Chain of Lakes Breeze August 2020

INSIDE • Boating is booming • Tips for tubing • Vacay on the water

AUGUST 2020 • VOL. 7 NO. 3

Breeze Chain O’ Lakes

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CHAIN O’ LAKES BREEZE AUGUST 2020

Boating is BOOMING How to ride the wave of demand and get top dollar for your boat Not only is it peak boating season, but the impact of COVID-19 has inspired a renewed interest in boats from coast-tocoast as people start getting outside and enjoying the water while maintaining social distancing.

Boat Trader – boating’s largest online marketplace – confirmed this spike in demand in all regions across the country and reported that their traffic in the second quarter jumped 74% over 2019. Even areas less known for boating are seeing recordhigh listing engagement. What’s more, all boat types, new and used, are experiencing a buying boom with center consoles, pontoons, and ski/wake boats among the most popular segments in terms of lead volume.

Because many boat manufacturers around the world were forced to reduce or halt production in the wake of the global pandemic, the current rise in market activity suggests there will be tighter inventory later in the year. As interest in boating shows no signs of slowing and supply shrinks as new boaters buy boats, the time is ripe for current boat owners to ride this wave of demand and sell and upgrade now before a possible waiting period for new models sets in.

What do surging boat sales mean for boats currently sitting in driveways?

Buyers are snapping up affordable inventory: Right now, as historic numbers of people are looking to buy a boat, marketplace insight shows the highest demand is for vessels priced under $25,000, followed by boats under $50,000.

Sale prices are up According to data from Boat Trader, in May and June the average sale price per boat sold in the used, under 26-foot category, increased 5.24% – more than

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Picture perfect – Upload multiple photos to your boat listing and post the best photo first to encourage maximum engagement. The “sweet spot” falls between 11 and 25 photos, and in these times of social distancing, share video tours. Listings Families want to go boating with video tours see more activity than Americans, to the tune of more than 10 those without. million boat shoppers per month, are relying Market price – Position your boat as the on the convenience of technology more catch of the day with competitive pricing. than ever to get on the water. For a minimal To determine an accurate price range for price, you can sell your boat locally on Boat your boat, look at listings for similar boats Trader and get up to 10 times the exposure in similar condition. For quick research, use of free ads. The site also populates boat the Boat Trader Price Checker tool. specs from the manufacturer, making it easy Be responsive – As the seller, it’s to list and market your boat. important that you build trust with a potential buyer, which can lead to a faster How to sell for top dollar sale and willingness to pay more money.

Beware the buzz – There’s a joke in real Respond within 24 hours – if not sooner – estate about spotting watchwords in listings. to keep interest high and attract that perfect For example, “close to shopping,” could sale. mean you can hear traffic noise from the The bottom line is this: Timing is backyard. Be careful writing a boat listing everything. If selling your boat has crossed with phrases like “custom paint!” or “rebuilt your mind, either in order to upgrade or put engine!” because, without explanations, these money in the bank, the time is now. well-meaning buzzwords can raise red flags.

(BPT) $1,600 – over last year. Though there are many factors that determine the sale price of a boat, like condition, engine hours and age, this trend is yet another signal that demand is strong.

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CHAIN O’ LAKES BREEZE AUGUST 2020

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Boating – The perfect on-demand summer vacation for families If you like the idea of taking an impromptu vacation whenever the whim strikes, Discover Boating says you should be a boat owner.

Whatever your favorite boating activities may be, you probably already know that when you step aboard a boat and cast off the lines, life’s stresses melt away in a heartbeat.

And speaking of heartbeats, it’s been scientifically proven that getting out on the water on a boat promotes a restful state, with various physiological and psychological benefits that we like to refer to as “blue mind.” Not to mention, national surveys have shown that boaters report higher levels of satisfaction in marriage and romance, as well as many other aspects of life.

Boating a vacation on-demand

The bottom line? Boating isn’t merely fun – it’s also good for you and your family in countless ways. It soothes the soul, recharges your internal batteries, and improves your attitude. Think of owning a boat like it was owning your own personal never-ending vacation.

Boating is more affordable than you think.

You might be wondering, if being a boater is so great, wouldn’t everyone out there already own a boat of their own?

Well, if all those people perpetually stuck on dry land knew how great boating was, they probably would.

Then, of course, there is the financial end of things. Hopefully you’ve already

checked out the Discover Boating Boat Loan Calculator, and realized that buying a boat really isn’t very different from buying a motorized vehicle intended for use on land. There is such a thing as affordable boating.

