Voyages: Mad Mariner Survey Results

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Mad Mariner Survey Results

Updated April 20, 2009

Mad Mariner's survey drew responses from 775 people from April 7 to 17. The survey was conducted via email and the Internet, posted on MadMariner.com, as well as the magazine's Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages, and on other websites. More than 80 percent of those who participated identified themselves as boat owners.

Please estimate how many days you spent out on the water on your boat last year.

None	7.0%
1 Day	1.0%
2 Days	0.6%
3 Days	0.7%
4 Days	1.1%
5 Days	1.4%
6 Days	1.0%
7 Days	1.2%
8 Days	0.4%
9 Days	0.4%
10 Days	3.9%
11 Days	0.1%
12 Days	1.9%
13 Days	0.3%
14 Days	2.3%
15 Days	2.5%
16 Days	1.1%
17 Days	0.4%
18 Days	0.4%
19 Days	0.0%
20 Days	7.4%
21 Days	1.1%
22 Days	0.6%
23 Days	0.4%
24 Days	2.2%
25 Days	4.3%
26 Days	1.4%
27 Days	0.6%
28 Days	2.1%
29 Days	0.0%
30 Days	6.5%
More Than 30 Days	45.8%

What was the longest trip you took on your boat last year?

1 Day	25.0%
2 Days	10.6%
3 Days	10.8%
4 Days	5.3%
5 Days	4.6%
6 Days	2.8%
7 Days	6.2%
8 Days	2.8%
9 Days	1.7%
10 Days	3.5%
11 Days	0.4%
12 Days	1.3%
13 Days	0.6%
14 Days	2.9%
15 Days	1.4%
16 Days	0.4%
17 Days	0.4%
18 Days	0.3%
19 Days	0.0%
20 Days	0.4%
21 Days	0.7%
More Than 21 Days	7.0%
I did not take a trip last year	10.9%

What is the longest trip you anticipate taking on your boat this year?

1 Day	14.4%
2 Days	9.6%
3 Days	10.6%
4 Days	7.3%
5 Days	8.5%
6 Days	3.0%
7 Days	7.5%
8 Days	1.6%
9 Days	1.7%
10 Days	6.3%
11 Days	0.3%
12 Days	1.3%
13 Days	0.0%
14 Days	6.6%
15 Days	1.3%
16 Days	0.7%
17 Days	0.4%
18 Days	0.6%
19 Days	0.1%
20 Days	0.4%
21 Days	1.7%
More Than 21 Days	10.0%
I am not taking a trip this year	6.2%

How many trips did you take on your boat last year that involved an overnight stay?

1 Trip	14.2%
2 Trips	10.8%
3 Trips	7.8%
4 Trips	7.1%
5 Trips	6.1%
6 Trips	5.6%
7 Trips	1.6%
8 Trips	3.1%
9 Trips	1.3%
10 Trips	5.5%
11 Trips	1.0%
12 Trips	1.2%
13 Trips	0.6%
14 Trips	0.9%
15 Trips	1.5%
16 Trips	0.1%
17 Trips	0.4%
18 Trips	0.3%
19 Trips	0.3%
20 Trips	0.4%
21 Trips	0.0%
More Than 21 Trips	5.8%
I did not take a trip last year	24.4

When you take an overnight trip on your boat, are you most likely to:

Stay at a marina	48.3%
Stay on a mooring	10.6%
Stay at anchor	35.0%
Raft up with other boats	6.1%

This year, do you think you will get out on the water in your boat:

More than last year	59.1%
Less than last year	9.3%
About the same	31.6%

What is the primary reason?

The cost of fuel	7.5%
The cost of launching	0.0%
The cost of maintenance and upkeep	0.0%
You can no longer afford boating	10.4%
You sold your boat	3.0%
You will have less recreational time	47.8%
Other	31.3%

Where do you mostly go boating?

