Marina Dock Age

A four-year study of Florida’s registered boaters and what their spending means for the state’s economy revealed that Florida’s boaters bring in more than $8.5 billion annually, according to a Dec. 30, 2009, report on the Web site: www.tbnweekly.com.

The study, conducted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), examined 2007 boating trips and craft-related spending of registered boaters in various regions of Florida. The study showed that Florida boaters spent $3.4 billion on boat trips in 2007 and $5.1 billion for repairs, marina expenses, and other costs not associated with specific boat trips.

The 572-page report entitled “Florida Boating Access Facilities Inventory and Economic Study, including a Pilot Study for Lee County,” notes that boating trips and other boating-related spending supported 97,000 jobs in Florida. Boaters took 21.7 million boat trips in 2007.

David Harding, FWC economist who managed the study, said it will help state and local governments plan whether or not to maintain or construct new boat ramps or marinas and where to locate them. It also identified the features and characteristics of boating access points for site selection favored by boaters for freshwater and marine access on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.

“The results of the study show the importance of launch lanes, parking lots, and their overall conditions, as well as the area’s level of development—the number of developed facilities, such as restrooms, at the ramp,” said Harding. “Artificial reefs, seagrass, and management zoning are some of the important characteristics in site selection for boaters using marine access ramps.”

For freshwater boating access, boaters preferred sites with restrooms, the presence of marinas, and available parking, he added.

The study projects a price tag of $68 million to $111 million to maintain boaters’ access to water at the 2006 levels.

The entire report is available as a PDF document at: www.MyFWC.com. Click on “Economic Benefits.”