March/April 2020

40 young leaders blazing a trail of success in the recreational boating industry By Adam Quandt Boating Industry’s annual recognition program of outstanding young leaders in the marine industry highlights a unique group of individuals that stand out from their industry peers. Selected from over 200 nominations from across the industry, this year’s group features strong young leaders from all ...

By David Gee “Words, he decided, were inadequate at best, impossible at worst. They meant too many things. Or they meant nothing at all.” ― Patricia A. McKillip, In the Forests of Serre. To say the world has changed since the printed edition of Boating Industry went to press a couple of weeks ago is an understatement to the point of ridiculousness. ...

By Jonathan Sweet A recent study from The Conference Board paints a disturbing picture of the future of blue-collar labor. For markets like the boating industry that are already facing major shortages, that’s a concerning development. Most notably, the study’s authors say the labor shortage will last until at least 2030 and could develop into the worst labor shortage in ...

By David Gee The boat buying public is fully on board for outboards. Retail sales increased for the eighth consecutive year in 2019, nearly reaching pre-recession levels with a 13-year high. “We’re seeing the trend in consumer demand for higher performance engines continue with outboard engine sales growth in 2019 led by engines 200hp-plus, accounting for 27% of sales, and ...

By Matt Sellhorst Let me tell you one of my favorite stories to illustrate the impact of attitude and expectations. A man who was traveling came upon a farmer working in his field. The man asked him what the people in the next village were like. The man responded, “They were kind, friendly, generous, great people.” “You’ll find the people ...