Hard Sailing: Boating industry tries to stay afloat in wake of struggling U

Hard Sailing: Boating industry tries to stay afloat in wake of struggling U.S. economy.
Hunter Scott had made sailboats, powerboats and custom-made lobster boats since 1973.

But he decided to close his Pocasset, Mass., shop in December, lay off half of his staff and switch to cabinetry work as orders for the $300,000 vessels all but dried up.

‘I had a lot of fun in the marine industry,’ he said. ‘But the economy has taken its toll.’

Across the country, the $40 billion boating industry - which includes several makers based in North Carolina - is struggling to weather a season of gloomy news.

A triple threat of falling consumer confidence, rising gas prices and the nation”s economic downturn has pummeled the industry, changing the boating habits of recreational skippers while forcing layoffs, plant closings and corporate reorganizations the likes of which haven”t been seen in nearly 20 years.