People who have been trapped in their homes for months, and looking for a form of recreation that allows social distancing are increasingly turning to boating.
Some areas are reporting a massive spike in boat sales. It’s a win for people and the economy.
On the west coast, John Carroll reports at KPBS News:
RV, Boat Sales Spike Amidst PandemicThe coronavirus pandemic has meant changes of all kinds in how we live our lives. That includes vacationing.Lots of people don’t want to get on a plane, train or bus. That may be what’s behind a big increase in the sales of RVs and boats.The Vice President and General Manager of RV Solutions in Kearny Mesa, Matt Leffingwell, has been in the RV business for 25 years. He said he’s never seen anything like this.“We’ve literally had a wait as many as six people deep today, on a Friday. On the weekends, it can get pretty hectic,” Leffingwell said.That scenario is playing itself out at RV dealerships across the country. Sales were already doing well. Figures from the RV Industry Association show a nearly 11% jump from June of last year. But they’ve really taken off since the pandemic hit.“It’s not just the vacation, but even just traveling. (People are) going to go back and stay in New York for a month to visit family. They don’t want to fly. And how else do you do it?” said Leffingwell.
On the east coast, Courtney Carter reports at WPRI News:
Pandemic leads to increase in boat sales, trafficBoat shop owners in Rhode Island say they’ve seen a boom in business lately and it’s due, at least in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic.Mike Farman, a yacht broker at Brewer Yacht Sales in Warwick, says sales for anything water- related, including boats, jet skis, and yachts, have taken off since the pandemic hit.He believes being on the water is a way for people to get out of the house while staying socially distant.“This year is busier than I can ever remember,” Farman said. “What’s happening this year that’s different than most is, of course, the virus, and that’s causing people to do different things with the rest of their lives and certainty their summer.”Farman said he’s seen a lot of people without a job due to the virus, now with a lot more time on their hands.“The people that are older and either retiring or forced to be furloughed, and they always had a dream of boating, so its a perfect opportunity to shelter in place with loved ones,” he said. “The younger folks, they’re not in school, some of them are laid off and half the family is not working, and they need to do something safe with the family, so they made a decision to buy a boat and live their dream.”
Here’s a video report on this phenomenon from the Associated Press:
One aspect of boating that is likely playing a role here is the freedom it affords one.
After months of crazy lockdowns and rules, people are starved to get out and feel like they can be independent and have some fun.
This is also probably contributing to the rise of the Trumptilla rallies.
Featured image via YouTube.
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