Industry Gathers for 10th Annual Docks Expo and Marina Conference
Published on January 13, 2025
Editor’s Note: Marina Dock Age recorded two education sessions at the 2024 Docks Expo and Marina Conference. Lithium Ion – An Electrifying Topic is a panel discussion covering the standards, safety and insurance costs for lithium ion batteries. The second session, What’s Coming for the 2026 National Electric Code, covers the NEC 2026 code cycle.
The Docks Expo and Marina Conference celebrated its 10th anniversary this past December. The annual conference, presented by Marina Dock Age, was held December 10-12 at Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Overall attendance increased by 25% compared to 2023, and exhibitors increased by 14%. Attendees had the opportunity to meet with 180 exhibitors and sit in on 20 education sessions during the three-day conference.
Marinas from across the country, including Tennessee, Florida, Missouri, Georgia and Texas, attended the event. International representatives from Canada, Argentina, Mexico, Northern Mariana Islands, Slovenia and the United Kingdom were also in attendance.
Marina Dock Age also presented the awards for the 2024 Marina of the Year. To read about the innovative upgrades and employee training techniques at Clinton Marina, this year’s large Marina of the Year, turn to page 12.
Opening Session: State of the Industry
The conference’s opening session focused on the state of the industry. Mitch Belter, owner of Belter Insurance Agency, and Daniel Rutherford, director of claims and risk management at One80 Marine, discussed the current economic factors and issues impacting the industry and what marina owners and operators can do to better prepare for the future.
Touching on the cyclical nature of the industry, Belter highlighted the ups and downs of recreational boating over the last 20 years, citing the impacts of the great recession of 2008 and COVID-19. “While dealerships and manufacturers were severely impacted by the recession, marinas were a bit more insulated,” Belter said. “As the economy took off around 2010, many marinas were looking to expand with boat clubs, rental fleets and larger slips. Marine businesses were healthier through 2018.”
Then, the COVID-19 boating boom presented a new set of challenges. As marinas adapted to welcome an influx of new boaters, and manufacturers and dealers dealt with low supply and high demand, the last few years have led the industry on a new trajectory. “The biggest issue was once the pandemic was over, a lot of the new boaters decided boating wasn’t for them,” Belter added. “But going into this year, most marinas were running at around 100% occupancy, and I don’t think that will change heading into 2025.”
Education and Exhibitors
Technology and marina infrastructure inspired many discussions at the conference. Attendees were able to meet with industry innovators and learn about the newest products and services on the market to help improve business. Revenue generation, electric propulsion, marina valuation and infrastructure inspections were just a few of the topics covered during the education sessions. Kyle Bostwick, marina manager at Ferry Dock Marina in Burlington, Vermont, led a panel discussion to brainstorm out-of-the-box revenue-generating ideas. The panel and audience shared several ideas, from setting up a webcam to record sunsets and developing loyalty membership programs to offering discounts on boat detailing and making and bagging ice.
Dan Grovatt, senior vice president at Leisure Property Advisors, Colliers, led a panel discussion about the factors that investors and insurance providers consider when valuing a marina. Joined by DJ Tyler, vice president and co-owner of Marine Specialties Limited; Quinn Heidenreich, managing partner at Allied Strategic Partners; and Andrew Cantor, senior vice president and national managing director at Leisure Property Advisors, Colliers, the group touched on the rising costs of insurance premiums, not having enough coverage and the dangers of not understanding policies. “Many marinas are underinsured,” Tyler said. “They need their premiums to go down, so they cut corners, but they aren’t getting the coverage they need, and when the time comes, the insurance can’t cover the true value of the property.”
Panelists said they are cautiously optimistic for rates in 2025 and encouraged marina owners to know the value of everything within their facility, from the docks to the electrical systems. When it comes to potential investment opportunities, Heidenreich said there are specific things that investors consider when determining value, including size, quality of the facility, where it is located, demographics and employees. “Some things can’t be changed, like location and demographics,” Heidenreich said. “But the size of your facility today versus its potential size is important. So is the quality. It is easy to tell whether an owner has pride in the facility or if things like upgrades are being put off.”
Gary Loftis, principal engineer at Maffett Loftis Engineering LLC, addressed what a marina needs to do if electrical equipment has been damaged due to storm surge, high water or snow and ice, while Lori Sousa, president of Sea-Land Insurance Corp., and Joe Revier, cofounder of Slipify, detailed the dangers of cyber-attacks and how a marina can protect the personal information of customers and the business itself.
Go to Docks Expo to read more about the education sessions presented at the conference, including many of the speaker’s presentations.
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