One obvious disadvantage as a magazine is timing, as we’re always working a couple of months ahead of our cover date. Often I find myself writing about winterizing tips in the middle of July or articles on how to get your boat ready for summer when there is still snow on the ground. It’s just a way of life in our line of work.
In this case I’m hoping that by the time our May issue reaches you – either by mailbox, newsstand, marina or digitally – the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is behind us and we’re all able to return to a more normal life and our regular routines.
All of us were dramatically affected in one way or another this spring by the Coronavirus, with some having life-altering repercussions. For those who were infected or had close friends or family members who were, we sincerely hope all were able to fully recover. And of course there is no way to gauge the financial burden on us all as well. This quickly spreading and far-reaching virus didn’t show any favoritism as we all ran the risk of being infected regardless of where we live.
One term that probably wasn’t on the minds of anyone six months ago but is quite common today is “Social Distancing.” Turns out some of us have been practicing this for years and just didn’t know what to call it. I joked with my parents that they’ve been practicing self-quarantine for years and it finally paid off. You could definitely describe boaters as “social distancers” even though we do enjoy entertaining on board or an occasional raft-up from time to time.
At the peak of this epidemic you couldn’t do a lot of social things we normally like to do such as getting together with friends for dinner at a restaurant or to attend a live sporting event, but what you could do is go boating and many of us did.
I’m predicting when BoatUS unveils its top boating names for 2020 that Nautical Distancing will be high on that list and let’s be honest, Corona Time will most likely drop completely off. Nautical Distancing might just become the new buzz word to describe boating, as getting together on the water with family members and close friends has always been the backbone of our favorite pastime.
While some are worried about the future of our economy (and rightfully so), the real problem could be the increased demand for new boats as manufacturers push to get caught up on boat orders. Face it: You can’t exactly weld from home, so understandably boats scheduled to be shipped to dealers in the Great Lakes regions could be delayed. A lot of manufacturers temporally shut down to ensure the safety of their workers and could have a lot of catching up to do.
I’m also curious to know if the number of new boat owners will rise dramatically after a scare like this. When a lot of social freedoms are put on hold for the good of others in attempt to slow the spreading of the Coronavirus, you learn to appreciate family togetherness even more.
Besides getting to be on a first-name basis with my local grocery guy who stocks the toilet paper shelves, I also learned a lot about the importance of family and being a good neighbor. Taking care of those around me and especially checking on the elderly should have been higher on my priority list before, but I can assure you it is now.
I can’t recall another year where I was looking more forward to the summer boating season than I am now. Boating with my family has always been important to me, but this year it feels even more crucial. Now is the time to continue your own social distancing and get out on the water and enjoy your family time. There’s just something about being “self-quarantined” and doing a little Nautical Distancing that makes a lot of sense to me.
