Is inland sailing declining?

[Ned Strain]

To Jason and Bob

We, too, used to live in CR and now sail out of Chicago (Montrose). Ned and Tani Strains/v Family Therapy 1995 h336

 

[Before the Bell]

To: Rich

Well, number one, 5%-6% may be accurate but sailing although now a recreation for even the lower classes such as myself, is still a majority among the wealthy. Go to any affluent harbor as oppose to an average middleclass harbor/town. If you travel for instance to Marion Mass., you will find sailboats to be a majority (weathly community) if you were to travel to my hometown (Plymouth-middleclass) you would see a majority of power boat owners. In regards to small sailboat sailing, travel to Dartmouth, MA and you will see small sailboat racing 10-15' class. Last weekend I must have seen at least 300 hundred small sailors around the NBYC. As far as the luxury tax is concern, it may have had an effect initially to boating however I don't see it in my community. On the East Coast real estate prices have gone up so much that homeowners have taken cash out and purchased a boat. Some of these boats are massive to the ratio of salary these people make. Some have gone out and purchase boats of upwards of $150-300,000.00 on a salary of $70,000.00!! Boating is a thriving business in my area and marinas and suppliers could take you or leave you considering how many customers they have!

 

[Roger1250]

mid continent sailing

I just recently joind a yacht club at a lake approximately 1.5 x 14 miles in size. The club has about 30 slips, most of which are sailboats, and many of those are keelboats. We only have a ramp, no crane or lift. I think perhaps there are a half dozen power boaters using slips, all others are day use with the ramp.This club holds races every two weeks throughout the summer, and there is a demand for more slips, as new boaters (mostly sail) try to get in.I'm not exactly sure what this club is doing right, but my suspicion is that location has a lot to do with it, although it is 40 minutes from the closest urban center.From my perspective, this club is growing inspite of the national (or international) trend.