It didn’t take me very many years into my life to discover boating. When I was a kid my parents had a boat share (that’s a thing, right?); they went in on a boat with some friends. They shared the payment, the time, and the fun. What fun summers we had in that boat! We went to Lake Havasu a couple times. We cruised under the London Bridge and all over the lake. I remember “learning” to ski. My dad got my siblings and me a pair of Snoopy skis. They were tied together in the front and in the back so your legs get pulled into that awkward V that often happens when you’re learning to ski.
Our boat was a bowrider, I loved riding up front in the bow as my dad sped through the water. One year when I was around 9 we took our boat and camped at Lake Havasu. My brother and I decided to camp in the bow of the boat. Unfortunately, there were some nasty raccoons who had other ideas. Scared the living daylights out of my brother and me!
Having spent so much time on the water as a kid, feeling the sea or lake wind blow in my face not only brings back great memories, it feels so liberating!! I absolutely love being out on the water. It would be a dream for my kids to experience the water the way I did as a kid.
A few weekends ago were were at Lake Granbury, in Texas, visiting my uncle and his family. We got the chance to take a quick spin on his boat…
The next day was filled with canoe rides and my uncle took each of my boys out on their first personal watercraft ride! It was my 8 year old’s birthday and he was so excited!
“Best birthday EVER!!!” he exclaimed several times that day.
I hope that we can continue to give our kids experiences like this! What a fun weekend we spent.
Here is a few interesting stats about boats I didn’t know before:
• Boats are uniquely made in America: 94.9% of powerboats sold in the U.S. are made in the U.S.
• There were an estimated 12 million registered boats in the U.S. in 2014.
• 95% of boats on the water (powerboats, personal watercraft, and sailboats) in the U.S. are small in size at less than 26 feet—boats that can be trailered by a vehicle to local waterways.
• Boating is primarily a middle-class lifestyle as 71.5% of American boat owners have a household income less than $100,000.
Source: National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) 2014 U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract
If you’re looking for more info about boats and boating, check out Discover Boating! Discover Boating is the U.S. recreational boating industry’s nonprofit awareness program to help people get on the water to experience the fun of boating. For those looking to get their feet wet, DiscoverBoating.com is an unbiased online resource to explore the enjoyment and accessibility of the boating lifestyle.
If you’re like me, it is just fun to look around at all the different boats and dream, even if you’re not actually in the market for a boat…yet.
If you’re not ready to own a boat yet, this Get Out On the Water Tool shows you all the different ways you can access boats in your local area without having to own your own boat! I’ll definitely be coming back to this tool later!
What is/would be your ideal way to spend a day out on the water? Which boat would you choose?
About Amy @ Oh So Savvy Mom
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