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Boating Industry Future
- Midnightsun
- CYO Supporter
- Posts: 2851
- Joined: March 27th, 2016, 2:27 pm
- Vessel Info: The Midnight Sun
2007 41CMY
Volvo D6-370's - Location: Montreal, Canada
- Has thanked: 257 times
- Been thanked: 1099 times
Boating Industry Future
Makes one wonder what is in store for Carver which only produces larger boats nowadays. Put is this way, I would not carry to much Carver stock in my portfolio. Sad times for the marine business in general IMHO and just seems to be getting worse as the years go by. Seems like we are going back in time when boats were only for the rich and famous.
- CYO Admin
- CYO Administrator
- Posts: 418
- Joined: January 30th, 2013, 9:07 am
- Location: Florida
- Has thanked: 269 times
- Been thanked: 26 times
Re: Boating Industry Future
Carver is doing what Brunswick should have done with Meridian. Build boats that people want and can afford. Rob Parmentier, the CEO of Carver, came the the Sea Ray boat group and has positioned Carver to be the leader in US made motor yachts. He is one smart cookie.
Several years ago I suggested that Meridian build coupes to compliment the bridge boats (exactly what Carver has done). Meridian management at the time told me that it wasn't going to happen, but they wouldn't tell me why. It turns out that the writing was already on the wall for the Meridian brand but it was all hush hush. They had just become part of the Sea Ray Boat Group and things were changing. They let the best selling bridge boats in the US simply fade away. Their plan was to build bigger, more expensive Sea Ray yachts and they didn't want Meridian eating a piece of it's pie. They thought that they could reinvent and reinvigorate the big boat market and they failed, again.
Brunswick also made a monumental mistake in putting all of their sales eggs in one basket. MarineMax. Some of the larger dealers of SeaRay and other Brunswick brands were able to hold onto their dealership agreements but a most of smaller dealers got the boot. I could go on and on, but I won't.
I'm not saying that I would buy Carver stock. If I was in the market I wouldn't buy stock in any marine related companies. I do think Carver is being positioned to be a leader in the US and that they are being led by very smart and competent people.
- Midnightsun
- CYO Supporter
- Posts: 2851
- Joined: March 27th, 2016, 2:27 pm
- Vessel Info: The Midnight Sun
2007 41CMY
Volvo D6-370's - Location: Montreal, Canada
- Has thanked: 257 times
- Been thanked: 1099 times
Re: Boating Industry Future
PS. Only good stock right now is Canadian Marijuana.
- CYO Admin
- CYO Administrator
- Posts: 418
- Joined: January 30th, 2013, 9:07 am
- Location: Florida
- Has thanked: 269 times
- Been thanked: 26 times
Re: Boating Industry Future
Those that get into weed now are the big boat buyers of the future!
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- CYO Supporter
- Posts: 5812
- Joined: July 10th, 2015, 9:58 pm
- Vessel Info: 1989 Carver 3807 Aft Cabin
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- Has thanked: 432 times
- Been thanked: 1588 times
Re: Boating Industry Future
While there are several factors influencing young folks to stay away from the trade such as the predominant seasonal only employment up here, other factors play a large role as well such as working conditions and the seeming lack of respect in general for techs by customers and marina owners. This applies to the automotive industry as well. It's already difficult to find a good tech now and this doesn't make the industry an attractive consideration for younglings thinking about a career path.
Good luck finding a certified fiberglass technician up here that actually understands the science of the trade. Let's face it, it's a messy job which not many young people are willing to make a career of. It used to be an option in the marine curriculum up here but that was the first program to be cut years ago, again for lack of enrollment. I fear the technical side of servicing boats at least in seasonal jurisdictions is a dying trade IMO. I think the ones that can make the biggest difference in turning this trend around are the marina owners. There's much they can do to make the trade more attractive but I just don't see any signs of that happening at this time. Hiring inexperienced staff that know nothing about boats and getting them to diagnose and attempt repairing systems that cost more than my house just floors me but that seems to be the way things are rolling and doesn't help the future of the industry. As a result, when it all goes wrong, customers paint ALL techs with the same brush. It's not looking good at all.
That's MY rant for the day.
- km1125
- Admiral
- Posts: 3348
- Joined: February 28th, 2017, 6:04 pm
- Has thanked: 59 times
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Re: Boating Industry Future
There's always going to be a market for the smaller outboards, especially as those replace all the I/O's that used to be produced. With the millions of small lakes there will always be manufacturers for such crafts. Those boats are great for fishing or just running around the lake but not as well suited for a family or to stay on all weekend. There's still going to be a need for a 25-40' cabin boats that you can use as your remote get-a-way for a couple or small family. Who is going to build those?
- bud37
- Admiral
- Posts: 4684
- Joined: April 23rd, 2015, 10:22 pm
- Has thanked: 550 times
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Re: Boating Industry Future
- km1125
- Admiral
- Posts: 3348
- Joined: February 28th, 2017, 6:04 pm
- Has thanked: 59 times
- Been thanked: 970 times
Re: Boating Industry Future
Nowadays, it seems like companies expect the talent to come on board already trained. "Someone else should do it", "someone else should take the risk", or "we just want a certificate or diploma to see if they're qualified" are what they are really saying and for a bit some tech schools were taking advantage of that need, pumping out certified folks as fast as they could convince folks to pay the $$ the certificate.
Some of it is about loyalty and respect... both from an employees side and from the employers side. Companies too afraid of the 'optics' will rid themselves of an employee in a heartbeat, regardless of how valuable they were at one time. Employees knowing this will trend towards who's waving the $$ to attract talent.
"Everyone is replaceable" and it's showing in many industries, except they can't all really be replaced.
- RGrew176
- Admiral
- Posts: 6217
- Joined: August 17th, 2015, 4:07 am
- Vessel Info: 2022 Stingray 182 SC
- Location: Southgate, MI.
- Has thanked: 72 times
- Been thanked: 464 times
Re: Boating Industry Future
Bayliner was one brand that a middle class person could afford. There were others too such as Rinker and back in the day even Carver. The only way I could now afford a new boat would be if I came into some money such as winning the lottery.
The higher cost of new has one benefit it may stabilize used boat prices. Our older boats may hold their value if kept in good condition and maintained properly.
2022 Stingray 182 SC
2004 Past Commodore
West River Yacht & Cruising Club
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- CYO Supporter
- Posts: 5812
- Joined: July 10th, 2015, 9:58 pm
- Vessel Info: 1989 Carver 3807 Aft Cabin
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- Has thanked: 432 times
- Been thanked: 1588 times
Re: Boating Industry Future
Technology allows you to do a lot of things but perhaps it's getting a little out of hand. There's something to be said about simplicity.
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