Activity at boat service yards and marinas is steady and most Maine marinas have waiting lists for dockage and moorings.
Activity at boat service yards and marinas is steady and most Maine marinas have waiting lists for dockage and moorings, says Stacey Keefer, executive director of the Maine Marine Trades Association.
Custom boatbuilding and high-end yacht restorations in Maine, although a small part of the overall market, remain steady, Keefer says. Custom builders are also experiencing interest in the electric propulsion market.
However, other than a pandemic-driven spike in demand, sales of new production boats have been on a very gradual, national decline for at least seven years.
“Boats outlast vehicles, so the market also has many decent used boats that can compete for new,” Keefer notes.
Boat clubs are gaining popularity as an easier, more affordable entry point into recreational boating.
“Overall, I would say the boating industry looks mostly stable but can be affected by economic trends and uncertainties, interest rates and general consumer confidence,” she says.
