THE MARINE INDUSTRY IS IT ALL GREY HAIR ? WERE IS THE YOUTH ?

 

Click to connect with web site

 

 

 

YOUTH INTREST IN THE MARINE INDUSTRY ON THE DECLINE?

 

 

Italian entrepreneur Paolo Vitelli, who founded Azimut Yachts as a student in Italy and who later acquired the venerable Benetti brand, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement at METS.

“People say that to succeed you need vision, you must suffer, and you need passion. In the marine industry you also have to be a little bit crazy,” said Vitelli in his acceptance speech. “So to the young people entering the industry, the next generation, I say, take the lead, take risks, be brave, and be crazy – and you will succeed.”

From BOAT NUT

 

There is more truth to this statement than I would like to admit! I have had at least 20 people over the years train under me to become some great marine technicians. Only one is still in the trade, many students of the one and only existing marine program in Ontario make the first winter or two and then disappear from the trade. The fact is that in the seasonal climate areas of the world there is no line up of young people to enter the marine trade. Where the climate allows you to work all year round the turn over is still unbelievable. I always make the statement asking how old, is your mechanic? Apparently technicians are not the only group in the marine industry who are close to the end of their working careers.

 

The truth is the industry is unsecure, under pay for the investment ( tools and equipment), sometimes terrible working conditions (weather and chemicals) and generally managed by a bunch of grumpy old technicians who burned out years ago. Would this be your choice of career?

 

And education well do a search yourself! I worry about how the trade is going to attract the bright young minds its going to need in the future to deal with the technology in new boats. I have read the statistics from independent schools and they have a high placement number. Of course they do because the turn over in our industry is too high. Making the commitment to stay in this industry today is crazy. If you want to have a family and be as secure as you can be today the marine industry is not a great place to be. Most dealers and companies will be out of business or sold several times in a persons career. Manufacturing expands and contracts at least every 10 years. Boaters loyalty to a repair company or technician is weighed with their wallet. Small companies cant take the hits of non payment. I sure hope some one some were figures out a plan to stabilize this industry.   

 

 

State of Boating Journalism

From the International Boat Writers Ass.

Boating journalists are doing a good job keeping up with the technological, product and structural changes taking place in the marine industry they cover, but there are significantly fewer writers and they are growing older and poorer in the process.

This thumbnail sketch is taken from the May 2014 survey of members of Boating Writers International compared with a similar analysis made five years ago. This year, 85 of 300 Active members (those who are active writers and communicators) provided feedback; in 2009, 95 of 400 Active members provided responses. The 25 percent drop in BWI membership in that time frame is reflective of significant consolidation in both the recreational marine and boating publishing industries.

The writers report widespread participation in the shift to digital in writing, running their businesses and promoting themselves. Close to half (46%) maintain their own websites, one third are active with blogs and forums, and 18% are posting videos on line. They are engaged on Facebook (70%), LinkedIn (67%), Google (40%) and Twitter (25%).

Magazines continue to be the primary clients for the writers, noted by 79% of respondents in ’14 and 83% in ’09, while blogging and website development work increased to 40% from 27% in the same period. Other notable changes in revenue sources shifted in marketing/advertising work to 28% from 9%, videography to 17% from 10%, and book writing to 21% from 17%. Revenue reported from newsletters, editing, public relations, TV and radio decreased in the period.

The boat writing profession continues to be populated by 70% men and 30% women, little changed over the past five years. The largest age group, 38%, moved into the 60-70-year range from the 50-60-year range, now 25%, in the period. Under 50 members now total 19% while the over 70 crowd grew to 15% from 9%. Annual income generally shifted downward, reflected in 29% of the writers reporting less than $10,000, the largest category, followed by those making  $20K – $30K (9% down from 13%) and $30K – $40K (unchanged at 8%). Three other income categories increased, led by $60K – $70K to 8% from 6%. Overall, the income change from 2012 to 2013 was reported by roughly equal thirds of the members as up, down or the same.

Asked how BWI could help them to improve their endeavors, members pointed to better understanding social networking and new technologies, marketing their work to traditional and digital publishing outlets and improving their blogging potential. They also seek more information on jobs and freelancing opportunities, ways to better monetize their digital efforts, and greater networking with their peers and industry personnel

We need young people to enter our industry at all levels, its a necessity. Guys like myself are on the decline and are doomed to be declared to old to learn the new systems very soon, why invest in a fifty something year old, what will take years to master!
 Author CC

Copyright 2015 © Boat Nut Media, Toronto, Ontario. All rights reserved. No part of this information/publications may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, magnetic, or other record, without prior agreement and written permission of the publisher, Boat Nuts Media ©™ No liability is assumed with respect to the information provided