A passion for the business

It must have been difficult to launch a new magazine in 1929. Forget the fact that launching a new product at any point in time requires taking a risk. Forget the fact that launching the first magazine of its kind furthers the odds for success.
So when you figure that James W. Peaslee did both of these things in the midst of The Great Depression, you tend to get the picture that Boating Business magazine was borne of a passion for the marine industry. The magazine, which ultimately would become Boating Industry magazine, was merely a vision, an idea to devote an entire publication to those in the business of boating. And as that idea came to fruition as the “The Trade Journal of Boats and Motors,” Peaslee announced that “we have charted a long course for our craft — a course with no end in sight — no limit to its possibilities.”
Seventy-five years later, I think Peaslee would be proud of his magazine’s heritage. And equally as proud of where the magazine stands today.
In celebration of the magazine’s 75th anniversary, we have compiled what we consider one of our best issues ever. This issue is not only a look back at the marine industry over the last century; it’s also a look forward. A look into the way the boating business has changed — and the way it will continue to change.
As we reflected on the industry, both through researching the articles and reconnecting with that heritage, it became obvious that we’ve been focusing on the same issues for many years.
It’s been a vicious cycle.
Now, after several years of stagnant sales, slipping recreational market share and an economic cycle that has been up and down, it seems appropriate to re-address those issues. The market appears to be improving, and if we’re truly to benefit from that, we need to improve internally, as well.
This time, we’re focusing on the solutions. We’ve taken many steps to make this magazine an authoritative voice for our industry. Our latest milestone was the establishment of an editorial advisory board. The members of this board, who you will meet later in this issue, make up a strong cross section of the industry. Why? Because our mission is to be your conduit for business communication, linking all sectors of our industry. And we’re tapping into their insight to help provide solutions.
“We let everyone else tell our story,” says Joe Lewis, one of our board members. “We let the environmentalists tell it, we let the government tell it, we don’t go out there and tell it ourselves. And we’re suffering as a result.”
As we look forward to the next 75 years, we’re focusing our energy on the solutions. I invite you to let me know the solutions you propose for those issues closest to your home. You can e-mail me at the address below.
Let’s use our passion to work together to build on our successes.