Is boating in a death spiral?

[Boathook]

I think amateur hour in the yard with a sander from Aldi is the problem. Your example very difficult to manage, mine is as simple as buying a decent sander and dust extractor.

In an ideal world a club or marina would have these for hire to save us the cost of purchase and the hirer would return the equipment in the same condition it was hired.

The problem is that a lot of people don't know how to operate the equipment correctly and would break it and then deny all knowledge about it and that it was in the condition when they 'hired' it. A lot of work for a few, for no return even with a hefty deposit.

 

[Momac]

....nowadays it’s a theme park....and it has to compete with theme parks on land, as well as virtual ones and cheap flights to a distant theme park

Cheap flights and theme parks have been around a very long time. Most, if not all, people who bought a boat as a response to Covid restrictions have sold up and gone back to the cheap flight holidays.
I think those sort of people had an unrealistic expectation of the experience they would get from boating.

 

[Bouba]

Cheap flights and theme parks have been around a very long time. Most, if not all, people who bought a boat as a response to Covid restrictions have sold up and gone back to the cheap flight holidays.
I think those sort of people had an unrealistic expectation of the experience they would get from boating.

True…there was pent up fever for everything after Covid….boating was the ultimate staycation in isolation that was still enjoyable.
But two days after Covid the world and people’s attitudes went back to normal…and a busy airport full of sneezing people was no longer scary

 

[justanothersailboat]

As one of these much-maligned Covid-era starters who is now incurably addicted to sailing and spending more and more time and money on it, I'm not overjoyed by some of these generalisations
It was apparent even then that the asset "value" of a £10k boat was about zero, this is largely irrelevant if it provides more than £10k worth of fun, learning and freedom before its demise. If the asset "value" of it is now £3k or less that's neither here nor there.

I seriously doubt a discussion of the change in the willingness of reasonably-earning 30-40-somethings to get into boat ownership over specifically the last year (which is not exactly a purely post-covid phenomenon) is possible on a forum where there are, mercifully, at least some restrictions on discussion of politics.

 

[Sea Change]

There was a mystique about going to sea....that is ingrained into the older generation....from when the country had a huge navy and merchant marine....where war films kept the memory alive of the plucky island nation...where all great adventures started first by ship. This was the salt in the blood.....nowadays it’s a theme park....and it has to compete with theme parks on land, as well as virtual ones and cheap flights to a distant theme park

Interesting observation.
Today millions of people watch YouTubers and their idea of sailing is that it's all sun, rum, and fun.

 

[doug748]

An interesting side light on this stuff, I have noticed recent YouTube videos confirming similar visions of doom - at least two from USA and one from Canada.

As usual, some are a bit over dramatic for UK tastes but it does confirm a trend.

.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

An interesting side light on this stuff, I have noticed recent YouTube videos confirming similar visions of doom - at least two from USA and one from Canada.

As usual, some are a bit over dramatic for UK tastes but it does confirm a trend.

.

I have been thinking about my own position, as expressed on this thread. I wonder just how correct my opinions are (which are that sailing participation is reducing).

I am entering retirement years, more aware of my mortality and remaining years of life. Am I expressing an opinion influenced by my decline? Perhaps more than I care to admit.

In my marina there are two young men, single handers, work rotation schedules, own their own boats and sail about. Researching YouTube for a potential rudder repair, there are a few young British people recording their experiences. Also, in my marina, there is a young couple currently preparing a hull for anti-fouling, happily and lovingly laughing at the experience. They will learn. I have also been considering a mooring (part of a pension life cost reduction strategy) and nearly all have waiting lists which are closed.

I am beginning to wonder if my opinions, which are anecdotal are wrong.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

I think that small boat family cruising is dying out ... because living in relative discomfort, with little personal space and few creature comforts is on the decline generally. This is also affecting other outdoor holiday pastimes, like families camping in small tents and packing it all into a ford fiesta.

The fact that the difference between rich and poor is expanding exponentially means that what is actually trickling down, is not money and opportunity, it is the purchasing power of the richer end of society. It affects every income level to a greater or lesser degree.

... a 2% increase to someone earning 25K will give them an extra 500 quid per year - that's not exactly life changing, and considering the increases will also be applied to food and energy they will see very little benefit from an increase in line with inflation.

Someone earning 250k will have an extra 5K to play with, but their daily living costs will not eliminate the 5K increase like it does to the 25K earner .. so the left over money goes into investments, or leisure activities.

The higher up the income scale you go, the more ridiculous the sums involved become. For someone earning 2,5M a year 2% will mean an extra 50K a year, double the total annual income of the lower earner in these examples ... and on it goes.

