The Marine Industry is Hiring !

The marine industry is hiring again, Neal Harrell of Brooks Marine Group told Boating Industry in an interview, but not like they ever have before.

They’re hiring carefully, just like customers are taking longer to make the decision to jump in and start boating. OEM boatbuilders are taking longer to start hiring and they’re taking longer to make sure they’re getting the right person, which hasn’t been easy to find.

Are there any particular markets that are in the biggest need for good workers?

We’re seeing the most demand right now for a couple of areas.

In the boatyard arena, it’s the trades position. I’m talking about mechanics, painters, marine carpenters, marine electricians, and that’s really due to the fact that we have an aging trades population, and as an industry, we haven’t done a very food job of filling the pipeline with new, younger talent.

And so if you look at the landscape of our industry today, the average boatyard has a pretty senior, tenured staff and so that the problem has become: okay, so that guy is retiring in the next three years or five years, what are we going to do to replace that individual?

Conversely, on the OEM boatbuilding side, which is I think the best news for our industry, is that finally some OEM boatbuilders are hiring, and it’s in the areas of new product development. Engineering, as I look at some of our bigger boat clients, it’s naval architecture.

It’s in the area of production management, so if we’re going to come out with a new line, we’re going to need someone to run that line, who can run that line and bring us some efficient manufacturing methodologies like Lean, Six Sigma, or formal quality training.

So businesses are starting to build up and they’re looking for people help them grow again.

Yeah, the way I put it is, companies are hiring, but they’re hiring smarter than they ever have. They’re being cautious about new hiring. They’re vetting candidates more than they ever have, and at the same time, it’s as difficult a recruiting landscape as I’ve seen in in the 15 years I’ve been in the recruiting business.

First is that top talent as a rule is still employed. If you’re going to be forced to do a 20 percent, 30 percent, or 50 percent workforce reduction the last couple years, generally it’s not your best people.

Part of that is also that they’re more risk averse and think that “if I leave this company now where I know I’m secure, and I go to this new company and we see a double-dip recession or things don’t go well, might I be a casualty of what I call ‘last in, first out?’” So, individuals are worried about that.

And then third, the biggest influencer often times on whether or not a candidate will or will not pursue a new opportunity is relocation. Relocation is often impacted by housing, and this housing market has really put a wrench in on individuals’ ability to move or relocate.

Do you know what could be causing the significant uptick in marine hiring? Have other industry trends been contributing to the need?

Well, there’s a few things: Used boat prices are starting to stabilize, you’re not seeing these crazy bargains and deals that you were seeing a year ago and a couple of years ago. It’s happening quickest in the small boat market, you know the 15-30 foot market. Where we’ve finally liquidated a lot of the either the repo boats or the brokerage boats and because there aren’t as many deals out there anymore, perspective owners are looking for new product.

You get 30-50 foot, it’s sort of hit and miss. Some of that stuff is starting to stabilize, but I think the sector of our industry that continues to suffer the most is the motoryacht world, the 40-70 foot production motoryacht, and I think its that brokerage market there’s too much product out there at too good of a price for an individual to consider a new boat in that segment.

People talk about pent up demand I think there’s some of that going on. In the past three years, there have been a lot of advancements made in new product development, and people want the latest and greatest. I think there’s a generally better economic optimism about what’s going on out there, and there’s certainly more money available than there was a couple of years ago. Lenders are opening up a little bit more.

And finally there’s that lifestyle component, people that love boats, love boats, and they want to spend time on the water, and I think that will always be the case. They may sit on the sidelines when things are particularly rough, but right now people are seeing the economy start to turn a little bit, some growth going on and so hey, let’s go ahead and buy that boat.

Boston Whaler joins Sea Care program

 

 

 

Having owned a beautiful Boston Whaler for my first few years of living in the islands, they are invaluable for safety and security.  They are so dependable and their reputation is beyond reproach.  The same could be said of Sea Tow.  I’ve been a member for the past 7 years and last year actually had a situation which required their towing services.  Their staff was knowledgable, courteous, and safety-oriented.

