A modular boat concept as a response to marina berth scarcity: A two-phase qualitative consumer study

Serim Paker; Artun Tomatır

doi:10.33714/masteb.1934790

A modular boat concept as a response to marina berth scarcity: A two-phase qualitative consumer study

Abstract

Türkiye possesses extensive coastlines along the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Sea, yet recreational boat ownership among domestic users remains limited. Marina berth scarcity and high mooring costs constitute documented structural barriers to boat ownership, while storage and transportation constraints further suppress participation in recreational boating. This study aims to identify the product requirements of a portable, easily storable, affordable, and simple-to-build do-it-yourself (DIY) boat concept for potential recreational boaters in Türkiye. An iterative two-phase qualitative research design was employed: twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted prior to prototype construction (Phase 1), and six interviews were conducted following prototype exposure (Phase 2). Interview transcripts were analyzed using MAXQDA, yielding 551 coded segments across eight thematic codes. Co-occurrence analysis reveals that usage purpose alignment is the primary determinant of product acceptance, while portability, storability, and safety are unanimously positive attributes with no association with rejection. Price is predominantly a positive factor, and consumer heterogeneity in propulsion and configuration preferences provides empirical support for a modular design approach. The findings offer an empirical foundation for the development of a DIY boat concept as a practical response to the structural barriers constraining recreational boat ownership in Türkiye.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This work was supported by Dokuz Eylül University Scientific Research Coordination Unit. Project Number: SKB-2023-3183

Project Number

SKB-2023-3183

Ethical Statement

The study has been approved by the Dokuz Eylül University Social and Human Sciences Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee (E-87347630-659-299893) and has been conducted in accordance with accepted ethical standards.

Thanks

This work was supported by Dokuz Eylül University Scientific Research Coordination Unit. Project Number: SKB-2023-3183

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Business Systems in Context (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Serim Paker
0000-0002-8931-9039
Türkiye

Artun Tomatır ^*
0000-0001-5753-3148
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

September 3, 2026

Publication Date

-

Submission Date

April 21, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 3, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication

DOI

https://doi.org/10.33714/masteb.1934790

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA97LA84YZ

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Paker, S., & Tomatır, A. (2026). A modular boat concept as a response to marina berth scarcity: A two-phase qualitative consumer study. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin, Advanced Online Publication, 205-221. https://doi.org/10.33714/masteb.1934790

AMA

1.Paker S, Tomatır A. A modular boat concept as a response to marina berth scarcity: A two-phase qualitative consumer study. Mar. Sci. Tech. Bull. 2026;(Advanced Online Publication):205-221. doi:10.33714/masteb.1934790

Chicago

Paker, Serim, and Artun Tomatır. 2026. “A Modular Boat Concept As a Response to Marina Berth Scarcity: A Two-Phase Qualitative Consumer Study”. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin, no. Advanced Online Publication: 205-21. https://doi.org/10.33714/masteb.1934790.

EndNote

Paker S, Tomatır A (September 1, 2026) A modular boat concept as a response to marina berth scarcity: A two-phase qualitative consumer study. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin Advanced Online Publication 205–221.

IEEE

[1]S. Paker and A. Tomatır, “A modular boat concept as a response to marina berth scarcity: A two-phase qualitative consumer study”, Mar. Sci. Tech. Bull., no. Advanced Online Publication, pp. 205–221, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.33714/masteb.1934790.

ISNAD

Paker, Serim - Tomatır, Artun. “A Modular Boat Concept As a Response to Marina Berth Scarcity: A Two-Phase Qualitative Consumer Study”. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin. Advanced Online Publication (September 1, 2026): 205-221. https://doi.org/10.33714/masteb.1934790.

JAMA

1.Paker S, Tomatır A. A modular boat concept as a response to marina berth scarcity: A two-phase qualitative consumer study. Mar. Sci. Tech. Bull. 2026;:205–221.

MLA

Paker, Serim, and Artun Tomatır. “A Modular Boat Concept As a Response to Marina Berth Scarcity: A Two-Phase Qualitative Consumer Study”. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin, no. Advanced Online Publication, Sept. 2026, pp. 205-21, doi:10.33714/masteb.1934790.

Vancouver

1.Serim Paker, Artun Tomatır. A modular boat concept as a response to marina berth scarcity: A two-phase qualitative consumer study. Mar. Sci. Tech. Bull. 2026 Sep. 1;(Advanced Online Publication):205-21. doi:10.33714/masteb.1934790