These middle to high earners are using their increasing wealth buying up flights, hotel space, holiday homes, marina space, rental properties, all the way down the income scale there is more competition for finite resources - so the lower end earners are fooked, which means the budget end of the boating market is being squeezed out of existence. A bit like gentrification of cities, just with boats and spaces to keep them.

Interestingly, the higher end of yachting is not experiencing the slowdown that the average UK boat owner is seeing.

Used Yacht Market Review and Outlook

The used superyacht market entered 2025 in a more stable position after several years of tightening supply. As of early August 2025, 1,080 yachts over 30 metres were listed for sale, representing 17% of the operational fleet, almost the same as last year. This marks a shift from the ultra-constrained conditions of 2021 and 2022, when availability hovered at around 15%. While the decline in supply that began in 2021 appears to have bottomed out, attractive, well priced yachts remain scarce and competition for the best opportunities is still strong. Sales activity has held steady. In 2024, approximately 300 used yachts changed hands, down from 311 in 2023 and well below the 408 recorded during the 2022 peak. As of July 2025, 200 yachts had been sold, virtually the same as the 199 in the same period last year, but the average size of yachts sold is increasing. Total gross tonnage transacted is up 8% year-on-year to 93,500 GT, indicating that buyers are focusing more on larger, higher-value assets

https://www.monacoyachtshow.com/media-file/318930/mys-market-report-2025-21-9.pdf

 

[Supertramp]

I have been thinking about my own position, as expressed on this thread. I wonder just how correct my opinions are (which are that sailing participation is reducing).

I am entering retirement years, more aware of my mortality and remaining years of life. Am I expressing an opinion influenced by my decline? Perhaps more than I care to admit.

In my marina there are two young men, single handers, work rotation schedules, own their own boats and sail about. Researching YouTube for a potential rudder repair, there are a few young British people recording their experiences. Also, in my marina, there is a young couple currently preparing a hull for anti-fouling, happily and lovingly laughing at the experience. They will learn. I have also been considering a mooring (part of a pension life cost reduction strategy) and nearly all have waiting lists which are closed.

I am beginning to wonder if my opinions, which are anecdotal are wrong.

Reading all the preceding stuff I was starting to turn the other way. But on reflection and after watching the beach at Aberdeen on a fair but cool autumn day I think the routes into sailing and boat ownership are changing. Many people are using paddleboards, kayaks, kitesurfing and even swimming as a water based leisure activity. You dont need many of those cohorts to move into boat ownership as they grow older and accumulate enough money.

I'd judge it when the marinas and moorings start to empty.

 

[Bouba]

As one of these much-maligned Covid-era starters who is now incurably addicted to sailing and spending more and more time and money on it, I'm not overjoyed by some of these generalisations
It was apparent even then that the asset "value" of a £10k boat was about zero, this is largely irrelevant if it provides more than £10k worth of fun, learning and freedom before its demise. If the asset "value" of it is now £3k or less that's neither here nor there.

I seriously doubt a discussion of the change in the willingness of reasonably-earning 30-40-somethings to get into boat ownership over specifically the last year (which is not exactly a purely post-covid phenomenon) is possible on a forum where there are, mercifully, at least some restrictions on discussion of politics.

I think the problem is not the residual worth...because as you say, you’ve had your fun’s worth....it’s that it’s like a first wife...you might no longer get to play with it...but it’s still going to cost you a fortune in housing and upkeep...until you can convince some other bloke to take it off your hands

 

[Mark-1]

I think the problem is not the residual worth...because as you say, you’ve had your fun’s worth....it’s that it’s like a first wife...you might no longer get to play with it...but it’s still going to cost you a fortune in housing and upkeep...until you can convince some other bloke to take it off your hands

If it floats, ****s or flies, you're better off hiring it.

 

[potentillaCO32]

If it floats, ****s or flies, you're better off hiring it.

I think the younger generation has taken that on board. I dont think the charter market is as badly affected as the boat sales market.

I could be wrong. It has happened.

 

[Mark-1]

I think the younger generation has taken that on board. I dont think the charter market is as badly affected as the boat sales market.

I could be wrong. It has happened.

I'm sure you're right. Until the kids came along chartering was my thing and I saw nothing but growth in the two decades up to Covid. I can't see any reason that would have stalled. Mind you, med charter did seem to be subsidized by random individuals who were willing to be 'owners' and take the depreciation hit of buying a new boat for negative return in exchange for being able to talk about 'owning a boat' at dinner parties back at home. Are people more savvy these days? I think they might be which would seriously up the price.

