High demand, low inventory leave boat buyers adrift By Jennifer Mayerle Boaters say they’ve seen more people out on area lakes. “This was the only way to spend time outside with your family without having any restrictions,” Jeremy MacPherson said. A new boat? Hard to come by. “You can’t find a new one,” MacPherson said. Andy Larson, owner of Midwest Water Sports, says demand is incredibly strong. “We have two boats in inventory currently and normally we’d have 40-plus. We have one used, and we’d probably have 20 of those in a normal time,” Larson said. He says the boats on the floor are spoken for, while a customer waits on a boatlift or slip. The pandemic slowed manufacturing, making the market more challenging.