5 Boating Facts that may surprise you
Boating has been around for approximately 8,000 years, and as you can imagine there are some fascinating boating facts floating around! From the Stone Age dugouts to today’s tight knit boating community, life on the water is full of surprising moments. Check out a few of our favorite fun facts from all those years in between:

1. 14-year-old Laura Dekker was the youngest person to solo sail around the world
2. The English word “quarantine” comes from 17th century boating terminology
3. Ship speeds are measured in knots– literally!
One knot is equal to one nautical mile per hour. The term “knots” dates back to the 17th century, when sailors measured their ship’s speed using a tool called a “common log.” This was a rope with evenly spaced knots, which they would let trail behind the ship for a set amount of time. By counting how many knots passed through their hands, sailors could estimate the vessel’s speed.
4. Sailing has been in the Olympics since 1900
The Olympic games have long featured sailing as one of its core sports, with the event making it’s debut in 1900. Since then, it has only been omitted once, during the 1904 Olympic games. Sailing is also unique in that it is one of the few sports where men and women compete together. Great Britain holds the record for the most gold medals in sailing, a reflection of the country’s deep roots in the sport. Close behind is the USA, with other frequent medalists including Norway, Spain, and France.
5. The COVID-19 pandemic created a boom in boat sales
As people spent more time at home, many recognized the benefits of owning boats and watercrafts to safely enjoy the outdoors. In 2020, an estimated $47 billion was spent on boat purchases in the U.S. With boat sales continuing to soar, this trend is expected to carry into 2021. As more boaters take to the waterways, we’re here to connect them with private dock owners, offering a convenient way for dock owners to rent out their spaces while earning extra income.
The world of boating has so much rich history and we are looking forward to the future. Visit us next month for more boating facts.
We hope to make private docksharing a part of every boater’s life, just like a common log in the 17th century. Let’s make history together! Happy boating!