Boating: One Of
Life’s Great Pleasures
by: Robert Vassos
There is a lot to be said
about getting out on the water for some well deserved
recreation. The interesting thing about boating is there is some
ancient gene that we all carry that dates back to a time when
folks thought the earth was flat. And just like Columbus
exploring the boundaries of the known world people today are
still drawn to the water by some magical unexplained pull. And
why not - in this fast paced world of office towers and pavement
there is certainly something soothing about stepping on to a
gently rocking boat at the dock and firing it up to venture out
on the open waters.
The other great thing about boating is that this form of
recreation offers so much versatility. Think about it. You can
fish, water ski, tube, tour around, swim off the boat, sunbath,
entertain friends, visit friends on the lake – not mention that
boats can be utilized for work type activities as well, and they
are a valid form of general waterway transportation for many.
The other interesting thing is that boating isn’t as expensive
as you might think. As a first step you might consider renting
before you purchase and many marinas offer reasonably priced
boat rental packages right from their docks. Recently a
recreation cost comparison was done by www.discoverboating.ca
and you might be surprised at how inexpensive boating can be in
when you compare costs against theme parks, hockey games, live
concerts, golf or even an evening at the theatre. The bottom
line is there is a boat for every family budget and a selection
of boat types and models that is even more far ranging than
cars. Generally speaking, the bigger the boat, the larger the
horsepower and the more options that you choose will determine
the overall cost and the best value match for the individual or
family. Some boats are built for versatility and some boats are
built primarily for one use e.g. fishing or wake boarding. The
point is, if you look around you can find the right boat at the
right price to suit your needs. Many boat manufacturers offer
financing terms that are attractive and financial institutions
are certainly willing to spread payments over 5 years with the
longer terms translating to lower monthly payments.
But some would say there are more important considerations than
the cost aspect of owning and operating at boat. It can be
summed up in one word “lifestyle”. If you seek freedom and
relaxation there is nothing like a day on the water that comes
close. It means leaving a lot of the daily stress that we all
experience behind at the dock. In a 2003 Impulse Research study,
nearly 2/3rds of boat owners made their boat purchase and found
it brought their family closer together. Another portion claimed
it allowed them to lead a more romantic personal life. That has
to be reason enough to want to own a boat right?
There are almost, 3 million watercraft in Canada and one in six
households owns at least one boat. Boating contributes over $7
billion into the Canadian economy every year. You might expect
this in Canada. After all - we are surrounded by oceans and
Great Lakes and most of our provinces are dotted with lakes and
rivers throughout the interior.
Robert and Colleen Vassos own a waterfront marina called
Wedgewood Marine & Recreation (
www.wedgewoodmarina.com
) in the Haliburton Highlands of Ontario about two hours north
of Toronto. They sell a wide variety of boats including the full
line up of Starcraft boats (bowriders, pontoons, deck boats and
fishing boats), Svfara performance ski boats, Legend,
Thundercraft and Doral boats as well as Yamaha PWC’s. They also
rent Yamaha Waverunners and various other boats ranging from
runabouts and ski boats to pontoons and fishing boats right from
their waterfront facility on Twelve Mile Lake. “We are seeing a
big move to deck boats” says Colleen Vassos. “Families are
looking for the versatility so they have both the entertainment
space of a pontoon boat and the ability of a sport boat to plane
so that water skiing, fishing or just hanging out can be
accomplished in one watercraft” adds Colleen. “We often rent
boats to customers before they buy” says Robert Vassos. If you
are new to boating, renting is a wise option. It gives the
newbee boater an opportunity to ensure that they get the right
fit and the right product to suit their individual or family
needs. Seems like an ideal lifestyle to be selling and renting
boats from a waterfront facility but those visions were
shattered when Colleen & Robert mentioned that they are so busy
putting clients in boats that they rarely have time to do what
they would really like to be doing – going out for a boat ride!
About The Author
Robert and Colleen Vassos, the owners of Wedgewood Marine and
Recreation, rent and sell outdoor motorized recreational
vehicles. For more information or additional services that they
offer, please go to
www.wedgewoodmarina.com or call 1-888-462-6286..