Take a look at these 23 Affordable Entry-Level Boat Models, which may surprise you as many have starting price points at well under $30K, $20K, $10K and even $5K.

Comparing costs

Compare the costs of boating to other vacations. What’s even most surprising for many consumers is how well buying a boat compares with other types of vacationing expenses. Consider the following: • A two-week vacation in the Bahamas will cost a family of five around $10,000, on average. If you vacation once a year for five years, that’s $50,000. There’s also a huge range of very nice bowriders, deckboats, and jet boats large enough to easily fit the entire family – plus several guests – in that price range. But with your own boat you won’t be going back to the same place over and over again, and instead can visit virtually limitless lakes, rivers and bays.

• You can enjoy various watersports; go boat camping; try your hand at freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing and take day cruises.

The list of all the fun activities you can enjoy on each and every mini-vacation never ends—and you can find more activities to do onboard by reading 10

Fun Things You Can Do on a Boat. You’ll never be shoe-horned into a campsite surrounded by crowds of other people, and you’ll be miles away from noisy hotel rooms.

A boat is long-term investment

Another factor to keep in mind is how many days do you think you might use your boat? Those trips to the Bahamas ended up costing you about $714 per day.

But you’re free to use your boat whenever you’d like, and if you use it just 30 times a year the cost per day of fun is less than half that, at $333. Or, it would be if your boat merely disappeared – poof! – like those vacations do. But since you own your boat you eventually gain back its resale value.

As a general rule of thumb (*note that resale value on used boats can vary quite a bit depending on their condition and location) a boat depreciates around 20-percent the year it’s sold, then about 10-percent a year beyond that.

Crunch the math and you’ll find that the $50,000 boat should still be worth something like $26,244 five years after you bought it.

To learn more, be sure to read the Discover Boating guides, Trade-In or Sell Your Boat: What Are Your Options? and How to Sell Your Boat.

Let’s play it safe, and say the boat’s value is half its original cost ($25,000).

When you collect the proceeds from selling it that cost per day of fun also gets halved, which puts the bottom-line number at $166.50 – less than a quarter of the cost

of a day vacationing in the islands. So, what other fun experiences could a family of five have, for $166.50 a day?

Go golfing? Nope. The average fees of $36 per person at a public course add up to $180.

Maybe taking the kids to an amusement park would be fun? For sure, but with an average ticket price of $50 per person plus $10 parking fees, that day at the park will tap you for $260.

How about paintball? Not by a longshot, that shakes out to around $55 per person per day or $275 for the entire family.

What about taking the gang to a baseball game? At an average cost of $65.06, you’re looking at $325.30.

For an NFL game push that up to $150 per person, or $750.

Ouch. Those few hours of fun are probably going to cost a whole lot more than an entire monthly payment on that boat, even if you bought it with no money down.

Is buying a boat the right option for your family? Of course, we do need to realize that there are other expenses associated with all of these vacation options and activities. That includes boats, too, and we wouldn’t want anyone to go into the boating experience without a full comprehension of what’s involved financially.

To get a more complete view of the big picture, be sure to visit the Discover Boating Cost of Boat Ownership page.

Buying a boat is an investment but isn’t much different from taking the family on a series of vacations, putting in an in-ground pool, buying a timeshare, or making a different sort of land-based recreational purchase like a vehicle or a piece of property. Boating offers the chance to enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends potentially every weekend.

DISCOVER BOATING PHOTO The Breeze

See BOATING, Page 4

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Boating is a great family activity as kids (and grownups) of all ages enjoy getting out on the water.

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But when you break out the calculator, remember that each and every recreational activity we’ve mentioned also has peripheral costs associated with it.

And when you get right down to brass tacks, buying a boat isn’t much different from taking the family on a series of vacations, putting in an in-ground pool, buying a timeshare, or making a different sort of land-based recreational purchase like a vehicle or a piece of property.

At least, it isn’t from a financial point of

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view. Because if you want to look at these options from the perspective of which will be the most fun, owning a boat is the winner by a long shot.

It’s also good to remember, if you’re not ready to take the plunge into boat ownership, you do have other options.

From simple full- or half-day boat rentals, to peer-to-peer boat sharing, charters, and even joining a boat club.

For more information, visit discoverboating.com.

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Towing tubes is a great way to get the whole family together on the water, and to inspire a love of the water that can last a lifetime.

