FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Scott Croft, 703-461-2864,
Date: August 29, 2006

BOATU.S. SAYS SUMMER BOATING SEASON WAS BETTER THAN EXPECTED

With Labor Day marking the end of the summer recreational boating
season for many Americans, BoatU.S. reports that some good weather,
some great fishing and a less-than-anticipated impact of fuel prices
have kept boaters boating and it's on-the-water towboats busy this year
helping disabled vessels, providing fuel drop-offs and tows back to
port.

BoatU.S. on-the-water towing companies, --TowBoatU.S. and Vessel Assist
-- report the following general observations on recreational boating
activity:

Northeast/Mid-Atlantic: Continued good weather has meant more boats on
the water and an increase in requests for on-the-water assistance over
last year. However, in the north boating activity is expected to wind
down shortly after the Labor Day holiday. If hurricane activity stays
low and if fuel prices continue to soften, the fall boating season
could remain strong in Mid-Atlantic states, including more snow bird
boaters heading south through the ICW.

Florida: Boating is booming as hurricanes have stayed away -- so far
-- and some boaters, having lost vessels in recent back-to-back years
of storm activity, are returning to the water in new boats.

Gulf: Still greatly affected by the 2005 hurricane season,
recreational boating in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama has
dramatically decreased. Much needed boating-related infrastructure,
such as boat clubs, marinas and service yards continue to struggle to
rebuild.

California: "The season is not over and we plan to go full speed well
into October with phenomenal fishing," reports Vessel Assist San Diego
owner, Capt. Robert Butler. "The difference between this year and
last year is 'buddy boating,' or the practice of fishermen sharing
trips to the fishing grounds," he adds. Unusually warm water and less
red tide throughout the Southern California coast is helping the trend.
"We see no end sight with the current weather pattern," says Butler,
who says he'll be delaying the seasonal lay up of part of his fleet to
meet continued demand.

Pacific Northwest: With less than a quarter inch of rain since early
July, waterway traffic has been generally above average -- especially
on Seattle's Lake Washington. Fuel prices spiked in 2005 but since
then have remained stable or slightly decreased, allowing many power
boaters to return to their old summer cruising patterns in the San Juan
Islands and beyond.

Great Lakes: With "The best walleye fishing in 10 years" reported by
Capt. Vern Mienke of Lake Erie's TowBoatU.S. South Shore, recreational
boating traffic has been up. With a short season, Great Lakes boaters
have enthusiastically responded to good summer weather patterns.

Midwest/Inland: Capt. Charles Meyer of TowBoatU.S. Lake of the Ozarks
says that volume has been up, especially weekday boating activity.
"It's not as concentrated on the weekends anymore, and boaters are
still spending more time in raft ups rather than burning fuel."

Why Recreational Boaters Call for Assistance
Nationally, the top five reported reasons why boaters called for
assistance a

1. Unknown engine failu 49%
2. Grounding: 16%
3. Out of fuel or other fuel problems: 10%
4. Battery jump starts or electrical problems: 12%
5. Engine overheating: 4%

Often referred to as the "boat owners auto club," BoatU.S. Towing
Services offers on-the-water assistance plans starting at around $30 a
year and has over 500 response vessels at 260 ports across the country.
Boaters can call 800-888-4869 or visit http://www.BoatUS.com/Towing
for more information.

###

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
ups.com...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Scott Croft, 703-461-2864,
Date: August 29, 2006

BOATU.S. SAYS SUMMER BOATING SEASON WAS BETTER THAN EXPECTED

With Labor Day marking the end of the summer recreational boating
season for many Americans, BoatU.S. reports that some good weather,
some great fishing and a less-than-anticipated impact of fuel prices
have kept boaters boating and it's on-the-water towboats busy this year
helping disabled vessels, providing fuel drop-offs and tows back to
port.

