MIAMI BEACH - Wandering through the "Mother of All Boat Shows," it didn't take long before I found myself lost.
The annual Miami International Boat Show has 2,300 marine manufacturers displaying the latest the industry has to offer. With more than 2.5-million square feet of exhibition space, the show offers everything from megayachts to portable floating docks.
Spend a few hours roaming the aisles and one can't help but think the marine industry has escaped the recent recession.
"When we met one year ago, the economy was stalled, consumer confidence was low, there was concern about a possible war in Iraq and the nation and Miami Beach were on high alert for terrorism," Thomas J. Dammrich told a crowd gathered at the National Marine Manufacturers Association breakfast Thursday morning, an hour before world's most prestigious boat show opened. "In spite of all this there were encouraging signs on the horizon, and I predicted the boating industry would return to growth in 2003."
Dammrich, NMMA president, had encouraging news for the marine industry: The number of boats sold rose 1 percent, but the amount of money spent on those boats rose more than 9 percent, which he said meant people were buying bigger and better boats.
"After five years of decline boating participation is on the rise again, and we expect the trend to continue in 2004," Dammrich said. "Sales of new boats, engines and accessories topped $16-billion in 2003, and if we add in preowned boat purchases, marinas, fuel, insurance, the boating industry exceeds $30-billion."
But the impact of the marine industry, especially in Florida, home to a quarter of the nation's boat builders, is much greater. Boating and related support services account for more than 300,000 jobs. One event - the Miami International Boat Show - reportedly pumps more than $600-million into Miami's economy.
People are buying more boats, Dammrich said, thanks in part to interest rates being at a 45-year low. The money lenders are aware of this, and several dozen had booths spaced around the show to offer competitive financing.
Why are so many people getting into boating? With wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and color-coded terrorist alerts, people are staying close to home. What better way to forget about your troubles for a while than to get out on the water?
"Water sports and boating are healthy, natural, clean and increasingly popular," Dammrich said. "Fishing is the No. 1 water-based activity for men, and swimming is the No. 1 water-based activity for women. Both are done from a boat."
Boating is a good family activity, and studies have shown that the family that boats together stays together. Most boaters say they got introduced to the sport at an early age. Many families (with combined incomes of $50,000 or more) are buying boats as their primary form of family recreation.
Many would-be boaters avoid ownership for the same reasons: not enough time, the high cost of maintenance, storage and lack of general boating knowledge. But those obstacles can be overcome with a little planning and education.
Shows like the one running through Tuesday at the Miami Beach Convention Center are great places to start dreaming. Living in a state with thousands of miles of coastline and blessed with pleasant weather most of the year, it won't be long before your dream becomes a reality.
