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

Brewerton, NY, May 28, 2021 - Memorial Day marks the official start of the boating season and local boat dealers are busier than ever. 

With so many people on the water, they want to make sure everyone puts safety first.

Smith Boys Syracuse in Brewerton is selling out of boats quickly. 

General Manager of Smith Boys, Jay Lorenz, said they only have a few boats left. Almost everything in their showroom has been taken.

“Sales in new boats and in used boats have dramatically increased, I would say probably 135 to 145%,” said Lorenz.

Lorenz said they started to see a major jump in demand last May when people were coming from all over the Northeast to buy boats. 

“We also have a lot of new families boating, which for us here and throughout the entire association is fantastic because that’s what we need,” Lorenz said. “You know, them bringing their families on and then their kids become boaters.”

And with so many new people on the water, Dave White, New York Sea Grant's Coastal Recreation and Tourism Specialist, recommends families take state safety courses. By the year 2025, it’ll be required for everybody. Anyone over the age of ten can sign up. It’ll be helpful, especially for occasions like this holiday weekend, where alcohol may be involved.

“One of your children, if they’re trained and certified and they’ve taken the class, can actually be your designated driver for the day so that’s why I always encourage families to take the course together,” said White. 

And if you learn nothing else before heading out on the water this weekend, White asks for boaters to remember the following…

“You need to have a life jacket of the right type, the right size, that’s U.S. Coast guard approved, on board for everybody,” White said.

For those new first timers, though boat dealers are busy, they’re ready to help.

“If you have any questions that you need or (if you’re) in doubt of any safety equipment that you need, just call,” Lorenz said.

To find a state-run boater safety course in your area, click here.

For a free BoatUS Foundation’s Online Course, click here.

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.


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.