Hi gang, Rick Ostler here from North American Waterway bringing you Used Pontoon Boats along with news and views from the boating industry. From canoes and kayaks to bikes and boats, summer is the time of the season for fun-time, tri-state businesses.Perhaps surprisingly, high fuel prices haven't affected sales at three local recreation boat dealerships.
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Hawkeye Boat Sales in Dubuque
A.J. Becker, of Hawkeye Boat Sales in Dubuque, noted that as of May 1, sales were up 2 percent from last year.Becker believes the trend now is to vacation closer to home. "People aren't going to Disney World, or places like that," he said. Instead, people are investing in boats, spending time with their families on the Mississippi River and the recreational opportunities it offers, Becker said.
Hawkeye offers pontoon boat rentals
For those who want to enjoy the river, but don't want to buy a boat, Hawkeye offers pontoon boat rentals -- an eight-hour excursion with a driver to boot.At nearby American Marine at the Dubuque Yacht Basin, Bob Runberg points out his 275-slip marina is more than 96 percent full. It boasts $60,000 in remodeled rest rooms and a popular restaurant, Catfish Charlie's. The boat business, he adds, is "very" bullish, with interest Advertisementrates conducive to buying.
"A lot of it is positive thinking," Runberg said. "People need to relax, and they do it by boating and enjoying their families. People who want to go get away do it in their boats.
Wakeen's Family Boating Center in East Dubuque
"What surprises Lynnette Kettle, across the river at Wakeen's Family Boating Center in East Dubuque, Ill., is the number of people coming in buying new or used boats for the first time. Kettle echoes what Runberg says: the Mississippi is to boating what Dubuque is to turkey and dressing sandwiches and euchre."It is a family hobby," she said. The weather's been against us and the high water hasn't helped. It makes that itch a little harder to scratch."If the river is in you, you will get out there one way or another.
Fever River Outfitters in Galena, Ill
"For the outdoor enthusiast who opts for the quiet plink plunk of a paddle, Fever River Outfitters in Galena, Ill., offers a number of options in canoes and kayaks. It sells (and rents) canoes, kayaks and all types of paddling accessories to go with. Fever River offers 20 percent off any accessory to customers who purchase a boat.
Fever River manager Debra Malone said the season has been an odd one."It's started out unusually slow, and I give all the credit to Mother Nature," she said. "She's given us a hefty base of snow, followed by a nice steady consistent two months of rain."With that being said, we expect everyone's had enough of the wet weather and are more than ready to spend time outdoors in the sunshine.
Fever River Outfitters offers canoe and kayak rentals on the Galena River
"For five years now, Fever River Outfitters has offered canoe and kayak rentals on the Galena River and the backwaters of the Mississippi River. This year the business has expanded its number of paddling events.Its popular "Birdwatching on the Backwaters" kayak tour is now being offered at 10 a.m. every Sunday.
Fever River also added some new combination paddling events, such as the "Mississippi Adventure Days," a seven-mile paddle to Chestnut Mountain, followed by a hike on the mountain, lunch and a nine-mile bike ride back to Galena.For those who want to get outside, but aren't into human-propelled recreation, Fever River offers scooter rentals.
Malone said the most popular rental is the "Scooter to the Vineyard" tour.With advance reservations, customers can ride motorized 50 cc scooters on 12 miles of remote country roads to the Galena Cellars Vineyard. Once there, they enjoy free wine tasting, relax, then get shuttled for a ride back to town.Like boating, bicycling remains a staple recreational activity in the tri-state area.
Bike Shack Cycling & Fitness
Philip Wagner, of The Bike Shack Cycling & Fitness, said he's had a good spring. People are bringing in their bicycles for repairs."The weather has been interesting, of course, and with the exception of shorter weekends, overall the season has been great," he said.The Bike Shack has seen a slight increase in mountain and hybrid bike sales."Commuting in other communities with flatter terrain, it's a little bit more of a trend," Wagner said.
"Gas prices would have to get very high for people to ride up and down the streets and hills of Dubuque."For those buying a new bike, it's pretty easy. The Bike Shack has a computerized fitting system that matches customers with a bicycle that's comfortable and efficient in any kind of terrain or weather.
Like the Bike Shack, business has been brisk all spring at Free Flight Bikes, Skis & Fitness, on Dubuque's West End, according to the shop's owner."Even when the weather was bad, people had cabin fever," said Free Flight owner and operator Brian Walsh. "As soon as the weather broke, even I was amazed at the unprecedented number of people talking about commuting with $4-a-gallon gas."Walsh notes, commuting aside, recreational use is a given and rarely changes."Cycling is a pretty social activity to do with other people," he said. "Riding with friends and family is fun."Parrish Marugg, of Bicycle World, 1072 Central Ave., concluded there is nothing like the sun to bring out the riders -- the same could be said of boating, too."When it's nice and sunny, you want to ride," he said. "Cold and rainy, no." Thanks to CRAIG D. REBER TH staff writer for this. TH - Business Article
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