Boston Whaler and Sea Tow announced a new partnership between the two companies that will benefit all new and existing Boston Whaler owners.

Through the partnership, Sea Tow will extend a complimentary 95-day membership to all new Boston Whaler boat owners and current owners are eligible for a 14-month Sea Tow membership for the price of 12 months through the Boston Whaler Owners Club.

Boston Whaler owners can learn more about Sea Tow membership by contacting Debbie Saulnier, (debbie.saulnier@whaler.com), and Boston Whaler 345 Conquest or 360 Outrage owners can learn more by contacting Doug Wolf, (doug.wolf@whaler.com).  usedboatyard.com appreciates such strong companies coming together to help boaters become safer and more secure in knowing the limits of thier vessels and the assistance which is out there to save them when things go wrong.

T.

 

 

Setting World Records! The Banque Populaire V Trimaran

It has  been a few days since my last blog update, and I’m sorry to say I missed going to the New Orleans Boat show early last week, but I was recovering from a trip to Puerto Rico with some unforseen issues. At least I’m back and I’m able to catch up our readers on a bit of boating blog here and there.

To those wonderful sailors who pick up the blog whilst at sea, I want to thank you for staying in tune! I’ll be back on my catamaran this weekend trying to relax and take life easy. Enough of what’s going on in my world, let’s chat about this amazing trimaran record! I was asked to check out this new record from a sailing buddy of mine in Tortola BVI. I hope you find the trimaran as fascinating as I do! She’s big, beautiful, and sets an impressive wake behind her…she’s scary fast..

The world’s largest sailing trimaran has sailed around the planet to achieve the most sought after of ocean records – the Jules Verne Trophy. Once again, history has been made, and once again the world record* is back into the hands of the Peyron sailing dynasty. Under the command of Loick Peyron (brother of Bruno, who made the same record in 1994, 2002, and 2005), and through the skill and determination of a very talented crew including Brian Thompson (who earned the record with Steve Fossett in 2004), Banque Populaire V has conquered the world, and sailed non-stop around the globe in a total time of 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds for a new world sailing record*.

Clearly, size does matter, as the world-record-holding boats are getting bigger and bigger. The record had been set just 2 years ago by the massive Groupama 3, with a time of 48 days, 7 hours, 44 minutes. However, big, bad Banque Populaire – a gargantuan boat by any standards – successfully trotted around the record antipodal route, and by her giant strides now stands atop the podium as the fastest globe-girdling boat mankind has ever produced.

When Banque Populaire V was launched, some speculated that it was too big – that her bulk would be her downfall, and that the enormous stresses would cause the gigantic craft to simply crumble in big seas. Last year’s attempt by the massive multihull ended in calamity, as the boat struck a UFO (Unidentified Floating Object) at speed, which caused enough damage to a daggerboard (retractable fins that protrude from the bottom of the hulls) to scrub the attempt.

Now, however, there is no doubt: Bigger is better when it comes to ocean racing, and one would imagine that there are a number of designs being drawn up at this moment for would-be successors to Banque Populaire’s new crown, many of which may dwarf even this incredible sailing ship. We can only wait in anticipation to see which of the designs make it to the boatyard, and which of those may take a try at the record.

And what a record it is: What many people don’t realize is that with the exception of flight, there is no faster way around the planet these days than by wind power. There are faster power boats, and there are nuclear powered ships that don’t require refueling for the journey, but there are none that have come close to achieving what today’s sailboats can on a non-stop spin around the globe. A century after the “death” of the age of sail, and here we are again with wind power ruling the seas.

Congratulations to the skipper and crew of the mighty Banque Populaire V, and to her designers and engineers as well. You have advanced the sport and science of sailing, and have breathed new life into the old idea of harnessing the forces of nature rather than conquering them.

