Raising Sail in the Digital Age: Attracting the Next Generation of Sailboat Buyers

From YouTube voyagers to flexible yacht‑club memberships, smart marketers are discovering new ways to make sailing feel accessible, affordable and fun for younger buyers.

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Sophie (forward) doing jib and tactics duty on a Flying Junior during a college regatta. (Photo/ Tim Duren)

Walk the docks at most marinas or check out the bars at your local yacht club and it’s obvious that the average boat owner is getting older.

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Dave is a OUPV-Six Pack Captain with 40+ years of boating experience spanning inland one-design racing, coastal cruising and yacht deliveries throughout New England and the Caribbean. He's sailed a Beneteau 35S5 on Lake Michigan and Cape Cod, and currently cruises aboard his Silverton 38, Cash In Advance, with his wife Tricia. As both a boat buyer and seller, Dave brings practical expertise in evaluating vessel condition, negotiating deals and matching boats to their ideal owners. He holds degrees from Duke University and Purdue University, and when he's not on the water or brokering boats, he's restoring a vintage British car.