Charles Cashman on workforce
From Chuck Cashman on MarineMax, Superyachts & the Future of Boating | Yachting USA · · Yachting International Radio
“The challenge that I think we run up against is it starts really with workforce. When you go to Italy, and a month ago I was in Italy and I toured six shipyards with our group... They're third, second, third, fourth generation builders. My dad did this. My grandfather did this. They aspire to be that. And I don't know that there the US word such an interesting place right now that I don't know that if your father was a carpenter there's something that's getting in the heads of our youth today and maybe in the heads of the parents ahead of them that I want better for my child I don't want you to be a carpenter.”
On , Charles Cashman, Executive Vice President & Chief Revenue Officer at MARINEMAX INC, spoke about workforce during Chuck Cashman on MarineMax, Superyachts & the Future of Boating | Yachting USA on Yachting International Radio.
About Charles Cashman
Chuck Cashman, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at MarineMax, has appeared on several podcasts in 2024 and 2025 to discuss the company's history, strategy, and the broader boating industry. On the Yachting USA podcast, Cashman described how MarineMax was formed roughly 33 years ago when five Sea Ray dealers, with a combined revenue of about $220 million, came together with the goal of providing a better customer experience and team opportunities. He noted that Sea Ray has remained a common thread through subsequent acquisitions. Cashman also discussed MarineMax's expansion into marinas, stating that after lessons learned from a recession, the company began seeking dealerships with storage to provide insulation during cyclical downturns, and later began acquiring standalone marinas under CEO Brett McGill. He commented on Blackstone's acquisition of a marina portfolio, expressing optimism that the infrastructure division views marinas as long-term assets similar to ports and airports. In other appearances, Cashman discussed workforce challenges in the marine industry, stating that a lack of vocational programs and apprenticeships creates a weak pathway for youth not bound for college. He expressed a desire to see boat building return to the United States. Cashman also shared his personal experience with Dockmate, a remote boat control system, describing it as a "game changer" that allowed him to single-handedly move his boat from its slip)Skip, giving his family an extra day on the water. He has also promoted the ElectroStrainer, a marine growth prevention system, calling it a "cheap insurance policy" for air conditioning systems and noting that MarineMax offers it as a dealer standard option. On the Luxury Item podcast, Cashman noted that the average age of superyacht owners has dropped by about 10 years over the past two decades and that interest in alternative propulsion is growing, though adoption is slower than expected due to range and speed limitations.