Here's a significant tidbit from the article:

Hinckley’s revenue in 2008 was roughly $100 million and taxable income was about $4 million.

4% return. That's a LITTLE low for the marine industry, but not much. Basically, it's an industry that doesn't make economic sense. People do it because they love it, not because they can't figure out more profitable uses of time and money.

So they can hang on the way they have been doing it, by not being a "real" industry in the sense of one that must make a profit proportionate to the risk involved.

You too can make a small fortune in the marine industry. Just start with a large one and go to work!