The Clark Lake tradition continues as the annual boat count took place early this morning, July 4, 2019. Total boats on the lake declined slightly, from 1,493 in 2018 to 1,488 this year.
Here are the key takeaways:
- Rafts continue to rank number one at 608, and that’s up 5% from last year.
- People power craft are up 7%, but down from the peak in 2017.
- Fewer sailboats were counted—off by 11% and that’s a new low. In 1987, there were 252 sailing craft when Fleet 58 was still strong.
- Eagle Point Marina has added boat slips at the tip of the Point making them the dominant boat club at 122. The Beach and Boat Club is second with 113.
- Twenty-six percent of the boats on the lake are moored at one of the clubs.
- There are 3.1 boats on average at each residential dock.
This year’s boat count team consisted of Terry Scott, Jack Jackson, Dee Dee Jackson, and Rick Belcher (see photos below). Bill Tuttle piloted the count from 1987 to 2017. Bowser Eagy started the boat count in 1959. The data between 1960 through 1986 were lost. But you can glean detail and insight into cyclical popularity with this spreadsheet.
The boat count team.
Notes:
- To be consistent with previous years, “fishing boats” are defined as small boats with no motors. Today’s high-power fishing boats are categorized under “outboards.” A small boat with a motor on it is considered to be an outboard.
- “Sailboards” are now part of the “sailboat” category.
- Floaties appear to be gaining in popularity, but they were not included in the boat count. Several of these floating mats were noted this year (see below).
Boat counts from this year, and previous years, can be found by clicking here.