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Northwest editioN reachiNg seNiors iN illiaNa: cook, lake & Porter couNties
April 2026
A
Cliff Rice
Elder Law Attorney
Vol. 30, No. 1
www.seniorlifenewspapers.com
nchors SENIOR BOATERS weigh taking to the seas
Text and Photos By STEVE EUVINO Feature Writer
“Boating is a way of life. It brings family and friends together.” That’s how Christy Fay, owner of Fay’s Marina in LaPorte, described boating to a potential customer at the Northwest Indiana Boat Show at the Porter County Expo Center in Valparaiso. The 60-year-old customer was shopping for watercraft he could enjoy with his grandchildren. Fay, whose company has been around 54 years, brought various watercraft to the three-day show. So did Tighe Curran, general manager for Pier 33 Marina in St. Joseph, Mich. Curran, whose company has been around four decades, said older buyers are “looking for a way to get the grandkids to hang out with them. That’s one of the biggest draws.” Desired boats depend on tastes on the body of water, Curran explained. For Lake Michigan, he said, consumers might go with a small cruiser or 21-foot runabout. For smaller lakes, a pontoon boat may do for fishing or sightseeing. Curran and others agreed the pandemic may have been the “perfect storm” for boating. Boat sales surged upward 40% from 2020 to 2021. “What do you do when you can’t do anything else?” Curran asked. “This is a great way to get together and it’s family-centered.” According to discoverboating.com, boating is an excellent form of recreation for older adults, but there are safety guidelines. These include: getting on and off the boat safely; wearing life jackets; having safety supplies, first aid equipment, water, and snacks; and having sturdy boat chairs and handrails. Tyler Brock, a conservation officer with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, encourages boaters of all ages to have one lifejacket for each
PONTOON OBSERVER — Dave Vittetoe of Valparaiso examines a pontoon boat at the Northwest Indiana Boat Show at the Porter County Expo Center in Valparaiso. Vittetoe’s father is the boat owner in the family, but Vittetoe said pontoons are a favorite with older boaters. person on board, and the lifejacket must fit each person. Brock also cautions against mixing “medications” while boating. He’s also seen instances in which someone fell off the boat and no one aboard could Continued on page 2
CHECKING OUT — Tom Miller III, left, and Tom Miller Jr., both of Griffth, study the interior of a JetBlaster watercraft at the Northwest Indiana Boat Show at the Porter County Expo Center in Valparaiso. As did others, the Millers looked at a number of boats.
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Porter County Office:506 Evans Avenue Lake County Office:
County 1st Office: Lake Plum County Office: 409Porter E. Lincolnway, Floor Creek Center Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 57 Street, Suite 203 409Franklin E. Lincolnway, 1st Floor Creek Center Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 222Plum Indianapolis Blvd., Suite 207 Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 222 Indianapolis Blvd., Suite 207 Phone: (219) 548-0980 Phone: (219) 548-0980 Schererville, Indiana 46375 Schererville, Indiana 46375 , LLC Phone: (219) 548-0980Fax: (219) 548-0993 Fax: (219) 548-0993 Phone/Fax: 227-4884 Fax: (219) 548-0993 Phone/Fax: (219)(219) 227-4884 *Certified as an Elder Law Attorney the National Elder Law Foundation *Certified as an Elder Lawby Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation
Connie Bauswell, CELA* Connie L.L.Bauswell, CELA* www.conniebauswell.com www.conniebauswell.com