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

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.