FIVE TIPS TO RELAX, RECHARGE
ON A BOAT THIS SUMMER
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JULY 10-JULY 16, 2020 19
Looking to get away this
summer while social
distancing? With annual
traditions such as
camps and sporting events
cancelled or postponed, the
best way to seek relief and recharge
with your loved ones
may be to “Get On Board” for
a summer on the water.
Recent data suggests that
interest in fishing and boating
has grown amidst the
COVID-19 pandemic. According
to a recent Harris poll, 1
in 5 Americans said they’re
more likely to try these activities
than they were prior
to the pandemic. And among
parents, the statistic is 1 in 4.
Numerous marine dealers
across the country are reporting
strong spring sales with
consumers eager to get on the
water, and Discover Boating,
the nation’s consumer boating
resource, is seeing record
growth in consumer web traffic
and boat searches, signifying
a high demand for closeto
home recreation.
With boating restrictions
lifting nationwide and the
COVID-19 response dictating
where and how far people can
travel, boating and fishing are
ideal activities to de-stress
and unwind, while naturally
allowing you to abide by social
distancing guidelines.
“The outdoors is a welcome
remedy to stress and
anxiety,” said Dr. Sue Varma,
a nationally recognized psychiatrist.
“Being in nature
supports each of the four ‘M’s
of mental health: mindfulness,
mastery, meaningful
engagement and movement.
In particular, being on the water
encourages mindfulness
by helping you get away from
distractions, it supports mastery
by teaching you a new
skill, it provides meaningful
engagement through quality
time with others you may be
quarantining with, and it promotes
physical movement by
getting you outside without
requiring a strenuous workout.
From a psychiatrist’s
perspective, it’s a smart way
to follow social distancing
guidelines while prioritizing
your health and wellness.”
There are several easy
ways to go boating or fishing,
whether you’re ready to
buy a boat, test the waters
aboard different vessels, or
seek solace fishing on water
or ashore. Here are tips from
Discover Boating to help you
find your way to the water
this summer.
Purchase your dream
boat. Chart your own course
to boat ownership by visiting
DiscoverBoating.com, where
you’ll find a boat finder and
loan calculator tool to help
determine your budget and
identify the different types
of boats that fit your lifestyle
and interests. The site
can connect you with manufacturers
whose boats best
fit your needs and wants,
plus learn about new boat
shopping processes during
COVID-19.
Join a boat club. Find a
boat club near you to access
a variety of boats. You’ll pay
a monthly fee and be able
book your time on the water
online. Most boat clubs take
care of docking, cleaning,
maintenance, and boat training
courses, which all follow
new CDC and social distancing
guidelines.
Rent a boat. Rental options
are available on most
waterways and provide hourly,
daily or weekly access to a
variety of boat types. Rental
outfitters give tutorials on operating
a boat, provide safety
instruction and offer suggestions
on destinations.
Share a boat. Another
rental option is peer-to-peer
boat rentals. You can search
by location or type of boat.
Peer-to-peer rental services
have tens of thousands of different
boats available across
the nation. You simply connect
with the owner, find out
what sort of gear is aboard
the boat and included in the
rental, and other details,
and then hit the water. Most
arrangements for boat sharing
are made on an app or
via computer, minimizing
personal contact and eliminating
the need to enter an
office. You can also inquire
with the owners about their
boat cleaning and sharing
procedures to ensure a
healthy transaction.
Go fish. There are thousands
of bodies of water where
you can cast a line. TakeMe-
Fishing.org is an all-in-one
resource to help anyone get
started fishing in minutes.
Features on the site include
how-to guides, an interactive
map of places to fish near you,
and water access updates to
help you fish safely while social
distancing. You can even
purchase your fishing license
on the site.
Whether you’re ready to
purchase a boat or simply
test the waters this summer,
all marine businesses have
new standard operating procedures
following CDC guidelines
to ensure the well-being
of boaters and their staff. This
includes personal protective
equipment, socially distant
classroom and on-water training,
and enhanced sanitation
protocol of boats.
Visit DiscoverBoating.
com for a host of resources
and tips for getting on the
water, boat shopping, safe
practices amid the pandemic,
public access maps and more.
Planning to “Get On Board”
this summer? Use the social
media hashtag #TheWater-
IsOpen to share your boating
and fishing moments.
— BPT
/QNS.COM
/DiscoverBoating.com
/Fishing.org
