| Recreational boating has been tipped as the | | | | etc. Overseas buyers, due to the weak dollar, see |
| measure by which a looming recession can be | | | | a 'Made in America' boat as a superior purchase. |
| predicted. When boat sales begin to sink, take | | | | A good proportion of boat owners comes from |
| care elsewhere, is the general pointer. | | | | the group of people who have annual incomes of |
| One reason behind this is that recreational boating | | | | less than $999,999. The boats they own are |
| is seen to be something people do with their | | | | small, less than 25' in length. |
| disposable income. No disposable income, no | | | | Financing a boat, especially in 2009, was |
| buying a boat. | | | | extremely difficult and many manufacturers went |
| President Obama recently remarked that: "...You | | | | out of business, their stock being bought up at |
| don't go buying a boat when you can barely pay | | | | low prices by their competitors. Visitors to the |
| your mortgage". The remark was taken up by | | | | recent Boating Shows have found bargains which |
| the NMMA (National Marine Manufacturers | | | | they were not expecting, some of which would |
| Association) who pointed out that boating is | | | | have been the stock in question which was sold |
| actually a healthy family entertainment. Healthy | | | | on at now profitable prices. |
| because it gets you out of doors. Family because | | | | One overlooked area regarding boating is that |
| there is something for everyone and new skills to | | | | even a recession can provide an opportunity for |
| be learnt. If you value these, then you will not | | | | an intrepid DIY boat builder, or even small boat |
| consider yourself to be spending money on | | | | owner, who finds much to enjoy out of doors. |
| frivolities. | | | | Find out where wild waterfowl can be spotted in |
| The boat-building industry is also one of the few | | | | your local area and offer to act as a guide with |
| manufacturing-based businesses, which exports, in | | | | your boat to where they may be seen. There is |
| the USA. It contributes over one hundred billion | | | | a website - wetlands dot com which is one place |
| dollars to the economy, a fair proportion of which | | | | to start. |
| the government receives as revenue from taxes | | | | |