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This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
With international travel out of the picture, many kiwis are itching to get out on the water.
But boat sellers say they can’t match demand, which has skyrocketed since the first close.
There is also little space for a place to keep boats moored.
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First it was traveling through our backyard by car or plane; now everyone wants to do it by boat.
Janis Marler of NZ Boat Sales has been selling boats in Auckland for over a decade. She said they had been desperately trying to get new shares since August last year.
” Our measurement really is the fact that we are running out of stock of offshore equipment, so ships can be brought to shore, people think there is no time like the present, I think they have the feeling of that they should now. “
And web searches back this up, in the last seven days Trade Me has had 124,000 searches for boats and boating equipment.
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With international travel off the charts, one boat salesman says they are struggling to keep up with growing demand.
That’s an increase of more than 30 percent compared to the same period last year.
Spokesman Logan Mudge said Auckland residents were the most anxious.
“Auckland seems to be leading the charge, almost 25,000 searches in the last week, maybe the America’s Cup has something to do with that too.”
Cantabrians ranked second with nearly 13,000 searches, followed by the Bay of Plenty region, with nearly 12,000 searches.
Mudge said most of the interest came from one group in particular.
“The people who are looking for the most boats are in their 40s and 50s, presumably with the most disposable income trying to use them with a boat.”
But, according to Janis Marler, those lucky enough to get a boat had to fight for a place to moor it.
“There is not much space in the marina so that puts us under pressure, the problem we have is that people want them, but it is very difficult to get a space in the marina for them, we are a little short in Auckland, very short”.
He was also concerned that newcomers would indulge in a hobby without knowing the ins and outs.
“People believe that you can sail the high seas without a little experience in courses and navigation, it is not that simple.”
Conservation Department biodiversity supervisor Molly Hicks echoed this concern after a dead black sea turtle was found on Whangaparaoa beach with deep propeller cuts in its shell.
“Because there is a congestion of boats in an area, they may not be able to move as fast as we would like them to get out of the way of an animal, or they may not even be judging the water correctly and thinking that it is just a record that they’re checking when it’s actually an animal. “
He urged the boats to be safe on board and be aware of all risks.
“Please slow down and watch where you are going, we want to remind people that when you and your passengers get on your boat, you may risk injuring passengers on board or harming wildlife.”
This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
