Boat makers see a rising tide

The boat business has been tough for years, but retailers and manufacturers say 2011 is looking better.

Crystal Pierz Marine, for example, reported that business has doubled from 2010 levels through April this year, according to a story about the trend by Minnesota Public Radio. Fishing boats are selling well, and there's hopes for increased pontoon and jet-ski business as the weather warms up.

It's welcome news for the industry, which saw five consecutive years of sales declines in Minnesota.

The story doesn't mention Genmar Holdings, the Minneapolis-based boat manufacturer that broke apart last year in bankruptcy. The company is still around; Irwin Jacobs and John Paul DeJoria bought back a piece of it and relaunched a Hopkins-based company called J&D Holdings with a tighter focus and less overhead. You can read that story here.