April 11, 2002

Population Shift Brings Marinas a Variety of Boaters— and Challenges

Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina - More and more Americans are gravitating to the coastlines, and as a result, there's more pressure on marinas to cater to a bigger and more varied clientele. "Over the past five years, there's been a large increase in the number of people living within an hour of the Eastern seaboard," says Sam Phlegar, vice president with Applied Technology & Management, Inc., a leading environmental, coastal, and water resources engineering firm. "And that means a greater variety of boaters."

An estimated 41 million people— more than one in seven Americans— now live in a county along the eastern or southern coast, according to a recent article in USA Today. As populations pockets shift toward the waterfront, developers need to brace for the influx of people and boats. "Marina owners must keep up with the prevailing demands of new and existing boaters," Phlegar says. "But the real challenge is that there's no such thing as a typical boater."

Phlegar points out the following types of boaters and ways marinas can address their needs:

Sport fishermen. Location and convenience are now what make these boaters tick. "Price isn't necessarily the key issue with fishermen at this point," Phlegar says. "They want to be where the fish are— that means no long rides to the fishing grounds and options to tie into where the actions is."

"Snowbirds." These boaters will make their way south in the winter. "This year, about 15,000 people will travel the Intracoastal Waterway along the eastern seaboard," says Phlegar. "The Snowbirds will make numerous stops and will spend the money to go to the marina that offers a better overall package— not just in terms of the quality of the facility, but also the amenities, nearby attractions, and proximity to service yards."

"Cruisers." Boaters operating vessels larger than 30 feet have a tendency to go on extended cruises and spend months at a time on the water, especially as boats and boat safety continue to improve. As they explore destinations along their journey, it's becoming increasingly likely that they'll stop at a marina that provides much more than just a transient slip. "Make your marina a destination, and not just a stop-over," advises Phlegar.

Owners who continually evaluate and modify their facilities to reflect new demands will be most successful. "It's critical to maintain facilities to keep up with new boaters, as well as their changing demands," says Phlegar. While water depth and quality berths are important, other attributes can affect repeat business including reliable, adequate electrical supply, convenient, clean restrooms, and attentive marina staff.