What boat did you learn to boat on? I learned to boat on my family’ s boat growing up. My dad is a captain, and he spent a lot of time teaching me the skills and knowledge needed to run a boat safely and confidently. That experience led me to earn my captain’ s license and continue expanding my experience operating larger and different vessel types. Those early days on the water shaped both my passion for boating and my understanding of seamanship. Where is your favorite place to go boating? The Florida Keys, especially Long Key. My family has made it a tradition to spend time there each year for my dad’ s and I birthday, right around the opening of lobster season. We spend multiple weeks on the water, boating every day, diving and exploring. Those trips have become some of my favorite memories and are a big part of why boating feels both personal and meaningful to me. Who was your hero as a child? My dad was my childhood hero and still is today. He taught me the value of hard work, but also the importance of enjoying life and time on the water. His saying,“ You can’ t take it with you,” shaped how I think about both work and adventure. Watching him balance a strong work ethic with a love for boating and exploring inspired me to pursue a career in the marine industry and continue that same sense of adventure. What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies? I compete in high-level water polo and travel internationally for tournaments, which requires disciplined training and preparation. I also compete in shooting sports, which challenge precision, focus and technical skill. Outside of competition, I enjoy intense fitness training, high-adventure hiking and skydiving. Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry? The marine industry offers a rare combination of engineering challenge, craftsmanship and lifestyle impact in a way few industries can match. You can directly shape products that people use for adventure, family and exploration while working at the intersection of design, technology and safety. For engineers and creatives alike, it’ s a chance to build products that inspire experiences on the water.
CLAYTON CRABTREE
INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC POLICY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, NATIONAL MARINE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
What first drew you to the marine
industry? Growing up in West Virginia, I was obsessed with fishing from an early age- whether it was on a family pond or during a family vacation to the beach, most of my time was spent fishing( not catching). Every annual vacation took us to a beach; I would scoop up all the used boat pamphlets or magazines to see the types of boats for sale and then walk around docks talking about the different brands of boats to anyone that would listen.
What was your first job? I was a laboratory assistant for a cancer researcher at Marshall University. What accomplishments are you most proud of? Advocating with the entire NMMA team throughout 2020 to get the resources, information and policies our members needed to keep their facilities and businesses open during one of the most uncertain periods of time any of us had faced. Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? John McKnight has always been generous with his knowledge and understanding of the industry and issues we have faced over the years. As a young professional, what are the biggest challenges you’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them? Initially, it can feel overwhelming jumping in a place with deep institutional experience, but this industry is filled with many people who want to share what they ' ve learned – all you have to do is be curious and ask questions. How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry? There isn ' t a one-size-fits-all approach. Be yourself. Know your core values and principles and operate every decision through those. How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success? I think in systems – not putting too much weight in the result – and what sort of habits would I build to achieve that end result. For example, I want to run a marathon in six months, but instead of just focusing on that end result, I think about what type of person I would be in six months running a marathon. So, between now and then, I probably need to be disciplined, consistent, eat healthy, exercise routinely and get plenty of sleep. Those habits are unlikely to just go away after that race, and I will continue to practice. I apply that same thinking to goals both professionally and personally. What boat did you learn to boat on? 27-foot Catalina sailboat. Where is your favorite place to go boating? It was my introduction to boating, so the Florida Keys. Who was your hero as a child? My dad, and it just so happens he introduced me to the industry. What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies? Any activity with my wife and daughter, especially fishing, hiking and biking. Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry? In its simplest form, every day you try to make it a little easier to get more people out on the water, which sounds like a pretty fun career to me.
14 march 2026 www. boatingindustry. com