"The boat dealers were selling a lot in those days," Ted De Garmo said.

But boat dealers are worried that the party may end early.

"We find in the marine industry that a lot more boat dealers have realized they can't just ignore women," Foster said.

Still, boat dealers say they are seeing signs that higher fuel prices are taking a toll.

Retail boat dealers used to represent one maker of outboard motors while purchasing boats from various companies.

Mr. Mitchell, 69, a retired bridge painter, merchant marine and boat dealer, is unfazed.

Real estate loans, aircraft leases and loans to boat dealers will not be renewed as they are repaid, he said.

I suppose the overhead on a waterfront location for a boat dealer must be a lot higher than a landlocked dealer.

Many boat dealers say they are nearly sold out of the small craft used for striper fishing.

Africans captured and spoke in different languages in the boat dealers, to communicate, learn the Portuguese language of their captors.