BUSINESS BUZZ
Sea dreams by Michael J. DeCicco
Summer and the waters of the South Coast are the mixed drink most everyone imbibes in this time of year. But where and what are your choices in 2022?
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he summer boating business this year will only be as busy as fuel prices will allow, according to Michael Carey of Whaling City Marine Construction, 4 Popes Island, Fairhaven, which builds docks and sea walls for the commercial and recreational boating industry. "It's hard to say how this summer season will be for the motor boating business," Carey said. "It sure won't be better this year. The high fuel costs will
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slow boating this season for sure. People won't looking for building sea walls and docks when their business is down. When fuel prices go up, their business goes down." Whaling City Marine Construction's work focuses on new marine construction and replacing and re-securing existing structures. Its website boasts its custom commercial and residential dock, piling, bulkhead, and pier projects can be seen all over Massachusetts and Rhode Island. According to recent MA Department of Energy Resources statistics, the average cost per gallon for regular gasoline has risen 62 percent over last year's average. Diesel fuel is averaging 105 percent higher than last year's average per gallon. Yet boatingindustry.com recently reported that in early January 2022, the National Marine Manufacturers Association NMMA reported U.S. new powerboat retail unit sales are expected to surpass 300,000 units for the second
July 2022 | The South Coast Insider
Osprey offers professional instruction, tours, rentals, and full-service outfitting to recreational paddle sport enthusiasts. consecutive year, which is only an estimated 4-6% below the record highs set in 2020.
Paddle power
Customers of Osprey Sea & Surf Adventures, 489 Old County Road, Westport, are following a different boating trend, choosing non-motorized boating recreation. Osprey offers professional instruction, tours, rentals, and full-service outfitting to recreational paddle sport enthusiasts. An Osprey Sea & Surf Adventures
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