Lakes	22.3%
Rivers	16.7%
Ocean (coastline)	57.3%
Ocean (open)	3.6%

What do you enjoy doing when you go out on the boat? (multiple answers allowed)

Fishing	46.3%
Cooking	39.2%
Diving	16.9%
Swimming	54.8%
Skiing or wakeboarding	7.8%
Riding a PWC	5.0%
Sightseeing	68.6%
Exploring	67.4%
Sunbathing	35.6%
Navigating	61.2%
Relaxing	79.7%
Sailing	37.8%
Driving (at the helm)	68.2%

What percentage of your boating time is relegated to cleaning, maintenance, and upkeep?

0 to 5	8.3%
6 to 10	17.1%
11 to 15	13.7%
16 to 20	16.5%
21 to 25	14.6%
26 to 30	6.4%
31 to 35	6.0%
36 to 40	3.4%
41 to 45	1.5%
46 to 50	5.4%
51 to 55	2.5%
56 to 60	1.0%
61 to 65	0.7%
66 to 70	0.6%
71 to 75	0.6%
76 to 80	0.7%
81 to 85	0.3%
86 to 90	0.1%
91 to 95	0.3%
96 to 100	0.4%

What percentage of the work on your boat do you do yourself?

0 to 5	6.7%
6 to 10	2.8%
11 to 15	2.3%
16 to 20	2.1%
21 to 25	3.2%
26 to 30	2.3%
31 to 35	0.9%
36 to 40	1.9%
41 to 45	0.4%
46 to 50	4.1%
51 to 55	1.8%
56 to 60	1.2%
61 to 65	1.2%
66 to 70	1.3%
71 to 75	8.5%
76 to 80	6.3%
81 to 85	3.1%
86 to 90	9.8%
91 to 95	12.3%
96 to 100	27.7%

On your average day out on the water in your boat last year, what was your most common destination?

Marina (not your home port)	15.4%
Anchorage	28.3%
Restaurant	4.8%
Dive spot	1.7%
Resort	0.6%
Fishing spot	12.5%
No destination	36.6%

On your average day out on the water in your boat last year, did you:

Stay within 5 miles of your home port	16.0%
Stay within 10 miles of your home port	22.3%
Stay within 15 miles of your home port	14.6%
Stay within 20 miles of your home port	13.1%
Stay within 25 miles of your home port	13.4%
Travel farther than 25 miles from your home port	20.6%

Would you take your boat out in:

Only winds less than 10 knots	18.0%
Winds gusting to 20 knots	51.3%
Winds gusting to 30 knots	25.6%
Winds gusting to 40 knots	2.9%
Winds above 40 knots	2.2%

Based on your boating experience, in what situation are you most likely to run into problems?

Traveling in shallow water	27.4%
Traveling in heavy weather	35.6%
Traveling in unknown waters	24.1%
Docking or mooring	12.9%

Name the systems and features you use every time you go out on your boat. (multiple answers allowed)

Engine	93.7%
Sails	36.5%
Generator	25.3%
Galley	50.1%
Bimini or other canvas	52.7%
Water System	61.3%
Head	65.9%
Fishing Gear	23.9%
Batteries	85.4%
Thrusters	11.4%
VHF Radio	77.7%
AC Power	32.9%
Air Conditioning	19.2%
Anchor System	37.8%
Trailer	14.1%
Dinghy or Tender	20.4%
Navigation Electronics	80.1%

What system causes the most problems on your boat? (multiple answers allowed)

Hull	7.0%
Sails	6.8%
Engine	32.8%
Generator	6.0%
Electronics	19.7%
Batteries	20.0%
Fishing Gear	2.2%
Thru-hulls or Seacocks	2.1%
Thrusters	1.4%
Bilge Pumps	9.1%
Bimini or Other Canvas	6.7%
Galley Appliances	2.7%
Fuel System	9.9%
Dinghy or Tender	4.1%
AC Power	1.9%
Trailer	5.9%
Water System	9.5%
The Head	18.9%
Air Conditioning	5.6%
Anchor and/or Windlass	7.6%
Rigging	5.2%
Steering	4.3%

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