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Boating Blues

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/23/2007 : 14:43:45

Here is an interesting article from last Saturday's Detroit News concerning the local boating industry and how marinas are having to lower prices. (Can you imagine marinas actually lowering prices?)

[url="http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007704210381"]Boating Blues

Ailing marinas struggle to stay afloat as economy sinks, gas prices jump[/url]

Although they cite the economy and gas prices as reasons why boating is in decline, from my observations, young people don't seem to be interested in boating outside of PWC's. I remember when I first got into sailing a dozen or so years ago when I was in my early 30's. I was the youngest sailor at my marina while most every other sailor was either retired or close to it.

Don Lucier

North Star SR/FK

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2007 : 20:45:31

Yup, in this instant-gratification world sailing just seems too slow for the younger set. The local sailing club is hungry to interest younger people into this sport, as the core membership slowly gets older.

Edited by - on

esailor
Navigator

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USA
118 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2007 : 21:50:35

Yup same issue at most clubs, we have been struggling with this for years at ILYC.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/23/2007 : 22:04:38

That's why a strong youth sailing program is so key to a club. We have one of the best around and we still lost the families with kids (just lost a top notch one this year) to the swimming pool at the club down the road.

EWYC has also initiated a number of sail camp Scholarships to children that otherwise wouldn't know the transom from the bow as well. Meet the neighbors events too where locals have a chance to look around the club. Anything to promote interest. Adult Learn to Sail Camp, North Coast Women's Sailing Association and a zillion other smaller programs.

(And good Beer)

The interest in sailing needs to be cultivated - it doesn't just grow on its own.

Still very sad

one note(as usual I didn't read Don's links)

Edited by - on

Kip C
Navigator

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USA
243 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 06:20:21

I have the same situation here. The only other family with kids and are out at the lake regularly, is the only local sailboat dealer. Because we don't have a youth program, it's crossed my mind to switch to dingy sailing. We have a couple of good small boat clubs at two of the small lakes here in Cincinnati and they both have youth programs. The other options are driving 4-5 hrs to Cleveland or Sandusky and only sailing 2 maybe 3 times a month, or, buying a couple of opimist for our total of 4 kids to race against each other. Anyone know of a opti or two for sale?

Edited by - Kip C on 04/24/2007 06:21:42

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 07:16:04

The vast majority of the boats at my marina are floating weekend condos for people from Richmond who come down on Friday night, drink beer, spend the weekend on the boat, and go home Sunday afternoon without ever leaving the dock. A boat is a lot cheaper than the half-million dollar condos in the area. Most of the folks actually out on the River or in the Bay are in trailerable boats.

One of the first boats Vicki and I went on board at last fall's Annapolis Boat Show was a big Tartan: I love the lines of Tartan boats. As we descended the companionway into the saloon, I pointed out the flat screen TV mounted on the bulkhead. "Isn't that GREAT?" asked the Tartan rep sitting there. "The LAST thing I want to do on a boat is watch TV," I answered. "If I wanted to watch TV, I would stay home." The Tartan rep looked very confused.

Maybe lowering marina prices is a good thing. Maybe we'll see more sailboats, away from their slips.

Brooke

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 08:07:20

Whereas I was brought up boats with masts and basic sailing is second nature to me, I'm not familiar with many of the brand names and had never heard of Tartan sailboats. WOW, pretty boats! nice lines, nicely done cabin. Check this [url="http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1686454/0"]'83 Tartan 30[/url] out! Would love to see one with a wing keel.

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 12:28:22

That is part of the reason I finally bought a boat. I have two boys, one is 7, the other 3. They are going to grow up sailing and being around boats. So far they love it.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 12:53:25

John,

Your sons are the perfect age for sailing. When I bought my fist boat, my youngest daughter was just a little over 1 years old and my other daughter was around 5. They had a blast.

