A boat for Millenials?
Liz Walz, Editor-in-Chief
January 23, 2012
Filed under Liz Walz
This week, I read a blog by Cam Marston, the keynote speaker at the 2011 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, about two new models Chevy has designed specifically for the Millennial generation (those born between 1980 and 2000).
Among the cars’ features are in-car WiFi to facilitate Millennials’ desire to stay connected to their social networks, a large rear seat to fit their many friends, and a customizable interior designed to appeal to their desire to be unique.
That got me thinking about what a boat for Millennials would look and feel like. Maybe a waterproof compartment for this generation to store and charge their wireless devices? A roomy layout with lots of seating to accommodate their pals?
Then, we come to that desire to feel unique. On the one hand, boats have historically been highly customizable. Some might argue to the detriment of our profitability in some segments. But how do our boats rate as far as the “unique” factor is concerned? Do we or can we offer affordable boats that can be easily customized to reflect each owner’s individuality?
I think it’s clear we have some room for improvement here. But I want to hear from you. What boat features have you seen or offered that provide today’s entry-level buyers a unique look and feel? Or what features do you think would appeal to the Millennials?
In Cam’s blog, he reported that targeting Millennials is a long-term strategy for Chevy. Does your company have a strategy to target the Millennial generation? If not, maybe it’s time to develop one. As the Baby Boomers age, the urgency behind the industry’s need to get better at enticing younger generations to participate in boating only increases.
Check out what Boston Whaler is doing with its Super Sport line. Beyond the factory options they also have dealer and self install options to help customize your boat. They also have a dealer installed vinyl wrap that would allow the owner to add or change hull color. Even if you can only afford a basic model at first there are options you can add later to make the boat uniquely yours.
http://www.bostonwhaler.com/Page.aspx/pageId/29574/Super-Sport.aspx
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The new Hunter 33 offers an iTech Option which includes Apple TV, docking station for iPod/iPad, HDMI and USB connections, and a cell phone boosting antenna. This allows you to stream your music and movies on the boat, as well as connect to sites such as NetFlix or Spotify to stream additional content. The HDMI cabling allows connection of gaming systems like XBOX and Wii.
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