BoatU.S. on-the-water towing companies, --TowBoatU.S. and Vessel Assist
-- report the following general observations on recreational boating
activity:

Northeast/Mid-Atlantic: Continued good weather has meant more boats on
the water and an increase in requests for on-the-water assistance over
last year. However, in the north boating activity is expected to wind
down shortly after the Labor Day holiday. If hurricane activity stays
low and if fuel prices continue to soften, the fall boating season
could remain strong in Mid-Atlantic states, including more snow bird
boaters heading south through the ICW.

Florida: Boating is booming as hurricanes have stayed away -- so far
-- and some boaters, having lost vessels in recent back-to-back years
of storm activity, are returning to the water in new boats.

Gulf: Still greatly affected by the 2005 hurricane season,
recreational boating in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama has
dramatically decreased. Much needed boating-related infrastructure,
such as boat clubs, marinas and service yards continue to struggle to
rebuild.

California: "The season is not over and we plan to go full speed well
into October with phenomenal fishing," reports Vessel Assist San Diego
owner, Capt. Robert Butler. "The difference between this year and
last year is 'buddy boating,' or the practice of fishermen sharing
trips to the fishing grounds," he adds. Unusually warm water and less
red tide throughout the Southern California coast is helping the trend.
"We see no end sight with the current weather pattern," says Butler,
who says he'll be delaying the seasonal lay up of part of his fleet to
meet continued demand.

Pacific Northwest: With less than a quarter inch of rain since early
July, waterway traffic has been generally above average -- especially
on Seattle's Lake Washington. Fuel prices spiked in 2005 but since
then have remained stable or slightly decreased, allowing many power
boaters to return to their old summer cruising patterns in the San Juan
Islands and beyond.

Great Lakes: With "The best walleye fishing in 10 years" reported by
Capt. Vern Mienke of Lake Erie's TowBoatU.S. South Shore, recreational
boating traffic has been up. With a short season, Great Lakes boaters
have enthusiastically responded to good summer weather patterns.

Midwest/Inland: Capt. Charles Meyer of TowBoatU.S. Lake of the Ozarks
says that volume has been up, especially weekday boating activity.
"It's not as concentrated on the weekends anymore, and boaters are
still spending more time in raft ups rather than burning fuel."

Why Recreational Boaters Call for Assistance
Nationally, the top five reported reasons why boaters called for
assistance a

1. Unknown engine failu 49%
2. Grounding: 16%
3. Out of fuel or other fuel problems: 10%
4. Battery jump starts or electrical problems: 12%
5. Engine overheating: 4%

Often referred to as the "boat owners auto club," BoatU.S. Towing
Services offers on-the-water assistance plans starting at around $30 a
year and has over 500 response vessels at 260 ports across the country.
Boaters can call 800-888-4869 or visit http://www.BoatUS.com/Towing
for more information.

###


Good conditions on Lake Erie this year? We have had more than our share of
weekends washed out by rain or white caps, with this holiday weekend
predicted to be in that group.

JimH wrote:

Good conditions on Lake Erie this year? We have had more than our share of
weekends washed out by rain or white caps, with this holiday weekend
predicted to be in that group.

You wouldn't get much boating done in the Pacific NW if you were put
off by rain or by whitecaps. I guess it's a reasonable trade; we don't
get the hot as Hades summer weather you enjoy back in the midwest and
nobody up here does much swimming in the salt water......but on the
other hand those folks who don't mind wearing a rain slicker and
willing to put up with some moderate chop can go boating at least one
or two weekends
every month of the year.

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
ps.com...

JimH wrote:

Good conditions on Lake Erie this year? We have had more than our share
of
weekends washed out by rain or white caps, with this holiday weekend
predicted to be in that group.

You wouldn't get much boating done in the Pacific NW if you were put
off by rain or by whitecaps.

Yep. We never had a desire to take the boat out on rainy days or in rough
water conditions, even with our 32 footer as we have other things to do.
We also never owned a boat that kept us captive (while underway) in an
enclosed pilothouse each and every time we took it out or to have to travel
in a boat with a maximum speed of 10 knots.