SAIL Magazine publisher elected Sail America president

The Sail America board of directors named SAIL magazine Publisher Josh Adams as the sailing trade industry association’s president. Adams has been a member of the Sail America board for several years and was vice president for Sail America prior to being elected president.

Adams has been with SAIL magazine since 1996 as a part of the company’s editorial team and was promoted to publisher in 2006. Adams is an avid sailor who was a three-time collegiate All-American at Tufts University, a member of the U.S. Sailing Team in 1995 and 1996 and a member of the 1999 America’s Cup challenger Young America.

“I’m honored to serve as Sail America president,” Adams said in a statement. “The Sail America board of directors is an impressive group of market leaders across all segments of the sailing indus- try, and I’m pleased to be on their team. We have an ambitious schedule of initiatives planned this year for Sail America, all designed to promote the health and growth of sailing.”

Mega-yacht builder to bring jobs to Northern Wisconsin

Breaking News!  Palmer Johnson sells two large yachts, ensuring 150-200 shipyard jobs.

At least 100 jobs will return to Sturgeon Bay with the recent sale of what will be the largest Palmer Johnson yacht built in Door County.

Moran Yacht and Ship, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Wednesday announced the sale of the 215-foot yacht called Project Stimulus already under construction in Sturgeon Bay. And that’s not the only one.
Palmer Johnson President Mike Kelsey said Friday that two large yachts have been sold in the last 60 days.
“We’re very happy for the community of Sturgeon Bay,” Kelsey said. “We are continuing to build a third in the yard now, along with other potential projects in the works. We expect our employment to be 150-200 over the next two years.”
The 215-footer is the largest yacht sold this year for Moran and the largest built by Palmer Johnson in Sturgeon Bay. It has twin engines and six cabins with room for 12 guests including the captain.
“This sale is huge and it’s significant,” said Bill Chaudoir, executive director of Door County Economic Development Corp. “It’s awesome given the devastating effect the economy has had on this sector.”
Financial losses have hit the yacht-building sector of the shipbuilding industry hard, and many companies did not manage to stay afloat since the economic downturn at the end of 2008, Chaudoir said. On Friday, he was meeting with state officials to pursue incentives that would benefit both Palmer Johnson and the local economy.
Project Stimulus is one of four yachts in various stages of construction in the Palmer Johnson yard on First Street in downtown Sturgeon Bay, Kelsey said.
The facility was expanded in 2007 to accommodate building larger yachts including a 220-foot-long paint facility with a 45-foot-high door and a 20,000-square-foot metal fabrication building. Chaudoir said if the company had not physically expanded, it would not have been able to build this new yacht.
“I give a lot of credit to Tim,” Chaudoir said. (Timur Mohamed is the British businessman and former professional cricket player who purchased Palmer Johnson in 2004, bringing it out of bankruptcy.) “He developed this yard and made a financial commitment to this. I hope the community is appreciative that they are still here and that they’ve weathered this storm. This global recession devastated his industry. He has held to his commitment to Sturgeon Bay.”
Locally the company added two new CNC routers, invested in new welding technology and revamped the design process including software and 3-D modeling.
New construction bays allow two additional hulls to be built — two 150-footers or a 120-foot and a 165-foot yacht). The facility uses four five-ton cranes that can be operated simultaneously to lift up to 20 tons in a single lift.
The recent Palmer Johnson sale is the fifth yacht sold by Moran in the past four years.
“This will mean jobs for plumbers, electricians and a trickle-down effect for Sturgeon Bay,” said Chris Callahan, marketing representative for Moran.
“It will add at least 100 jobs and 500 additional jobs for associated industries and service companies.”
Moran sells yachts for several boat builders besides Palmer Johnson.
Asked how industry sales have been, Callahan said, “We’ve been busy.”

UsedBoatyard.com appreciates Ramelle Bintz for this article from the doorcountyadvocate.com website.  Articles like this show the amazing craftsmanship of American marine workers.You can read more about Palmer Johnson super yachts @ http://www.palmerjohnson.com/

Dealers optimistic after early boat show results

 

 

Despite decreased attendance at several boat shows, boat dealers from across the country are reporting an improved buying mood, translating to an increase in sales compared to last year.

