High demand leads to shortage of boats for sale, fishing supplies

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Credit: WINK News

Living in paradise during a pandemic has you spending more time on the water, and the boating business is booming. While the increase in sales is a good thing, there is also a downside.

The increase in demand is forcing a boat shortage, so if you’re looking to buy, you might have some trouble.

Bryan Waid, the general manager of Fort Myers Marine, said boats are coming in and selling fast. At the height of the pandemic, many boat manufacturers slowed down production, affecting boat dealers who are trying to keep their stock up.

“With the pandemic, a lot of the manufacturers have slowed down or stopped completely for a couple of weeks, a month, and now they’re all back up and running, so we’re getting more and more boats in,” Waid said.

“We’ve always wanted a boat and it just so happens that this is a nice time for us,” said Juliana Dale of Fort Myers.

The fishing industry is also seeing a similar shortage with some of their supplies, items like fishing tackle are getting harder and harder to find.

The owner of a local bait and tackle shop said he’s breaking sales records like never before.

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