LEXINGTON, Ky. — Families visited the Central Bank Center this weekend on the hunt for brand new boats, fishing, and other water sporting needs at the Kentucky Sport, Boat and Recreation show. It came amid price influxes around the nation.

Some families are spending years searching for a boat for their loved ones that provide the qualities of their dreams. 

However, like some other industries dealing with the challenges of inflation, that might mean a leap in pricing for a brand new boat like the ones each Kricket Fryman and Matthew Gatewood and their families are looking for. Both are hoping to secure a multi-purpose recreational pontoon for the warm weather ahead of this year.   

A Kentucky native and boat connoisseur, Gatewood says he has seen prices range from as low as $15,000 to $70,000.

“No more than a brand new car off the lot, or the truck that it takes to pull them,” he explained. 

According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, boat sales between 2019 and 2021 decreased by nearly 13% compared to numbers experienced before the pandemic. It’s something many businesses are still grappling with.

Gatewood says testing the waters before buying a new boat might be a part of finding a boat for people interested.

“The price tag on them, you know, may discourage you a little bit, but I mean, if you can go for a used boat and spin like $15,000 or something like some smaller ones, see if you like it. Because what if you get into a $50,000 debt on a boat and you decide that it’s not for you?” Gatewood said. 

As a future boat owner, Fryman says that when it comes down to it, the price simply doesn’t matter—and that it may be a better idea to think about the long-term use and purpose of owning it.

“It’s just about investing in something that you want to keep for a lifetime,” Fryman said. 

The Kentucky Sport, Boat and Recreation show also featured special fish and wildlife showcases like kid-friendly fishing, digital fishing simulations, and vendors from around the Commonwealth.