You and your sons are in for some great quality time.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 12:54:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Duane Wolff
 one note(as usual I didn't read Don's links)<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 13:04:27

Shame on me, the last thing I want around my dock is kids. I raised all three of my kids at the yacht club and they all like to sail but I doubt any will ever own a boat. It was a terrible imposition on everyone around to have my kids there when so few sailors had children. The families that are involved in the youth sailing at our club think we should all pay for their children's sport, that is a load of crap. Tell me another sport where the parents don't have to pay for their own children's cost of playing. If people want their kids to learn to sail they should pay for it themselves. I found sailing as an adult, it attracted the engineer/physicist in me. There will always be people like me coming to sailing.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 13:39:24

Edited by - on

Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 13:49:10

I also wish there were more people in the younger crowd that are into sailing. I'm the youngest at my marina. I try to introduce my friends to sailing, but I don't see any of them ever buying a boat or really getting into it. I never grew up around the water, but ever since I was a kid I had a thing for boats. After seeing sailboats in pictures and reading about them, my curiosity was alive. I would go to the library and find all kinds of sailing books and videos to fill my thirst for knowledge. 2-3 years ago I then went to some sailing clubs near Washington, DC and went sailing a couple times, although it was hard to call it sailing. Usually we drifted around and didn't do much because it was too calm. I had a feeling I had to get into sailing and buying a boat had a been a dream since I was a kid. I casually checked out the classifieds for a year or two and then found my C-25. I've been loving sailing since. It just doesn't seem like there are that many young people like me that have a strong desire to buy a boat (particularly sailboats) and really get into this hobby/sport.

Edited by - on

Tanglefoot
1st Mate

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USA
76 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 13:49:45

The sailing " call of the wild " I think comes to man at an age of introspection. I think many younger kids will only do what they are exposed to. I myself, found sailing, when I was 25, now I am 30, and I will expose all my nieces and nephews to it and anyone who has a bit of interest.

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2007 : 20:39:36

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 Tell me another sport where the parents don't have to pay for their own children's cost of playing.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Every sport that charges admission, sells overpriced concessions, has a booster club to raise money, sends the kids out to sell popcorn or lightbulbs or candy to raise money, or accepts corporate contributions to put a company name on a jersey. All school sports at any level supported by taxpayer dollars for equipment, coaches' salaries, and playing surface construction and upkeep.

That would pretty much be almost any sport you can find. Now you can get really mad at all the kids you've been keeping off the streets with your tax money and by buying the beer, cars, and junk food advertised on college sports broadcasts.

Brooke

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 10:35:58

An interesting postulate: My father was a pilot, we kids spent every one of my dad's spare time flying or being at the airport...I don't fly.

I started sailing in 1938. Found my own boat (it was a log floating along a beach that I was swimming at. It had a hole in it, I noticed a broom stick on the beach. That and a beach blanket supplied by my mom and I built my first sailboat.

The sailing urge has been with me ever since, something that I discovered by myself.

My children were all raised on sailboats, my youngest two, ages sixteen and eleven were sailing every day ( in my retirement)until school interfered. I now sail solo.

Perhaps if sailing was my fathers thing I might have become a pilot.

I think the greatest drive is the one that comes from within.

Val on the hard DAGNABIT,#3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 10:52:31

I think you're right, Val... I fell in love with the wind in a flat-bottomed rowboat with a little bedsheet square rig, a couple of pine leeboards clamped to the sides, and an oar on the transom--zigzagging 3 miles down a little lake in Michigan alone at about 8 yrs old. (My dad would tow me upwind to the end of the lake, and then go home and watch with binoculars.) At about 12, I built a wooden sailfish. 50 years later, I've lost the desire to single-hand, and the wind always seemed to be on the nose for where I was trying to go... (More on that Friday on the Admiralty forum.)

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 12:03:09

That is definitely a possibility.

I'm hoping if the kids grow up sailing, they might move away from it, but having the knowledge and experience, might remember the "fun old days with Dad" and bring it back into their lives with their kids.

Maybe I'm dreaming. Other than my older brother, no one in my extended family sails. Several have boats, I grew up around boats, so maybe...

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2007 : 12:41:13

John,

You pretty much described what me and my kids are going through.

They grew up around sailing, but now that the oldest is approaching 17, she's starting to want to be with her friends on weekends rather than hanging out with dear ol' Dad (Go figure?) and my youngest daughter is not far behind.

They do have a lot of sailing memories though and they can recount more than I can remember!

Edited by - on

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