[Paddlewise] Boat registration statistics

Here are the latest statistics on boat registrations in
Minnesota, as reported by the Minnesota DNR:

Total:                  780,097 -- up 11,417 (1.5%) from 1997

The biggest increases were in the following categories:

Outboard aluminum boats,
16 to 26 feet:          189,808 -- up 7,688 (4%)
Canoes:                 147,230 -- up 2,348 (1.6%)
Personal watercraft:     30,013 -- up 2,275 (8% -- down from
                                   the previous year)
Kayaks:                   7,001 -- up 1,437 (26%)

Kim Elverum, the Boat and Water Safety Program coordinator of
the Department of Natural Resources, attributed the large
increase in the number of kayaks to interest in sea kayaking.

Outboard boats under 16 feet and small sailboats decreased
in number.

There is approximately one watercraft for every six people in
Minnesota.

Chuck Holst

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