Boating Industry magazine spoke with four dealers, who combined to attend National Marine Manufacturers Association-produced boat shows in Atlanta, Chicago and New York and the Toronto Boat Show produced by Canadian Boat Shows Inc.

“It was amazing, we would sit down an hour into the show and were writing contracts,” said Austin Singleton, owner of Singleton Marine, speaking about his experience at the Atlanta Boat Show.

Singleton said his dealership doubled sales from last year while also slightly increasing margins.

Despite a seven percent decrease in attendance at the Atlanta show, Singleton said a larger number of attendees were ready to buy and put down their deposit at the show.

For Paul Terzian, whose Causeway Marine attended the New York boat show, it was a year where his salespeople spoke to fewer people but a higher percentage of those people were ready to buy. Despite the 10-percent drop in attendance and fewer people entering their booth, Terzian said they matched last year’s sales at the show.

Attendance at the Toronto Boat Show was up five percent this year, and boat sales coincided with that increase, according to Carly Poole from Buckeye Marine, which sold 10 more units in 2012 than the prior year.

Mike Pretasky Jr. of SkipperBud’s said the overall mood of the Chicago Boat Show was greatly improved over 2011 and his company’s sales slightly exceeded their expectations.

“Overall everybody was really upbeat, especially the customer base, and we were able to sell some boats,” Pretasky Jr. said.

Both Buckeye and Singleton reported seeing the entry-level buyers return to the shows. Singleton estimated 35 percent of their boat sales were to new buyers, while Poole said Buckeye was doing more educating than normal at their booth – something she welcomes.

“We had people coming into our MasterCraft booth and saying ‘what is that metal thing on top of the boat,’” Poole said.

Poole also noticed a demographic change at the Toronto Boat Show, where a much larger Asian population attended – a possible result of a marketing campaign by the boat show to appeal to new ethnic groups, according to Poole.

Terzian said the trend of eager, new buyers was not nearly as apparent at the New York Boat Show, where Causeway Marine collected only a fraction of the leads captured last year. Terzian worries external factors like gas and Washington politics are affecting demand.

“Since the show, I have become concerned about the ridiculous price of gas potentially bringing sales to a screeching halt,” he said.

As far as the performance of individual segments, Singleton was especially pleased with the return of demand for his larger cruiser boats and big bowriders, as well as their entry-level line.

“It was the entry-level and cruiser-type market that went away. It was really refreshing to see them come back. People were willing to write those deals and give those 10-percent deposits,” Singleton said.

Poole said Buckeye also experienced increased entry-level sales over the prior year, while both Poole and Terzian saw the increased interest in pontoons continue at their 2012 shows.

We are actively working on a list of upcoming boatshows on usedboatyard.com .  I hope you’ll start to join all of the other consumers to look at the upcoming lines of boats and talk to the dealers who strive to serve your needs.  Please tell them usedboatyard.com sent you their way!

T.

SAIL magazine awards 2012 innovators

 

BOSTON – SAIL magazine recently handed out its annual Pittman Innovation Awards recognizing the sailboat market’s most innovative gear and equipment of 2012.

The winners will be covered in the February issue of SAIL and will be featured at SAIL‘s Innovation Station at the Progressive Insurance Strictly Sail Chicago Boat Show, Jan. 26-29.

The 2012 Pittman Innovation Award Winners were:

Karver Flying Cam Cleat
Torqeedo Cruise 2.0/4.0 Elec- tric Outboard Motors
Doyle Anomoly Headboard
Cousin Trestec Constrictor rope clutch
Colligo Soft Snatch block and soft padeye
Spinlock Pylon LED lifejacket antenna
Kannad SafeLink R10 SRS
Maretron FFM100 fuel flow monitor
Vetus Rim Drive Bow Thruster
H2OUT Systems Dryers
B&G T41 multifunction display
Iridium Extreme satellite phone
Navico 3G/4G radar
Raymarine e7 series GPS/chartplotter

Get that boat ready to sell! Usedboatyard.com can help!

