Wilmington-area residents are flocking to the waterways this year.
Freedom Boat Club in Carolina Beach, which opened a Carolina Beach location last October, booked 100% of their boats for Christmas Eve, which is reflective of an increased demand for boating this year, Franchise Owner Zach Hollenbaugh said.
He believes the demand has come out of people wanting to create positive memories amid the COVID-19 pandemic. So many people are living behind their keyboards these days because of working from home, schooling from home that the ability to take a boat out on the water and be outdoors gives them that freedom and escape, he said. People are hungry for it.