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NEWS
Victorian boaters growing old
Transport Safety Victoria snapshot shows alarming trendAccording to the latest Maritime Safety Incident and Demographic Statistics report from Transport Safety Victoria, teenagers are abandoning recreational boating while veterans older than 80 are jumping or, rather, hobbling aboard.
The official snapshot for January 2012, boating’s high season in the state deemed "the place to be," reveals recreational boat licence holders aged 12-16 almost halved from 8,626 in January 2009 to 4,450 in January 2012.
In the same period, 17-25 year old licence holders dropped 7.61 per cent. But the number of licence holders was pretty constant for those in the age groups 26-35 (65,488) and 36-45 (the biggest boating demographic numbering 81,002 in 2012).
Now things get interesting. By January 2012 there were 79,283 licence holders aged 46-55, up 2.73 per cent on the previous year, which was up 5.16 per cent on 2010, a rise of 9.97 per cent on 2009.
Victorian licence holders aged 56-65 numbered 53,563 in January 2012, a jump of 5.05 per cent on 2011, while statistically those in the 66-80 year-old bracket grew even more, jumping 10.96 per cent to 29,465 compared to 2011.
But get this! Victorian licence holders aged 80 or older grew by 20.01 per cent to 3,191 in January this year compared with last year. In fact, this age group has been growing more than 20 per cent in the last three years.
Not that we're ageist or saying age is a barrier. Octogenarian adventure boater, Ian Reynolds (opening photo) has circumnavigated Australia, voyaged to Lord Howe Island and PNG on his Riviera 56.
However, the drop-off in teenage licence holders should concern the Victorian boating industry and its association.
Between January 2011 and January 2012 there was a 38.81 per cent fall in 12-16 year old licence holders. In other words, nearly half the kids stopped driving powerboats.
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Are you noticing more well-seasoned skippers on the high seas? What can be done to get teenagers, our future boaters, back behind the helm?
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Written byBoatsales Staff
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