Dr. Geoffrey Godbey, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management at Penn State University, discussed demographic, social, temporal, transportation and environmental issues affecting the future of recreational boating.

1. The Future of Recreational Boating Or, will the future float your boat?????? By Geoffrey Godbey

4. Social Drunken boating an increasing problem, as is use of a variety of drugs on the water

5. Social Image of recreational boaters takes a huge shot from TV law enforcement programs. Boaters portrayed as spoiled ignorant drunks who could get the same benefit onshore in a bar

6. While boating is a form of Outdoor Recreation It suffers from the image of the Yacht Most admired boats are the least used--canoe, kayak, sail boat

7. Experience Economy People crave memorable experience and will pay for them. This may increase desire for adventurous forms of boating

8. Transportation Will become more expensive, more regulated, more time consuming and more complex Getting to your boat will be more difficult

9. Transportation Those who manage leisure and tourism services will do more to “guide” visitors to their sites and such guidance will become customized for any inquiring visitor. Such customized guidance will be increasingly valuable to the potential visitor, as the logistics of visitation become more complex due to higher volumes of traffic, whether such traffic is automobiles, motor scooters or bicycles or other people movers.

13. Transportation Process of taking a boat out on the water will become much more Deliberate Customized Contingent

14. Demographic

16. Smaller Households, bigger Houses Average U.S. household has 2.6 people in it. One-quarter of the households have only one person in them. Average American lives in more than 760 sq. feet of space per person, the highest it has ever been

20. Ethnic Minorities 2000 2050 White 76% 50% Black 12% 15% Hispanic 9% 21% Asian/other 3% 14%

22. Ethnic Minorities The primary barriers to participation in recreational boating and fishing are knowledge and access. Just half of the African American and Hispanic respondents said they know of a desirable fishing or boating location near their home. The Hispanic respondents, in particular, have less perceived access to desirable boating and fishing locations.

23. Ethnic Minorities Approximately one fourth do not know how far they need to travel to find either a desirable fishing or a desirable boating location, and another one-fifth say they need to travel over an hour to find them.

24. Ethnic Minorities African American and Hispanic respondents cited work, family commitments and no one to go fishing with, as the top reasons for not participating in recreational boating and fishing. African Americans and Hispanics have positive perceptions of recreational boating and fishing .

25. Ethnic Minorities A majority of the African American and Hispanics see positive outcomes for boating and fishing. Many respondents consider fishing a “fun” activity – particularly men. In addition, they view fishing as relaxing and as something to do with family and friends, very few term the activity as “boring.” Boating is perceived by many as being expensive.

26. Ethnic Minorities Few African Americans and Hispanics associate recreational boating and fishing with environmental “stewardship.”

28. Population Will increase!!

29. Population increase likely means more boats on the water even if the percentage of the public who boats declines

30. Environmental Impacts Profound Local and regional in nature

32. In a state where fishing is an essential part of the economy--anglers spent $3.3 billion on saltwater recreational fishing in Florida in 2005, supporting nearly 60,000 jobs--global warming cannot be allowed to continue unabated.

33. Source: teachingboxes.org/.../ lesson4_reefs/index1.htm Meter=3.28 feet Map C. Florida's shoreline today (in 2005) Map B. Florida's shoreline about 18,000 years ago when sea level was about 125 meters lower than today. Map D. Florida's shoreline after about a 5 meter rise in sea level. Map E. Florida's shoreline after about a 50 meter rise in sea level.

34. A 6 meter rise in sea level is the predicted result of melting most of the ice in the West Antarctic Icecap.

36. Declining Participation in Outdoor Recreation

40. Implications

42. Interest of women and ethnic minorities in recreational boating is critical

43. Socializing young people into boating critical

44. Thank You! [email_address]