Hi gang, Rick Ostler here from North American Waterway bringing you Used Pontoon Boats along with news and views from the boating industry.
Boating enthusiasts say there's nothing more relaxing on a summer day than going out on the boat.
The sun is on your face and the wind is blowing through your hair while you're on the water. Whether it's one with a motor, sails or pontoons, boating is incredibly popular.It's late afternoon at the Mactaquac Marina and boats of all shapes and sizes are docked.
Within the next couple of hours, people will make the 20-minute drive from Fredericton, leaving all work and worry behind as they head out on the headpond for a few hours of boating until dusk.
Gary Morehouse works at the marina. Despite rising fuel costs, he sees even more boats at the marina.Morehouse himself owns a boat and says it's a wonderful way to spend time with your family and friends."We meet up with our friends who all own boats too. We get together and waterski.
Then we will tie our boats together and spend the day on the water.
"He estimates he spends about $100 for the fuel needed for a weekend on the water. But in his opinion, it's well worth the price for fun time with his family. Larry Jewett manages the marina. He also operates a houseboat rental business from there.
While the cost of fuel isn't stopping people from putting their powerboats in the water, he says, he's seen a change in how they are using them."People with the big boats don't go fast because of the fuel costs. We see them being used more like a recreational vehicle on the water. "They will drive them slower and go shorter distances. Then they will stop and anchor wherever they are and stay for the night or an entire weekend.
What's growing in popularity, he says, are pontoon party boats which, he explains, are very fuel-efficient.
For those who aren't prepared to make the financial commitment of owning a boat, he says, there is a growing interest in renting boats for a few days.
Jewett loves to be on the water too, but now that the two houseboats he owns are in use by those who rent them, he says he isn't getting out on the water as much as he'd like."We're a little depressed because it's fully booked from now until mid-August. We love the houseboat. It's a floating cottage and it cruises along at 10 miles an hour. It's a lot of fun."The reason boating on the St. John River at the Mactaquac headpond is so popular, he says, is because this is a wonderful waterway with deep water and nothing to worry about such as sandbars and rocks.
Whether it's a boat with an inboard engine and lots of horsepower or a vessel that relies entirely on Mother Nature, boating in all forms is a thrill for those with love being on the water on hot, sunny days.For Bruce and Beatrice Messer, the fun begins when their pontoon boat leaves the dock.
The couple and the rest of their family often take the party boat on the water before lunch and will stay for the day."Most times we will stay out until sunset. We'll take a lunch and refreshments and lots of sunscreen," says Bruce Messer.A canopy provides shade for those who don't want to get too much sun. The Messers will anchor and swim right from the boat.
"If we get tired of one lake, we can put it on the trailer and take it to other lakes. I've got an ambition to take it on the St. John River."They bought this boat nine years ago. Back then there were very few of them in use, he says. They are growing in popularity because they are family-friendly and fuel-efficient, he says.He motors up to a dock and opens the door so several passengers can come aboard.This is like a floating living room and very comfortable. It's all about comfort, not speed.
Pontoon boats are also secure in rough water, Messer explains.
"They are wide and they ride the crest of the waves. We can go out on the roughest days and it's fun."Messer says he understands why many people are turning to these as their boat of choice for a weekend on the water because they are not too expensive to run for a weekend.
He estimates he spends about $60 to $70 to run this boat all weekend. Some people use them like houseboats. Before this boat, Messer owned a small aluminum fishing boat, a bass boat and a 16-foot pontoon boat. And soon, he says, he would like to try sailing."Any time on the water, in any kind of boat, is fun as long as you use your head about it and you do it safely.
"For Steven and Danielle Harrison, the thrill is in the power of the wind as they slice through the water on their 19-foot sailboat. It's wonderful to be on the water with only the sound of the wind and wildlife all around them, they say.This couple also does a lot of canoeing and kayaking, using their muscles to power them through the water. It's a great way to experience the water and a great upper body workout too, she says."We much prefer to enjoy the water without the noise of engines and the smell of gas fumes.
It's better for us and for the environment."According to a national survey, conducted by Angus Reid Strategies for Discover Boating, 68 per cent of Canadian boaters believe that boating relieves their stress."Boating is a great social activity that can help people bond with those they are closest to," says Lindsay J. Rennie, marketing director, Discover Boating, NMMA Canada."There is something undeniably romantic about being out on the water with that special someone. Boating can set the mood for total relaxation." Thanks to;
dailygleaner.com - Out on the water
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