Boat Sales are Surging as People Seek Safe Recreation During Pandemic
“We’ve literally had a wait as many as six people deep today, on a Friday. On the weekends, it can get pretty hectic”
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 Pandemic
The 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, traffic
Boat 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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Just wait until some leftoid starts bitching that the friction from all those boats is wearing down our water.
I really DID “lol” at that comment. Thanks for the good laugh.
Even worse, most of the wear is occurring on the surface which is where flotation takes place. They will eventually have to ban swimming.
I forgot to add to my comment above: the hulls rubbing on the water causes the water to heat up, contributing to global warming.
off-topic here, but thought you’d find this interesting:
https://www.theepochtimes.com/arizona-sheriff-gets-overwhelming-response-to-citizens-posse_3457824.html
I don’t understand why anyone would have a problem with this. It’s not exactly what I have been calling for but it’s squarely in that area. I’m calling for a police-supervised defense of the neighborhoods by those neighborhoods’ residents under the castle doctrine and 2nd amendment. A massive show of arms to deter any threat of invasion. As with your link, it would free up the police to do the dirty work and shrink the possible “combat” zone to where the police can contain the threat.
Bike sales are also surging. Very limited stock in sizes 54cm and up. Currently 4-6 month delay in getting a replacement in event of crash.
Easy solution: get a 21” one. ;-{)}}}
the Recreational level bikes and the lower end road bikes are not as short in supply as the competitive level bikes. If the bike size is listed in inches, then it will be a recreational level bike.
Good enough for me,
Just about anything with outdoor recreation. Try getting a bike, trampoline, kayak or paddle board. Impossible.
A bit surprised by boats as they are a huge money pit anywhere up north. The season is so short and its so hard to find docking space or a mooring anywhere.
“A boat is a hole in the water into which you pour in money.”
But, it does depend if the boat is motor or sail. I have a few sailboats and the major expense is the annual boat permits, fees for the boat slip, minor maintenance supplies, insurance. Of course, every few years there is an upgrade with new sails, lines, and for some racers, those collision repairs when they can’t seem to remember the basic right of way rules.
I am reeeeeeally looking forward the forthcoming NYT or WaPo article:
“Yachts: Longtime Symbol Of White Supremacy”
That will kill sales among the woker-than-thou klan.
Yep, we’ve been out on the lake a ton this summer… on average twice a week I think. Every weekend looks like the Fourth of July with tons of boats on the water. Not a lot of Karen’s on the lake.
Incidentally, I read a similar article about swimming pools, and as I write this I am listening to the sounds of two jack-hammers… the neighbors behind us and the neighbors next to us are both having pools installed. And mind you, our neighborhood sits on an outcropping of solid limestone… I’m about to go crazy… time to go on the lake again.
Not mentioned in the article, fuel prices are lower now as well
Wind is free – though not as reliable in certain months. In OK, we joke that we average 15 mph, though it is usually zero or 30mph.
But the winds have been fair this season, the lake levels are up (we have a full lake in August!! I have seen the harbor dry in drought years.)
Our crew problem is that we are getting older with one with a broken arm (slipped on a wet deck), another with many years of military aches, and me with bad knees. Our racing years are on the decline, but we’ll just go out for the fun sails.
Above ground swimming pools are rarer than hen’s teeth here in the upper-midwest.
1 Chronicles 16:11
“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.”
Awesome!
I bet there will be some great deals on slightly used boats and RVs come next year!
Been looking for an RV but prices are high and availability is low. September 2021 should be ideal.
BOAT = Break Out Another Thousand.
(Always fun watching new boat owners at the boat ramp. Brand new boat and trailer and a vehicle not fit for pulling it up the ramp.)
LOL, that was me in my early 20’s. As soon as I got my first “real” job I bought a house as soon as I could. Then I bought my first boat (grew up on my Dad’s boat). Then I realized the old beater I’d been driving since college could barely tow the boat. Priorities.
Around here it’s not just a wet boat ramp that’s the problem, but one covered with seaweed, barnacles and the like. May as well hose it down with WD40.
There’s a shallow bay near us, protected by the spit, that stranded a new boater for 10 hours last season. The tide was barely high enough to launch and when the boater returned 2 hours later, there was 100 yards of mudflat between his boat and the ramp. Rather than motor around the horn to the marina and hail a taxi to fetch his boat and trailer, the captain instead beached her. One of the guys in a bright yellow slicker sat on the gunnel, arms folded angrily, and occasionally swatting at the squadron of seagulls that were strafing them. Wife and I chuckled all the way through our picnic lunch.
The bay I used to mess around in had so many flats that “boating” meant walking through the shallows pulling a boat behind. There’s nothing quite like stepping on a skate when you expect a nice foothold on sand—a bit like a bathroom carpet made of sandpaper which tries to escape while you’re standing on it. For a good laugh take a look at the place on Google Maps. Search for “Little Pleasant Bay” and select Satellite View—best collection of sandbars this side of the Hackensack River. I had a great time as a kid.
It’s a wonder we made it to adulthood! 😉
While waiting to get the boat back on the trailer one night a bunch of us were just circling waiting our turn. New guy with a nice cruiser had just put
his brand new boat in the water. We watched as he turned around to be sure he was clear then pushed the throttle ahead full.
The screech and white marks on the cement were hilarious. The laughing echoed around the area for a while. I’m sure he was in tears knowing he’d ruined the hull and would need some special help getting the boat off the ramp.
Was going to wait until next year to list ours.. but you’ve inspired me to list it now.
geeze- got a legit response in an hour….
I have a wake boat that I paid 105k for 3 years ago. I’ve been offered 110k. Just stopped by the dealer today, and he said that there are still plenty of spots for ordering for next year, but Covid could always slow down production.
Given that there is less than a month of boating left here for this yeae, I’m seriously considering listing it at 120k. If someone wants to pay that, I’m happy to take the chance.
Biden, Harris, Obama, Clinton, Pelosi and Kerry are on Kerry’s yacht, when it begins to sink.
Who gets saved?
The free world.