Ailing economy floats fewer boats

The Detriot News reports:

Gas is up. Lakes are down. The state economy lags the nation, and Frank Maskey has a front-row seat to Michigan boaters' springtime blues.

On a recent morning, Maskey didn't have to leave his cushioned chair at Michigan Marine Sport Center. He had no customers for his colorful lures, fishing knives and outboard motors.

"Take a look at all these marinas. All their boats are still covered up. No one's in the water," said Maskey, 86, who described the past few years as among the worst for his 51-year-old business. "The economy is problem No. 1. Gas is No. 2. And the fishing is terrible. Things are lousy all over."

This weekend, the first in May, marks the traditional launch of the boating season in Michigan. It's normally a festive time for a state with 11,000 inland lakes and 3,121 miles of Great Lakes shoreline.

But these aren't ordinary days for Michigan or the owners of its 944,000 boats.

Boat registrations, fishing licenses and lake levels all declined in recent years. Now at some marinas, gas -- which always costs more -- is near $3.50 a gallon, meaning a weekend of lake-splashed fun will cost $200 or more on bigger boats that burn a gallon to cover 2 miles or fewer.

Price elasticity.