my gut feel, that there are more sailboats as a percentage in British Columbia than in the Puget Sound area. Note that the price of gas in BC is significantly higher than south of the border, too. The other plus for the sailboaters in BC is they have a more sail-able Georgia Strait to sail on while us in Puget Sound have a contorted waterway that is more of a pain to sail.

With all the fracking in the Dakotas maybe we'll have cheap oil for awhile so we all know what that will mean. Oh, and big pickup trucks are selling again.

 

[bananabender56]

Somethings to think about. US recreational sailing population Sailboat sales in the USA have dried up because: 1) The number of sailors now is 1/6th of its late 80s peak 2) Most new american sailboats look and act like old ones. During the 76-88 peak, over 12000 very very ordinary Catalina 27s and 30s were built. Most are still on the water. Unless you are willing to offer something VERY different, that is your competition for a brand new entry level boat. In Europe the Pogo 30 and Seascape 27 are sold out for the next two years. I'm heartened that Catalina is having a go with the new 275. Scott mentioned 10% of boats in the USA are sailboats..... Try TWO PERCENT. Its such a niche now that the NMMA no longer tracks it individually. 65% of all sailors are over 45. They want an easy-to-use for two person (married couple with kids gone) crew rig. Unless you have a real bridge clearance issue, that means a fractional rig with no overlap. The masthead rig is a artifact of the old CCA rule and should have perished with the rule. Sabre was Oldsmobile. Selling stodgy (but well built) boats to and older and older fixed group of sailors. They followed their customers to the grave. Or to a powerboat. Tartan has a chance.

I don't know about the fractional rig and the demise of the masthead. We had a fractional rig Hunter 43 and sailed around 10,000 miles 'downhill'. We found the fractional rig to be hard work going downwind with just 2 people to the point where our latest boat is a masthead cutter rig, better suited for downwind work.
I think it's horses for courses and to some extent companies like Hunter go with a certain rig for the compression post location and how that fits into the overall layout.

 

[Jackdaw]

I don't know about the fractional rig and the demise of the masthead. We had a fractional rig Hunter 43 and sailed around 10,000 miles 'downhill'. We found the fractional rig to be hard work going downwind with just 2 people to the point where our latest boat is a masthead cutter rig, better suited for downwind work.
I think it's horses for courses and to some extent companies like Hunter go with a certain rig for the compression post location and how that fits into the overall layout.

You bring up a very good point. I should have qualified my statement more and said SLOOPS. As you note, much of the time in the trades is spend going DDW, and often by a couple. Dual headsails on a cutter rig are a very nice way to go.

 

[troutman]

Re: Its a competitive world

John Nantze, why would Boeing put the new St. Louis production in Seatle? ha ha Yes, there is competition in a Global Market. The EU would like to add Ukraine as a member primarily to access the much cheaper labor market there. Your points about shifting labor and production price points is a fact of a Global Market.

 

[25yearslater]

One technique I employ both for sailing and my own personal enjoyment is mass marketing. Facebook photos and personal invitations to go for a sail have exposed over a dozen people to sailing that weren't even thinking about sailing. Avoid the showing off with your nautical prowess and treat your guests to a nice relaxing sail. With an older boat that is restored as was my case, answer their questions about time, material and cost. Cost being an affordable alternative to out of the box ready to go new boat. Point out the family experience of the restoration process. I am willing to bet I have a few folks actively considering sailing a viable recreational endeavor.