What is the biggest issue facing the boat-building industry today?
Our industry isn’t unique. We are working hard to be more efficient. Our margins are squeezed but we still put out a good product. The biggest concerns facing business today are government-regulatory issues. Being reactionary, as government regulators are, we have to march to that drummer. I think the industry has a prime responsibility to show there is a happy medium. What will a Parker in the year 2020 be like? There are a lot of things under development right now. Fiberglass is replacing wood but when installed properly, there is not a better product out there than wood. Boats are subjected to repeated stresses that you don’t see in sports utility vehicles. The oceans are a hostile environment. I think on-board electronics like a fishfinder or a GPS will be standard rather than accessories. And it will add another dimension of safety. I think steering won’t be done with cables or hydraulics as now but, instead, through electric wires. It will be more dependable and responsive. There