Different strokes................. ;-)

In article . com,
says...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Scott Croft, 703-461-2864,
Date: August 29, 2006

BOATU.S. SAYS SUMMER BOATING SEASON WAS BETTER THAN EXPECTED

"Better Than Expected"?

They must've expected very little traffic in the San Juans. My brother
owns land on a channel that's very popular for transiting between San
Juan island areas. He reports that small vessel traffic is WAY DOWN.

Where he usually sees lots of 30' to 50' vessels, he said there's next
to nothing. That either means folks are staying close to the dock or
limiting the number of destinations. The 60' and up crowd was still
there in what seemed normal numbers.

Gasoline for his twin-engine Trophy is between $3.50 and nearly $4. Fuel
prices must be taking a big bite out of this area's cruising. I have to
believe the same is true elsewhere.

Leave it to Boat US to spin the best angle.

jps

jps wrote:
In article . com,
says...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Scott Croft, 703-461-2864,
Date: August 29, 2006

BOATU.S. SAYS SUMMER BOATING SEASON WAS BETTER THAN EXPECTED

"Better Than Expected"?

They must've expected very little traffic in the San Juans. My brother
owns land on a channel that's very popular for transiting between San
Juan island areas. He reports that small vessel traffic is WAY DOWN.

Where he usually sees lots of 30' to 50' vessels, he said there's next
to nothing. That either means folks are staying close to the dock or
limiting the number of destinations. The 60' and up crowd was still
there in what seemed normal numbers.


The following marinas in the San Juans and Gulf Islands were sold out,
or nearly sold out, by 6 PM each night during our
cruise in late July and early Aug:

Langley
Oak Harbor
Friday Harbor
IMC on Lopez
Islander Resort on Lopez
Port Browning
Both marinas in Telegraph Harbour
Ganges
Deer Harbor
Rosario
Roche Harbor

And the nights spent in state parks? Every mooring buoy gone and lots
of folks at anchor.

No, they weren't all 60-footers , either. Lots of 30-50 footers....(we
know because we're competing for the same slips)

We did talk to a lot of people who were staying a bit closer to home
this year. Doing just the San Juans instead of the San Juans and the
Gulf Islands- or doing the Gulf Islands instead of pressing on to the
Discovery Islands or Desolation Sound. People weren't going as far or
as fast, but they were out there.

I'm sure your brother reported his observations from shore very
accurately, but they disagree with my observations out amongst 'em.











Gasoline for his twin-engine Trophy is between $3.50 and nearly $4. Fuel
prices must be taking a big bite out of this area's cruising. I have to
believe the same is true elsewhere.

Leave it to Boat US to spin the best angle.

jps

In article .com,
says...

jps wrote:
In article . com,
says...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Scott Croft, 703-461-2864,
Date: August 29, 2006

BOATU.S. SAYS SUMMER BOATING SEASON WAS BETTER THAN EXPECTED

"Better Than Expected"?

They must've expected very little traffic in the San Juans. My brother
owns land on a channel that's very popular for transiting between San
Juan island areas. He reports that small vessel traffic is WAY DOWN.

Where he usually sees lots of 30' to 50' vessels, he said there's next
to nothing. That either means folks are staying close to the dock or
limiting the number of destinations. The 60' and up crowd was still
there in what seemed normal numbers.


The following marinas in the San Juans and Gulf Islands were sold out,
or nearly sold out, by 6 PM each night during our
cruise in late July and early Aug:

Langley
Oak Harbor
Friday Harbor
IMC on Lopez
Islander Resort on Lopez
Port Browning
Both marinas in Telegraph Harbour
Ganges
Deer Harbor
Rosario
Roche Harbor

And the nights spent in state parks? Every mooring buoy gone and lots
of folks at anchor.

No, they weren't all 60-footers , either. Lots of 30-50 footers....(we
know because we're competing for the same slips)

We did talk to a lot of people who were staying a bit closer to home
this year. Doing just the San Juans instead of the San Juans and the
Gulf Islands- or doing the Gulf Islands instead of pressing on to the
Discovery Islands or Desolation Sound. People weren't going as far or
as fast, but they were out there.

