FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JULY 2, 2020 • HEALTH • THE QUEENS COURIER 29
health
Five tips on how you can relax and
recharge on a boat this summer
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
fi shing 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 traffi c and boat
searches, signifying a high demand for
close-to-home recreation.
With boating restrictions lift ing nationwide
and the COVID-19 response dictating
where and how far people can travel,
boating and fi shing are ideal activities
to de-stress and unwind, while naturally
allowing you to abide by social distancing
guidelines.
“Th e 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.”
Th ere are several easy ways to go boating
or fi shing, whether you’re ready to
buy a boat, test the waters aboard diff erent
vessels, or seek solace fi shing on water
or ashore. Here are tips from Discover
Boating to help you fi nd 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
fi nd a boat fi nder and loan calculator tool
to help determine your budget and identify
the diff erent types of boats that fi t
your lifestyle and interests. Th e site can
connect you with manufacturers whose
boats best fi t 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 outfi tters
give tutorials on operating a boat, provide
safety instruction and off er suggestions
on destinations.
Share a boat. Another rental option
is peer-to-peer boat rentals. You can
search by location or type of boat. Peerto
peer rental services have tens of thousands
of diff erent boats available across
the nation. You simply connect with the
owner, fi nd 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 offi ce. You can also inquire
with the owners about their boat cleaning
and sharing procedures to ensure a
healthy transaction.
Go fi sh. Th ere are thousands of bodies
of water where you can cast a line.
TakeMeFishing.org is an all-in-one
resource to help anyone get started fi shing
in minutes. Features on the site include
how-to guides, an interactive map of places
to fi sh near you, and water access
updates to help you fi sh safely while social
distancing. You can even purchase your
fi shing 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 . Th is 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
#Th eWaterIsOpen to share your boating
and fi shing moments.
— BPT
/DiscoverBoating.com
/DiscoverBoating.com
/WWW.QNS.COM
/TakeMeFishing.org