So that's why I think sailing as a sport is very healthy in the UK, whatever the ownership numbers look like. If you measured it by miles sailed or 'adventures enjoyed' I'd say cruising sailing was better than ever.

 

[winch2]

IMO buying and maintaining a boat is no different than walking in a casino and laying the same amount down on the table and expecting to lose. Don't go into boating if you cant handle the losses which when totted up are usually huge. Luckily the upside is the absolute joy and satisfaction sailing brings which for me anyway easily offsets the losses.

 

[Bouba]

Even if you own you have to hire… same with cars…people who hire cars usually have a car at home or in the airport car park.
They are not mutually exclusive markets

 

[Mark-1]

Even if you own you have to hire… same with cars…people who hire cars usually have a car at home or in the airport car park.
They are not mutually exclusive markets

I think they used to be exclusive to a large degree. People who owned typically couldn't justify a charter trip somewhere 'better'. I'd agree that's changed, a lot of people who own these days still splash out on a charter trip every now and then. (All my own, perhaps unrepresentative, observations.)

 

[ashtead]

I feel the marina prices at leat in the south will kill the pleasure of boat owning eventually. Downsizing might save a few k but what we pay now could have bought a new Westerly centaur in mid 70s. We enjoy however the floating home and trips to local venues in uk . It isn’t that cheap after all to rent an Airbnb in cowes or Yarmouth etc so visitor fees not are that bad - we have decreased in value since 2015 but not by a lot -I see a 2012 Gunfleet is for sale at 275k in carters but what did that cost new and what sights did owner see since buying? Seems like a bargain way to see the world if no dependents etc

 

[seeSimon]

I think it’s a stupid program....I kind of see the point of the renovate a chateau programs...lots of people want to live in a grand house... and most can’t afford to...so they devote their lives to it ....it’s a bit of a waste of life in my opinion...except for the hosts of some of those programs who probably make their real income from tv production.
But the ruined village in the middle of nowhere ?...that logic fails me
Although, as boat owners we have no right to judge anyone’s reasoning ...or sanity

Yes...

A "restored " isolated Spanish/Italian rural village, mainly populated by expats and short term holiday makers/air b n b inmates does not sound attractive to me, for my holidays - never mind residing there!

C4 French Chateau guy (ex senior British army officer, so probably a relatively healthy pension?) did something very similar with a TV "eco farm" near us in Cornwall. "It's not easy being green" I seem to recall? Then a TV series on "gourmet yachting" on a classic Gaffer, voyaging around the Devon/Cornwall coasts.

We have several media types (as well as the real A listers on the N Cornwall coast) around these parts. Including production and technical folk.
Generally they are in the more magnificent/expensive "holiday homes"...and from the houses/cars it Looks like it probably pays well, and is likely more tax/investment efficient than humble PAYE?

Interestingly, they Generally don't seem to "invest" much in boats, comparatively...unlike us?

 

[Bouba]

Yes...

A "restored " isolated Spanish/Italian rural village, mainly populated by expats and short term holiday makers/air b n b inmates does not sound attractive to me, for my holidays - never mind residing there!

C4 French Chateau guy (ex senior British army officer, so probably a relatively healthy pension?) did something very similar with a TV "eco farm" near us in Cornwall. "It's not easy being green" I seem to recall? Then a TV series on "gourmet yachting" on a classic Gaffer, voyaging around the Devon/Cornwall coasts.

We have several media types (as well as the real A listers on the N Cornwall coast) around these parts. Including production and technical folk.
Generally they are in the more magnificent/expensive "holiday homes"...and from the houses/cars it Looks like it probably pays well, and is likely more tax/investment efficient than humble PAYE?

Interestingly, they Generally don't seem to "invest" much in boats, comparatively...unlike us?

Yes....all in all, no addiction is healthy....even a health addiction.....but some are downright destructive....drugs, gambling, boats....

 

[Laser310]

Even if you own you have to hire… same with cars…people who hire cars usually have a car at home or in the airport car park.
They are not mutually exclusive markets

I own a boat at home, and recently chartered one in Brittany.

Not only that, but I also rented a car in spite of the fact that I have two at home.

It gets worse...

I had complicated travel plans after the charter, visiting my wife's family, and it ended up being cheaper and more convenient to just keep the car for the whole time, and leave it parked while sailing

However, I found that during the cruise, I needed a car to do some local exploring, so, I had to rent another car, while I had one parked at the marina from which we left!

Thankfully, I never found it necessary to charter a second boat.