I'm sure your brother reported his observations from shore very
accurately, but they disagree with my observations out amongst 'em.

He's just south of Poll Pass and sees all the traffic. His report as of
the past several weekends is that traffic is way off normal for this
time of year. He said it looks like post-Labor Day up there.

I don't doubt your experiences but it probably reinforces my theory that
folks weren't moving about. Rather, they were spending more time at one
or each destination.

jps

jps wrote:
In article .com,
says...
jps wrote:
In article . com,
says...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Scott Croft, 703-461-2864,
Date: August 29, 2006

BOATU.S. SAYS SUMMER BOATING SEASON WAS BETTER THAN EXPECTED
"Better Than Expected"?

They must've expected very little traffic in the San Juans. My brother
owns land on a channel that's very popular for transiting between San
Juan island areas. He reports that small vessel traffic is WAY DOWN.

Where he usually sees lots of 30' to 50' vessels, he said there's next
to nothing. That either means folks are staying close to the dock or
limiting the number of destinations. The 60' and up crowd was still
there in what seemed normal numbers.

The following marinas in the San Juans and Gulf Islands were sold out,
or nearly sold out, by 6 PM each night during our
cruise in late July and early Aug:

Langley
Oak Harbor
Friday Harbor
IMC on Lopez
Islander Resort on Lopez
Port Browning
Both marinas in Telegraph Harbour
Ganges
Deer Harbor
Rosario
Roche Harbor

And the nights spent in state parks? Every mooring buoy gone and lots
of folks at anchor.

No, they weren't all 60-footers , either. Lots of 30-50 footers....(we
know because we're competing for the same slips)

We did talk to a lot of people who were staying a bit closer to home
this year. Doing just the San Juans instead of the San Juans and the
Gulf Islands- or doing the Gulf Islands instead of pressing on to the
Discovery Islands or Desolation Sound. People weren't going as far or
as fast, but they were out there.

I'm sure your brother reported his observations from shore very
accurately, but they disagree with my observations out amongst 'em.

He's just south of Poll Pass and sees all the traffic. His report as of
the past several weekends is that traffic is way off normal for this
time of year. He said it looks like post-Labor Day up there.

I don't doubt your experiences but it probably reinforces my theory that
folks weren't moving about. Rather, they were spending more time at one
or each destination.

jps
That has been my observation in a much smaller body of water. Still
lots of boats, they just aren't doing the "sunday drive". They find a
destination and enjoy their time there. The raft-ups which is always
popular with the party crowd, were as large as ever.

jps wrote:


He's just south of Poll Pass and sees all the traffic.

(Visualize big friendly grin)

Too many politics for you, JPS. That's "Pole Pass", not "Poll".

Pole Pass was given that name because when the first Euro-American
settlers arrived on Orcas and Crane Islands they noticed some very tall
poles erected on either side of the narrow channel separating the two
islands. Native Americans would catch migrating ducks and geese by
stretching a net across the pass and anchoring it to the poles.

(A "poll pass" sounds like something one might have needed in order to
vote in a lot of southern states prior to the Civil Rights movement).

In article . com,
says...

jps wrote:


He's just south of Poll Pass and sees all the traffic.

(Visualize big friendly grin)

Too many politics for you, JPS. That's "Pole Pass", not "Poll".

Pole Pass was given that name because when the first Euro-American
settlers arrived on Orcas and Crane Islands they noticed some very tall
poles erected on either side of the narrow channel separating the two
islands. Native Americans would catch migrating ducks and geese by
stretching a net across the pass and anchoring it to the poles.

(A "poll pass" sounds like something one might have needed in order to
vote in a lot of southern states prior to the Civil Rights movement).

Thanks for the correction Chuck. You're right about too much politics.
I'm betting Pole Pass would have been a good place to net salmon too.
Mighty narrow with a hell of a current during tide changes. It's always
fun navigating, especially when having to avoid another boat coming in
the opposite direction. A game of chicken with rocks.

jps