First, there were the B&Bs — the bed & breakfast sub sector of the American hotel industry that began, literally, as a cottage industry, and exploded into an industry unto itself, serving 50 million guests annually.
Now comes what Frommer's Tour Guides calls the "Bo&Bs" — the boat-and-breakfast alternative subsector that, according to its current Maine edition, is a "growing trend."
Here in Gloucester, the word "trend" may not yet apply. But according to the owners of the city's first "Bo&B" — the 48-foot classic New England Hinckley six-sleeper Windfall — the word "opportunity" does.
The Bo&B is "a natural extension of private charter sailing, which in my opinion, is an undervalued sector of the local tourism market," says Capt. Raffi Kassabian, who, with his wife, Lisa Kennedy, have been chartering Windfall out of Smith Cove for more than a decade.
"Our accommodations are first-class, with or without sailing," he says. "And nothing puts you more in touch with the sea, which is the experience people come to Gloucester for."
Kassabian says the Bo&B opens that experience to guests who may not be able to afford the expense of an actual private charter sail. Onboard overnights are usually part of the options offered high-end charter clientele.
What makes the experience affordable for the Bo&B guest is the option of booking the boat when it's in down-time. It's like getting a suite in a first-class resort at off-season rates. In this case, if it's available, you book the boat like you'd book a room.
Raffi and Kennedy's Bo&B is fast gaining popularity through online marketing, but also, and importantly, via word-of-mouth driven by the same fantasy that Time magazine says has been driving the national B&B boom: "People want to experience what it feels like to live a different life."
The life of world-class private sailing yachts is, for most people, right up there with a trip to the moon on gossamer wings. But for $250, a couple gets the run of the ship, all to themselves.
That exclusive occupancy heightens the fantasy of private "ownership," and, for the owners, whose overheads for maintenance and insurance alone can reduce gross by 20 percent, the extra income stream is welcome.
"We leave the place ship-shape, lay out a great breakfast, and go home," says Kassabian, an electrical engineering major who's installed all the bells and whistles of luxury onboard living — air conditioning, two flat-screen TVs, surround-sound stereo — for his guests' comfort.
For $250, anyone can — albeit without the sailing — experience a world that is normally the province of a privileged few.
Kassabian believes Gloucester overlooks the potential of those privileged few. Private charter sailing, like private charter flying, belongs to a high-end tourist demographic whose numbers may be small. But, he notes, its referral influence and spending power is huge.
"Our customers love great art and great dining," he said.
Estimating his annual customer base at 1,200 to 1,500 for a five-month season — June through October — Kassabian says his 48 feet of floating fiberglass generates six-figure annual revenue for the city's restaurants and galleries.
He also said he welcomes competition.
"Strategically, the high-end charter service sector raises the bar on tourism revenue without making tourism an invasive presence," he said.
Up and down the Eastern Seaboard, he says, quality transitional dockage is key to tourism in seaports that can't sustain year-round hotel occupancy. He counts himself lucky to be in Beacon Marina, but in general, he believes world-class marina dockage is an area in which Gloucester should up the ante.
In terms of waterfront redevelopment, says the businessman-captain, it's the elephant in the room — not to mention, the potential cash cow.
Joann Mackenzie can be reached at 978-283-7000 x3457, or at jomackenzie@gloucestertimes.com.
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