Staff Pick: This is one of the news stories our staff is reading this week.
Nisswa Marine sales manager Jeremy Wiczek saw firsthand how the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred Minnesotans to spend more time on lakes and rivers.
In the past two years, interest in boating has grown by leaps and bounds, Wiczek said, especially among families.
"We went through this period of, ‘How are we going to sell boats?’ to, ‘Oh wow, this is an amazing opportunity for people to spend more time with their family,’” he said.
The brisk sales mean some people buying boats didn't grow up on the water — they’ve had to learn the ropes, to use a nautical term. Wiczek spends a lot of time educating boat buyers on how to safely operate their new purchase, along with proper etiquette.
Out on the lake, he’s been known to offer respectful advice to other boaters who are driving too fast or too close to other boats. Most of the time, they just don't know any better, Wiczek said.