Despite economic current, R.I. boating still buoyant

<b>Photo by Brian McDonald</b><br>David MacBain, co-owner of New England Boatworks, inspects a boat lift and transportation machine.
Photo by Brian McDonald
David MacBain, co-owner of New England Boatworks, inspects a boat lift and transportation machine.

Yet industry is seen taking a hit in the mid-sized sector; inflatables’ popularity surges

Boating enthusiasts have been largely unaffected by the slow economy of the last couple years, according to one marine industry insider. But the mid-sized sector of the custom-boat building industry was hit hard, said another.

Despite highs and lows in the business, Rhode Islanders have maintained a passion for life on the water.

The boating industry has remained strong in Rhode Island since the early 1990s, according to George Hawkins, social and membership chairman of the Rhode Island Marine Trade Association, after Rhode Island legislators repealed a tax on boats that nearly killed the industry. Hawkins has helped organize boat shows in the region for 25 years.

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“In 1989, the feds put a luxury tax on boats and it almost bankrupted half of the industry here,” he said. “At the time, Rhode Island had a 7 percent tax on them. The Rhode Island Marine Trade Association and other associations got involved and they removed the tax. Now we have more than 10 boat builders here and we’re one of the largest employers in the state.”

Boating is a pastime enjoyed by all people in Rhode Island, regardless of their financial status, Hawkins said. Whether they own a kayak or a 100-foot yacht, there is something for every enthusiast. It’s just a matter of starting with a boat.

“People might get into boating with a kayak, which is pretty affordable, and then move up from there to a nice center-console motorboat or small sailboat,” Hawkins said. “Every couple of years, we see people trading up a boat. It’s really a sport that encompasses everyone.”

In the world of the custom boat, however, the standard-sized boat at New England Boatworks in Portsmouth is about 60 feet, considered by owners Tom Rich, Steve Casella and David MacBain to be the mid-sized market. The company, which has customers all over the world, does custom racing and luxury sail and powerboats, ranging in size from the smaller $600,000, 30- to 40-foot vessels to 100-foot, $1 million luxury boats.

“With the dollar devalued over in Europe, we’re getting a lot more customers from there,” said MacBain. “On the higher end, the economy doesn’t have such a big effect, but the mid-sized yachts remained pretty flat” starting in 2002. Business was so slow in mid-sized boats, he said, that New England Boatworks did a number of architectural projects during that time, including building the Staten Island Sept. 11 memorial. The company also has a 150-slip marina and a repair business that help keep them busy year-round, MacBain said.

As for trends in the custom boating industry, lots of customers have requested classic styles reminiscent of the 1950s or earlier, he said.

“They’ve gone retro, with more traditional designs and lines,” MacBain said. “The picnic boat has been very popular – it’s almost like a Maine lobster boat. There are a lot of stylized boats; some look like racecars out there on the bay, but some people have gone the other way with it.”

Customers can request 1960s styling with all of the best technology inside, he said. Some boats might even use a jet drive instead of a standard diesel motor, but maintain the look of an old yacht. The use of wood is also becoming increasingly popular, according to MacBain, which is evocative of the past, but the boats are made of carbon fiber and are actually more architecturally complex than their real retro counterparts.

The boating industry – custom or otherwise – is booming now, according to Hawkins, because the oceanfront real estate market in Rhode Island is also flourishing. Many of these properties come with a dock or water access, so it only makes sense to have a boat of some kind, he said.

Personal watercraft have continued to be favorites among recreational boaters, and the majority of people who own small boats said they use their boat for fishing at least occasionally, Hawkins said. Inflatable boats and dinghies are also very popular now, for people who already have a larger boat.

“Inflatables are hot,” Hawkins said. “People have a big boat and they use the inflatable to go to the shore or go exploring.”

As for certain types of boats that sell most, Hawkins said there hasn’t been one particular model or style that is more popular than the others. A good example of the variety of demand, he said, was the selection of boats at the annual Providence Boat Show this month. Hawkins said the show includes boats ranging in size from 7- to 47-feet long, power and sailboats for fresh and saltwater and sport fishing boats. Prices vary, he said, starting at $4,000 and up.

Sailboats have remained a constant favorite among many enthusiasts, Hawkins said, since the energy crisis of the 1970s, when sailing was cheaper than motoring. Boating is also generally more affordable than other pastimes, he said, which has helped demand.

“It never slowed down; it’s a growth industry, at least in Rhode Island,” Hawkins said. “It is, in comparison to others, a fairly reasonable sport and a family sport. It helps keep the family together, and you don’t have to buy a new boat. The thing is to get started and then you’re hooked.”

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