By Lauren Hyland
Special to The State News
Before car enthusiasts swarm to Detroit this month for the auto show, boat retailers tried to tap into the pocketbooks of Lansing residents this weekend by showcasing their newest watercrafts.
On display at the Lansing Boat Show at the Lansing Center were nearly 100 of the newest speed boats and pontoons, as well as the latest accessories and flotation devices.
Much like the struggling auto industry, retailers are trying to keep Michigan's boating industry afloat.
"Midwinter boat shows are consumers' best opportunity to get great deals," said Ernie Hedberg, the Lansing Boat Show promoter.
Michigan ranks No. 1 in the U.S. for registered watercraft, according to the Michigan Secretary of State. Forty percent of all state residents are boaters.
With 11,037 inland lakes and Michigan bordering four of the Great Lakes, many residents have close access to the water.
"Boating is so popular because it's fun and exciting ? just having the wind blow past you," said Randy Wilson, who manages Brighton's Wilson Marine.
But the industry is shrinking as a generation of baby boomers age and many choose to buy RVs for travel, said Gary Krupa, president of Krupa's Boat Mart in Jackson.
The economic importance of boating in Michigan exceeds $2.14 billion a year, according to MSU's Department of Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources.
Some of the issues that Michigan boaters face are the rising fuel cost, the cost of food and beverage while boating for the day and the poor economy in Michigan.
"Prices are increasing because of raw materials such as metal and petroleum," Wilson said.
Krupa said much of the success of a good boating season depends on the weather, but other factors can keep people on shore.
"You need good May weather, but water levels and gas prices are also a huge concern," Krupa said.
But many attendees to the show seemed to be asking questions about pet accessibility and the costs of each boat.
Retailers said jet skis are still popular and many are buying floating trampolines.
While ski boats were once marketed as the wave of the future, the trend now is pontoon boats, said Tyler Munger, regional sales manager of Bennington Marine in Elkhart, Ind.
"Younger adults are replacing the older adults' style because they can drink beer and pack as many people on a pontoon boat as possible," Munger said.