Tips for TUBING PHOTO COURTESY OF DISCOVER BOATING The Breeze

Some basics to learn before getting out on the water For many of us, discovering a love of boating and being out on the water started when we were youngsters being pulled on a tube behind the family boat. If that was how you came to love boating, you can probably still remember your first time on a tube. It was glorious, wasn’t it?

Boat tubes started out pretty humbly, with someone lashing one end of a rope to a truck inner tube and the other end to a boat. That’s how water

How to pull a tube behind a boat 1. Ensure you have the proper equipment – life jackets, tow rope, towable tube and a boat.

2. Designate a driver and a spotter.

3. Attach the tow rope to the tube.

4. Tie off the rope to the stern (back) of the boat.

5. Review safety hand signals for

communication between spotter and those riding on the tube.

6. Have fun!

tubing was born.

Water tubes have come a long way since those humble beginnings and we’ll get to what’s new in due time. Tubing water sports is a great entry point to other watersports like kneeboarding and water skiing, but it’s also its own unique niche. Here’s a good leaping off point to set yourself up for a lifetime of fun behind a boat.

Tubing equipment

The best water tubes are those that best meet the needs of your riders. If you’re pulling 4-year-olds, you don’t need a flying tube. You need something safe that your kids will ride and have fun in.

Safety begins with a personal flotation device that fits properly. Kids can fall off tubes, so it’s best that they be wearing a life jacket that stays put.

There are literally hundreds of options, but we also recommend bright colors for kids because it makes them easier to see in the water.

Safety first

Safety also is a big responsibility for the driver, who needs to demonstrate 360-degree awareness and cautious driving. It’s also important to realize that a towable tube swings out wide opposite of the direction you’re turning, so it’s especially important to be aware of shorelines, docks, trees and other boats. The fewer boats that are around when towing kids on a tube, the better.

Of course, there is no tubing without the tube, right? The good news is that there are hundreds of options when choosing a kid’s water tube.

Large specialty retailers like Bass Pro Shops, Overton’s, Bart’s, West Marine, and others offer huge selections that let you get the right tube for the riders you plan to pull.

To pull a tube, you’ll need a tow rope, and they’re sold based on the number of people you’re

See TUBING, Page 7

Tubing FAQs Q. What is tubing in water?

A. Tubing is an entry level water sport that nearly anyone can take part in, from kids to senior citizens. You can tow a tube with nearly any kind of boat, from pontoons, to bowriders and deck boats.

Q. How to keep rope out of water when tubing?

A. Oftentimes, the rope gets submerged in the boat’s wake and results in the rider getting jerked around and maybe bounced off the tube when the slack is removed.

This is a tricky question because there is no way to keep the rope out of the water all the time, but the driver can help minimize the effects by being smooth on and off the throttle and by not carving too tight a turn and churning up a big wake.

Q. How to patch a water tube?

A. Most of the major water sports retailers sell patch kits

for water tubes. It’s a lot like patching a regular inner tube.

Scratch the surface of the rubber around the hole, apply the glue and the patch and let dry. Then, hope it holds.

Q. What to wear water tubing?

A. First and foremost, you need a life jacket, also called a

personal flotation device. Board shorts also are a must and because you might be lying on a tube and hanging on, you also should wear a rash guard, which is a type of shirt that guards your skin against irritation.

Q. Where can I buy water tubes?

A. Your local Target or Walmart might have them during the

summer months, but major online watersports retailers such as Bass Pro Shops, Overton’s, Bart’s and West Marine have large selections of tubes, ropes and life jackets, everything you need—all year long.

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CHAIN O’ LAKES BREEZE AUGUST 2020

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CHAIN O’ LAKES BREEZE AUGUST 2020

• Tubing

(Continued from page 5)

planning to tow, so choose appropriately. Like ski ropes, ropes for tubing have a little “give” to them. In fact, some tow ropes for tubes have a “bungee” function to them, which makes the ride a little more fun if you have riders who can handle it.

Types of boats used for tubing

What makes tubing so great is that you can do it with virtually any kind of boat. From bowriders to deck boats, ski boats and cruisers, anything works. Even pontoon boats with little engines are suitable for towing your little tykes on a tube.

Types of towable tubes

Today’s towable water tubes are more comfortable and usable than ever. They’re also a lot more fun. Some are designed to hold single riders, and some are made for two. You can even buy tubes for three and four riders at a time. Opt for “banana” style tubes and you can pull up to six people at a time.

For more information, visit discoverboating.com.

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