Scuttlebutt Magazine - May 2008 - (Page 19) www.scuttlebutt.com May 2008 • Page 19 Boaters put their vessel ahead of milestones Are you worried about the value of your home or the cost of your daily commute? Well, maybe its time to rethink your priorities. In a recent survey of more than 1,000 boat owners, nearly half of boaters surveyed said they bought their boat before they purchased a car or a home. The result is some pretty happy boaters. While some may believe a “boat owner’s two greatest days are the day he buys his boat and the day he sells it,” most boaters surveyed (38 percent) disagree. In fact, 66 percent of boaters say they “love boating” and describe their overall experience as “smooth sailing.” One in four boaters surveyed even said their biggest worry was simply finding time to use their boat. So what could be behind all this glee? It seems that many boaters surveyed got into boating during more carefree times in their lives. Nearly a third of boaters surveyed said they bought a boat before they got married (28 percent), had children (30 percent) or even graduated college (19 percent). Unfortunately, the carefree nature of boaters surveyed may be affecting their practical side. While 70 percent of boaters say they know they should have insurance, even in the off-season, 29 percent admit to having no boat insurance at all. “A great experience with your boat can quickly turn bad if you’re not properly insured,” said Progressive’s Dominic Mediate. “Things like 24/7 claims service and specialized coverages such as emergency towing and labor and total loss replacement are designed to help get boaters back on the water fast in the event of a loss.” And boaters are not so willing to give up the good thing they have going. Twenty percent of boaters said that they would never sell their boat and six percent went as far as to say they would only sell if threatened with physical harm. The allure of the water also seems to create a kinship and loyalty among boaters. So much so that 15 percent of boaters say they’re more likely to vote for a political candidate if he/she is a boater. This is especially good news for the GOP, as Republicans are more likely to vote this way (19 percent) compared to independents (16 percent) and Democrats (15 percent). For more information, go to www.watercraft .progressive.com. Trust Your Boat To The Experts At The Brand New FULL SERVICE • Full Mechanical Services • Transient Docks Available • Covers & Slips from 16-50 feet • Gel Coat Repair • Fiberglass Repair • Buffing & Waxing Watch Us Grow! Conveniently located in the heart of Winona, close to food and entertainment. 16 Laird St, Winona, MN Dennis Benish – New Owner– markers Cities and towns along the Mississippi River offer many amenities and unique shopping. ◆ Enjoy beautiful sunsets. ◆ Meet generous, fun◆ Stock up at the ship loving people. ◆ Eat at casual restau- rants or fine dining. ◆ Take advantage of recreation opportunities. store. ◆ Watch the barges and towboats from the bluffs ◆ Find lots of boating amenities. ◆ Find peaceful landscapes. ◆ Have your boat fixed. ◆ Store your vessel in the winter. ◆ Take the kids to the C 507-454-5590 Boating is affordable in Winona! ASTAWAYS Mississippi MARIN Mile Marker 830 on the dennis@winonamarina.com A water park. ◆ Gas up at the dock. ◆ Watch the eagles soar. ◆ Buy another antique. CALL LAND ABOUT YOUR N LAUNCH 2008 SLIP TODAY! FULL SERVICE MARINA SLIP SALES • SLIP LEASING • BROKERAGE $500 Dockage 30’ - 60’ • 30/50 Elec CTV/Phone • City water • Winter storage Marine mechanic services • Gas dock w/pump out facility • 92 Oct Marine Gas Launch ramp • Transient dockage • Restrooms • Laundry facilities BROKERAGE BOATS 1998 39’ Carver 355 Aft Cabin,T-315hp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 145,000 1976 35’ Bluewater Tri-Cabin,T-220hp, 7.5KW Genset (new) . . . . $ 39,900 1990 31’ Sea Ray 310 Sundancer,T-260, genset, new canvas, Clean .$ 39,900 1985 30’ Century Grande,T-260hp, gen, a/c, full canvas . . . . . . . . . . . SOLD 1980 28’ Carver Mariner 2896,T-220hp, Many Extras . . . . . . . . . . .$ 13,000 1981 27' Bayliner Victoria T-140HP Trlr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 5,000 2000 26’ Chaparral 260 Signature 310hp,Trlr, full tops, extras . . . .$ 39,900 1995 25’ Sea Ray Sundancer, 300hp, full canvas, trailer . . . . . . . . . . .$ 22,900 1981 24’ Crestliner 2485 Crusader Express, 260hp, trailer . . . . . . .$ 4,500 1995 24’ Chaparral 2335 SST, 300hp trailer, Clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 16,000 1992 23' Century 4500CLX 300HP, Low Hours,Trlr, Immaculate . .$ 20,000 1969 19’ Chris Craft I/O, Runs Great . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 2,000/BO Well-Maintained 40’ - 60’ - 90’ Covered or Uncovered Slips For Rent OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE. C ALL TODAY! (651) 455-4974 4455 66th Str eet East Inver Grove Heights , MN 55076 Castaways Marina is located in a quiet, no-wake, deep-water channel in Inver Grove Heights, two minutes south of I-494. We are close to fuel, service, food and shopping. Pump-out hydrant at every slip. www.riv e r h e i g h t s m a r i n a . c o m www. m i s s i s s i p p i p u b .com www.riv e r h e i g h t s y achtchar ter s .com Best Kept Secret on the Mississippi Call 651-338-3606 www.castawaysmarina.com http://www.scuttlebutt.com http://www.watercraftprogressive.com http://www.watercraftprogressive.com http://www.castawaysmarina.com http://www.riverheightsmarina.com http://www.riverheightsmarina.com http://www.castawaysmarina.com http://www.mississippipub.com http://www.riverheightsyachtcharters.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.