The marine industry saw a spike in interest in 2020 as boater participation and boat sales skyrocketed. More and more people sought out safe recreational hobbies, including first-time boat owners, a category on the rise for the first time in over a decade according to the National Marine Manufacturing Association (NMMA). This explains why we have seen supply chain issues lead to boat building delays.
Supply chain issues lead to boat building delays
Supply chain issues coupled with critically low inventory and staffing woes are leading to boatbuilder delays. Keeping up with the demand is challenging. Boat builders are dealing not only with supply chain shortages of essential items like sealants, resins, and labor, they are having shipping challenges as well. With the onset of the pandemic leaving households to resort to more online shopping, shippers are having a hard time keeping up with demand.
The perfect storm
The NMMA reports that 2020 is to blame with a 13% increase of boat sales over 2019 numbers. Despite a lack of inventory, boat sales reached a 13-year high. The proverbial saying “when it rains, it pours” reigns true, especially for the marine industry. The demand is just so high, which in essence is a good problem to have. It’s indeed the perfect storm – high demand, low supply, and no end in sight.
At the helm
Life Industries Corporation manufactures BoatLIFE’s portfolio of boat care, restoration and maintenance products. At the helm ready for your order, our supply of sealants, caulks, epoxies, waxes, cleaners and sanitizers is available for immediate sale. We produce all of our high-quality products at our manufacturing facility in North Charleston, South Carolina and ship globally. In addition to our boat care products, we manufacture sanitizers for hands and surfaces. Ramping up production throughout the onset of the pandemic, we recently received an award of excellence from the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP) for our contribution toward helping fight the coronavirus pandemic. Life Industries continues to produce its sanitizer line without interruption. Order your supply today and receive direct shipping from the manufacturer for the freshest quality product. Or speak with your local retailer about bringing in BoatLIFE products to a region near you.