For centuries, they connected continents. In the 1400s, they were the gateway to the new world. For decades, they’ve been marketed to tourists seeking extended getaways. To some, they are a home.
 

They have been gaining in popularity in the Iowa City area, with more than 500 docked along the shores of Coralville Lake.
"I’ve been here for 26 years, and our business is really growing," said Dan Rogers, who owns the Coralville Lake Marina, 2860 Prairie du Chien Road, adding that people used to leave the area for their boating excursions. "You can go to the Mississippi River and find a million-dollar boat, but we are selling bigger and bigger boats out here.
"It’s convenient because people don’t have the time to drive hours to the lake anymore."
Rogers said there are about 300 boats docked at his marina, 200 docked at the Mid-River Marina in North Liberty and about 50 at nearby Jolly Rogers Campground. In addition to the boats that make the Coralville Lake their permanent home, residents all over eastern Iowa regularly tow their crafts to the reservoir.

"On a busy weekend, you could get ... 500 boats out there," Rogers said. And while those include your everyday fishing boat and speedboats, there are more and more expansive Runabout boats and yachts worth between $50,000 and $200,000.
Rogers said he has sold two boats in the $150,000 range this summer. On average, he sells a couple of hundred crafts a season.
Some of the vessels have surround-sound stereos; some can top 85 mph; some have built-in hot tubs and full bars; and some have heated showers.
"But I took the kids out on a dingy boat and we had just as much fun in that as we do in a Cobalt," Rogers said of his 22-foot-long power boat.

And while John Heiar and his brother Kurt Heiar own a 16-by-70-foot house boat docked at the Mid-River Marina, John Heiar agreed that the socializing, community service and relaxation of boating is what got him hooked.
"My family grew up in Dubuque on the Mississippi River, so we’ve spent all our lives on the water," he said. The brothers got into house-boating eight years ago and purchased their current boat, "Bourbon Street," in 1999.
"Although the boat has a lot of amenities ... it’s the social aspect that’s appealing," John Heiar said.

Be first to comment this article

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved