Contact:

Dave White, New York Sea Grant, Recreation and Tourism Specialist, P: 315-312- 3042, E: dgw9@cornell.edu


Skyrocketing Demand and Dwindling Supply Nixes Plan for Annual Boat Show

— Filed by Brad Vivacqua at the NYS Fairgrounds for Spectrum News

Syracuse, NY, March 22, 2022 - The annual boat show at the New York State Fairgrounds will not return this year, and while it's chocked up to the pandemic, it's not because of infection concerns. Members of New York Sea Grant says dealers are still grappling with a dwindling supply of boats and other sea crafts, due to increased demand during the pandemic.

At Fremac Marine in Lakeport, staff say sales have been off the charts the last two years, noting that the pandemic actually encouraged people to buy boats during a time when there wasn't much else to do.

On top of strong sales the last two years, they say sales are already off to a strong start here in 2022. If you're considering getting a boat for this summer, experts said you better do it now rather than waiting until April or May.

"If it's something you want to do this year, you need to do it soon. Like, in the next week or two. We're averaging about 10 to 12 boats a week, even this time of year. So, inventory is just going to be gone. I have people coming in every day saying, 'I thought I'd get an early start.' Unfortunately, this year it's not an early start," said Fremac Marine Sales Manager James Finger.

Neither Finger nor Dave White of New York Sea Grant believe higher gas prices are having any effect on boat sales. They did, however, say it may change how much people run their motor on the water this year.

White reminded people if you need to get your boat serviced or are considering renting a boat for a weekend this summer, you should do that sooner than later. It's also a good time to register for a boat safety course so you're ready to go on the water once the weather breaks.

New York Sea Grant supports the boating industry across the state. White said many of the boat shows in the area have been canceled the last few months. However, plans for a spring boat show in Clayton during the first weekend of April are still on.

NYSG's Dave White is widely recognized for his boating segments on Spectrum News, which is available on channels 1 and 200 exclusively for Spectrum customers in the Central New York region including Syracuse, Ithaca, Utica, Watertown, Binghamton, Elmira and surrounding areas in upstate New York.

White's NYSG "Boating and Marine Trades" content can be found at www.nyseagrant.org/marina. He also has information on Great Lakes shipwrecks at www.nyseagrant.org/shipwreck.




Supply Chain Issues Cause CNY Boat Show to Be Canceled

— Filed by Jeanne Tyler Moodee Lockman for CNY Central

Syracuse, NY, March 4, 2022 — The Central New York Boat Show, one of the largest boat shows in the state, has been canceled this year due to supply shortages.

Normally, local boat dealers fill up the New York State Fairgrounds with over 500 new boats, but this year, thanks to supply chain issues, there are not enough new boats available to those who want them.

Despite the shortage, local boat dealers say there are some steps boaters can take to make sure the upcoming boating season is a good one.

Nationwide, the demand for new boats is at an all-time high, but thanks to supply chain backlogs, there has been a critical shortage of parts needed for boat engines, navigation systems, and even chairs.

All of this is creating a lack of inventory the boating industry has never seen before.

“This is pretty unique, I have never seen a buying environment like this at all in the marine industry,” said Jay Lorenz of Smith Boys Boating Dealership.

Local boat dealers say it's not that dealers don’t have new boats, it's that they don’t have enough new boats on hand to meet skyrocketing demand.

Dealers say your best bet this boating season maybe fixing up your current boat instead.

“If you can't find what you like, and you really enjoy your boat, keep it,” said Lorenz. “Repower it, maybe it means putting a new motor on it, maybe it means putting some money into new upholstery or getting new canvas. All these things can be provided here locally in Central New York by many, many dealers.”

While Central New York boat dealers didn’t have enough inventory to put on the Central New York Boat Show this year, they do have a limited number of boats on hand for those looking for a new boat.

They suggest holding your own mini boat show and travelling around the region to see ones that are available or find listings at cnyboating.net.

CNY Central is broadcast on WSTM-TV, a dual NBC/CW-affiliated television station licensed to Syracuse, New York.


More Info: New York Sea Grant

New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York (SUNY), is one of 34 university-based programs under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program.

Since 1971, NYSG has represented a statewide network of integrated research, education and extension services promoting coastal community economic vitality, environmental sustainability and citizen awareness and understanding about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources.

Through NYSG’s efforts, the combined talents of university scientists and extension specialists help develop and transfer science-based information to many coastal user groups—businesses and industries, federal, state and local government decision-makers and agency managers, educators, the media and the interested public.

The program maintains Great Lakes offices at Cornell University, SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Oswego and the Wayne County Cooperative Extension office in Newark. In the State's marine waters, NYSG has offices at Stony Brook University in Long Island, Brooklyn College and Cornell Cooperative Extension in NYC and Kingston in the Hudson Valley.

For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube links. NYSG offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/nycoastlines for its flagship publication, NY Coastlines/Currents, which is published quarterly.