the united states. today according to the coast guard, that number tops out at 12 million. translating to 130 million boat users. at the same time, experts say very little has been invested in boating infrastructure. this man calls it a tragedy waiting to happen. >> if the boat ramp is not well maintained you have the danger of actually recovering boats and having something catastrophic happen. first responders that can't get into the water in a timely manner they simply can't do their job. >> the former director of the coastal resources division in georgia. there are 50,000 boat ramps in the united states. most of them he fears are overcrowded or don't work the way they are supposed to. particularly the ones on the ocean. >> you've got the corrosiveness of the salt air and the water. you've got the erosion cause by the rising and the falling of the tide. so, you know, we sort of