Preparing the boat for sale
Fixing up a boat after you decide to sell is a very important first step toward getting the most value out of your investment. “Quirks” that you’ve lived with for years will drive away interested buyers, so here are some tips to make sure your boat will appeal to anyone who comes to look at it.

Fix The Mechanical Issues
First of all, mechanical issues can be a turn-off even for a buyer who likes to tinker. If a light doesn’t work properly (on either trailer or boat), a handrail is loose, or something else isn’t quite right, fix it. You can probably take care of most of these details yourself, and a little bit of extra effort can yield big value once the buyers appear.

De-clutter The Boat
Next, make sure the boat is free of clutter. Remove everything not included in the sale, both to increase perceived space and to eliminate any confusion as to what is included. Spare tools, old tie down lines, that bucket of cleaning supplies in the trailer box… take it all away. Any boat will seem more spacious with empty lockers and open countertops.

Invest a Weekend of Hard Cleaning

Polishing the speedboat
Once the clutter is gone, the next step is a deep clean. Regardless of how well-maintained the boat is, all surfaces will benefit from some attention. Clean and polish the hull to bring out the shine. Nonskid should be scrubbed with a bleach solution or the special cleaner available at your local marine store. And if your stainless hardware doesn’t shine, polish that too. Replace rusty or missing screws and any other hardware or parts that have disappeared over time.

Carpet should be cleaned and dried thoroughly, or removed if beyond cleaning. Cushion covers can also be removed and washed. Make sure glass surfaces such as portlights are spotless. Mildew stains should be removed with an appropriate cleanser. Sweep up loose dirt and wipe down the entire galley area, even inside lockers. Pay particular attention to the engine compartment.

What Else?
If your boat is large or complicated, consider investing in a marine survey before you list the boat. That will give you a chance to address problems up front that might otherwise interfere with a sale. A survey is relatively inexpensive and will pay off for you when it comes time to negotiate.

When it’s time to show your boat to potential buyers, a little elbow grease goes a long way. Your hard work will help buyers form a good first impression, which will not only help you get a better price but might also make for an easier sale.  Find great ways to sell your boat at Usedboatyard.com !  We always strive to assist you in every way possible to sell your boat!

T.

New York Boat Show attendance drops in 2012

The National Marine Manufacturers Association reports today that attendance at the 2012 New York Boat Show was down 10 percent in 2012, with 40,702 attending. The NMMA attributes the drop in attendance to the mild temperature and the Giant’s playoff game on Sunday afternoon, which resulted in smaller closing day crowds.

NMMA President Thom Dammrich said in a statement that this year’s boat show had a reinvigorated interest, with more buyers coming out than before.

“We saw more optimism in the 2012 Progressive Insurance New York boat Show than in the last four or five years,” said Dammrich in a statement. “Some attendees have been coming out to the show for several years, just looking; however, after recent positive economic news on manufacturing and jobs, it seems some Americans are ready to break out and do what they’ve been holding back on for years.”

West Marine invites inventors, vendors to pitch products!

West Marine will be hosting its Seventh Annual New Product Review Day on Jan. 20, encouraging inventors and vendors to show up and pitch new products to be considered for sale in West Marine locations.

West Marine said it’s always on the lookout for innovative new products for boats and boaters, and inventors and innovators will have a chance to meet with West Marine category managers to pitch their product or idea throughout the day.

Peter Jelinek, divisional merchandise manager for West Marine, said West Marine is always looking for the next big idea.

“In some cases when we are presented with a great idea by a vendor or individual who does not have the means to develop that idea into a finished product, we will partner with that vendor or individual to bring the product to market,” Jelinek said.

Products chosen will be sold through the company’s website, online catalog and by phone at 1-800-BOATING