Editor's Note: The crew at Waterway Guide is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a diverse and remarkable boating community. We are grateful that boats provide an escape for us all and that we can help our subscribers navigate that restorative path during the pandemic and beyond.

'Tis the season for thinking about all of the things that make us feel thankful. While it’s best to practice an attitude of gratitude year-round, with Thanksgiving right around the corner, boaters should take a moment to reflect on how especially thankful they are for being able to enjoy boating in all its many forms.

More than ever this year with the COVID-19 pandemic, we are of course all most thankful for the continued health and well-being of our family and friends. But for those who are lucky enough to be healthy and to own a boat (or even those who have taken advantage of boat clubs or boat rentals), well, the reasons to feel thankful are more bountiful this year than most people ever imagined possible.

Here's a few reasons to give extra thanks this Thanksgiving (in no particular order).

1. A Renewed Love for Boating & the Outdoors

Quite a lot of Americans figured out the reasons to love boating during the pandemic, as boat sales skyrocketed in ways that that builders and dealers haven’t seen since, well, pretty much ever.

Between April and May 2020, when the first major COVID-19 lockdowns happened in the Northeast, sales of new boats jumped more than 59 percent, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. And boat sales kept happening at a record pace for months on end, so much so that by July and August, everyone from USA Today to The New York Times was reporting on America’s new love affair with boats.

2. Boating is the Perfect Social Distancing Activity

To be sure, quite a lot of people felt thankful to be able to get out on the water. Boating is, by definition, a socially distanced activity that takes place outside in the fresh air.

Whether it’s cruising with the wind in your hair or sitting at anchor in a harbor with plenty of room for the boat to swing with the current, boats create a safe space for immediate family members to relax and have fun away from the virus.

Boating During COVID-19: Tips for Safe Social Distancing

3. Fun, Sun and Family Bonding

Typically in a fast-paced world, it’s hard to find time for family and that’s where boats shine. Whether it’s taking kids out fishing, cruising the islands with your partner or hosting your parents for a sundowner cruise, boats give us a reason to come (and stay) together. Passing down a passion for boating is also immensely satisfying.

Read the full story.