Why Utah’s boating culture is thriving: A look at local communities

Would it surprise you to learn that Utah, with its high mountain desert climate, is the No. 2 boat market in the United States? The Beehive State comes in just behind Dallas, despite a much shorter boating season. 

In Texas, boat owners can take to the water as early as March and go through October, whereas Utah’s lakes are usually only water sports friendly from late May (if you’re lucky!) through September.

A family soaks up some sun out on the water.

Short but sweet

But Utah has its advantages. Water temperatures in Dallas get into the toasty upper 80s in the summer. That’s at least 15 degrees higher than Utah’s mountain lakes of Jordanelle, Bear Lake or Flaming Gorge, which sit in the refreshing low- to mid-70s. And in flat-as-a-pancake Texas, you won’t find lakes surrounded by towering red rock cliffs or majestic mountain views.

“It’s shocking that Utah has such a thriving boating community, since we only have a three-month window,” says Zach White, director of marketing and retail at Marine Products, Salt Lake City’s premier water sports pro shop since 1971. 

“But I think the biggest reason is our mountains. We are a community of outdoorsy people. And the mountains drive us to be in the outdoors, to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.”

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Fresh air takes on a whole new meaning on a water toy.

Ski Utah!

In surveys that White has done for Marine Products, as many as 95% of boating enthusiasts are downhill skiers, too. Utahns love to ski on snow in the winter and on the water in the summer.

That’s certainly true for Jon Robinson, a commercial real estate agent and father of five from Bluffdale. He and his wife, Kat, have long frequented the slopes of Big Cottonwood Canyon in the winter with their five kids. Then in 2020, they became a boating family, too. 

They purchased their 22-foot Moomba LSV through KSL.com, where they also turn for boating equipment and accessories, such as towables, kneeboards and wakeboards.

“I look for almost everything on KSL first, because you can often find stuff that’s well taken care of, and it really helps make it affordable,” Robinson says. “Marine Products is my other go-to, since it’s the best marine store in town for selection.”

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Take the whole family boating.

Wake’s up

Robinson’s children, who range in age from 7 to 15, enjoy wakesurfing the most, but they also wakeboard and tube. Wakesurfing has seemingly revolutionized boating, opening the sport up to both younger and older participants. With slower speeds and lower impacts, it’s less painful to fall and more fun for the whole family. 

“Families are another huge reason boating is so popular in Utah,” says White. “We are such a family driven community, and boating is a fantastic family activity.” When teens are out on the lake, phones and friends are the last thing on their minds. They’re too busy surfing, tubing, wakeboarding, and living in the moment.

Enjoy the outdoors all summer long.

Family first

“It’s great because boating turns your kids into a captive audience,” says Robinson. “When you’re on the boat, everyone’s close together, talking and cheering for each other. It’s a good way to help kids be a fan of their siblings and celebrate the things they do.”

His teens don’t hesitate to turn down activities with friends to go spend an evening on the boat with just the family. And thanks to the proximity of Utah Lake and Deer Creek Reservoir, it’s not a big deal to take the boat out for just a few hours at the end of a workday.

“Considering the amount of quality family time you get out of it, the work to take your boat out is pretty minimal,” says White.

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Boat vacay

For multiday trips, the Robinsons prefer either Flaming Gorge in Daggett County or Bear Lake on the Utah-Idaho border, both of which they visit at least once a year. Flaming Gorge offers a remote, camping vibe, with its glassy blue water and red rock cliffs dotted with vibrant green pinyon pines and juniper trees. 

Bear Lake, on the other hand, is closer to civilization, with restaurants and famous raspberry shakes available in nearby Garden City. But it’s equally beautiful. Because of its distinctive turquoise color, caused by light reflecting off of limestone particles in the water, Bear Lake has earned the nickname the “Caribbean of the Rockies.”

All ages enjoy spending some time on the water.

The Robinsons also try to go to Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona border every couple of years, a place White says is “like being on a different planet.” They usually go with friends, since Lake Powell is best experienced with a houseboat in addition to one or more speedboats.

Other waterskiing options within a few hours drive of the greater Salt Lake metro area include Willard Bay in Box Elder County, East Canyon Reservoir in Morgan County and Yuba Lake in Juab County.

Community ties

“We have some of the prettiest lakes in the world,” White says. “And once you own a boat, you're welcomed into this culture of boaters. It’s really a community of people who love clean fresh air, beautiful scenery, family time and being active in the great outdoors.”

Ready to take the plunge? Shop boat listings on KSL Classifieds to find your perfect watercraft.