Inquiring minds want to know. With boat clubs, rental fleets and fractional-use companies continuing to see significant growth, notable questions arise about their impact on future boat sales and ownership. Significant answers can be expected from Discover Boating, which is set to share information about it all in a webinar slated for Jan. 8 from 2 to 3 p.m. ET.
“The Impact of Boat Club & Rentals on Boating Participation and Ownership” will be led by Left Brain Marketing’s Jerry Mona. Discover Boating, Mona and GetMyBoat.com have all collaborated in planning the seminar, including sharing ideas and research that reveal who club members/customers are and their motivations behind joining/renting, the perceived advantages and disadvantages compared to boat ownership, and the impact these “sharing” models have on boating participation.
Key questions to be examined include:
- Do boat clubs and rentals attract a different type of boater?
- What are the perceived advantages and disadvantages vs. boat ownership?
- How satisfied are boat club members and renters with their experience?
- How many boat club members or renters would have purchased a boat instead?
- What impact do boat clubs and rentals have on future boat purchase interest?
One school of thought is that clubs such as Freedom Boat Club, SailTime, Carefree Boat Club and Boatsetter help potential new boaters explore ways and benefits of getting out on the water. But do they lead to eventual ownership or simply offer a way around the responsibilities (and costs) of ownership?
New Look at Underwater Park System
A shout out to the National Marine Manufacturers Association for partnering with our National Marine Sanctuaries on a project to highlight the nation’s Underwater Park System.
NMMA, in collaboration with NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, released its first mini documentary in a planned series exploring the NMS network of underwater parks. These parks encompass more than 600,000 square miles of ocean and the Great Lakes. The first segment features Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off Cape Cod, Mass.
Marine sanctuaries are treasured destinations for a variety of boating-related activities, including diving, fishing, wildlife viewing and more. Through this effort, NMMA is encouraging boaters and the broader community of outdoor recreation enthusiasts to add national marine sanctuaries to their list of must-see places. Additionally, the video series highlights the importance of marine sanctuaries to local economies and the need for robust funding to properly protect and maintain underwater parks.
The joint initiative was made possible with a memorandum of agreement signed by NOAA and the recreational boating and fishing community earlier this year. The MOA allows for developing and expanding a framework of cooperation for planning and implementing mutually beneficial projects and activities to promote sustainable recreational fishing and boating conducted within federal waters.
New segments from different national marine sanctuaries will be released in the coming weeks.
Click here to watch the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary segment.
