As evidenced by the colorful variety of watercraft dotting local lakes and rivers this summer, Michigan remains a top destination for recreational boating. The state generates an estimated $868 million in annual sales of new boats, engines, and marine accessories – putting Michigan behind only Florida and Texas nationally, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

Yet despite boating’s popularity among a diverse range of residents and visitors, there’s an overwhelming trend in who’s typically captaining the watercraft.

“I’ve been around boats my whole life,” says Marketing Coordinator Kate Manthei of Irish Boat Shop. “But I’ve never been the one driving. There’s always been a guy around doing it.”

Manthei is one of countless women – even within the industry – who love and enjoy boating, but have rarely had the opportunity to take the helm themselves. Now, a growing number of local organizations and businesses are working to right the ship, offering classes, programs, and events geared specifically at encouraging boating skills and ownership in women.

Irish Boat Shop is one of the companies jumping on board. The recreational boat dealer, which operates stores in Harbor Springs and Charlevoix and opened a third location on East Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City this year, is launching a new series Thursday (August 30) called Ladies at the Helm. The free kickoff event will take place at the TC store at 2155 US-31 North from 5pm to 8pm and will feature appetizers and craft beer from Rare Bird Brewpub, as well as exclusive shopping sales. The first event is designed as a casual social night providing a “relaxed atmosphere to share your boating questions and ideas,” according to the company.

“You don’t have to own a boat – we just wanted to start it off with a social aspect where women can get together and then evolve it from there,” says Manthei. “We started kicking around different ideas about how we could help women in the boating world, because it’s a pretty male-dominated industry. One obvious answer is we could offer boat driving and docking lessons…I think we’ll see what (the participants) want from it and maybe have some education and socializing in the winter, then hands-on training come spring. We definitely hope to make it a regular thing.”

Initial response shows the series could be a hit – over 200 women have already expressed interest in attending the kickoff event on the company’s Facebook page. The program could also potentially expand to other locations. “We’ve already had a ton of requests to bring it up to our Charlevoix and Harbor Springs stores,” says Manthei.

Walstrom Marine is another area boat dealership offering classes exclusively geared toward women. Rick Venner, general manager of the company’s Traverse City store at 3536 North US-31, estimates over 600 women have gone through Walstrom Marine’s Women in Boating program. The series typically involves a classroom session to review boating basics, lunch, and then hands-on training where women have a chance to practice driving and docking a boat, as well as learning on-board equipment and electronics. “We usually do two to three (classes) each summer, and we fill every one – and unfortunately, have to turn people away,” says Venner. “We’re probably ready to introduce an advanced class, because we’ve taught a lot of women the basics and they’re ready to move onto a higher level of knowledge.”

Venner says program participants cover the spectrum from women eager to buy and captain their own boats to those who prefer to let a spouse or partner drive, but want to be able to assist or take over in an emergency. “If someone falls overboard or there’s a medical emergency, (women) are more likely to want to go boating if they know they can take command if they need to,” Venner says. Walstrom Marine has received numerous letters from participants in the program – which is taught by company president Tom Ervin – expressing how “empowered and excited they feel” after learning to captain a boat, according to Venner.

And it’s not just powerboats women are learning to operate locally. Traverse Area Community Sailing hosts a popular summer program called She Sails that teaches women tacking, jibing, furling, and other sailing techniques on large keel boats on West Grand Traverse Bay. (The program was initially sold out for 2018, but organizers have added more classes; contact Captain Stephanie Watkins at 305-407-5444 for details.) 

At Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA), a four-day program called Ladies on the Lake recruits “adult women who are interested in sailing the Great Lakes and the biodiversity that exists in them.” The program accommodates 10 women per session who help sail the 77-foot schooner Inland Seas during the day and enjoy Great Lakes sunsets and fellowship on the ship at night, eating meals on-board prepared by an ISEA chef. The intensive multi-day sailing adventure – which next sets sail August 27-30 – costs $610 per person.

Other programs are even more specialized. Each summer, POWER 10 Camp – a rowing camp for breast cancer survivors – helps “empower women to reclaim their bodies after diagnosis.” The four-day rowing camp, which is held at Fountain Point Resort on Lake Leelanau, offers tracks for patients ranging from completely new rowers to master rowers and provides social opportunities at the camp in addition to daily rowing sessions. Meanwhile, for women who prefer smaller individual watercraft, Women’s SUP Nights is a free standup paddleboard club for women who meet weekly at different northern Michigan beaches and parks throughout the summer for an evening paddle on the water, often with socializing afterward.

While leaders of many of the above programs spoke to The Ticker about their personal passion for introducing more women to boating and watercraft, they also acknowledge that reversing the trend of ignoring half of the industry’s potential customer base also makes good business sense.

“Excitement is good for our business,” Venner says. “I don’t think guys buy boats without their significant others weighing in on that decision. That’s the truth. So having more women involved and embracing (the hobby) – it’s better for everyone."