PHOTO COURTESY CHICAGO BOAT CO. Boaters will hit the water en masse for a great view of the April 8 total solar eclipse, and dealers, marinas, drystacks and launch ramps along the eclipse path will likely see an influx of action.
The total eclipse will be accessible to millions of Americans in a wide swath of the country, from the Mexico border in Texas to Maine. It will cover portions of the Midwest and East Coast before reaching Canada and moving out to sea, according to NASA.
In all, it will traverse 13 states that have myriad lakes, rivers and waterways, and a 115-mile-wide path will turn to darkness for several minutes. It won’t happen again for two decades, according to NASA.
What will spur boaters to hit the water is the expectation of snarled highway traffic and viewing areas by people planning trips into the prime viewing path. “Pack your patience, whether traveling a great distance or locally, as people will be out and about to catch a glimpse of the eclipse,” said Aixa Diaz, a spokesperson for the American Automobile Association.
Crowds are expected in cities, towns and remote areas, many without the infrastructure to handle big crowds. But boat owners can avoid the hassles, get an unobstructed view and peacefully enjoy the spectacle.
Dealers and marinas in applicable locations should plan for increased demand and customer action — for example, a full fuel dock, sufficient forklift drivers for launchings and recoveries, and transient dock space.
The eclipse’s path of total darkness will begin shortly after noon, following a path over such cities as San Antonio, Dallas, Little Rock, Carbondale, Cleveland, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Watertown and Burlington. It will end at Houlton, Maine by about 4:40 pm.
In Ohio’s Lorain County, just west of Cleveland, officials are already warning residents to be ready for an increase in visitors, heavy traffic and possible cellphone signal drops.
Dealers should remind customers that it’s unsafe safe to look directly at the sun without special solar filters, including during the total eclipse.
Customer Idea: Order solar eclipse glasses and hand them out to staff and customers. Or stage a solar eclipse party on your marina docks. There’s time to be creative.
A total solar eclipse is far more impressive than a lunar or an annular solar eclipse. During an annular eclipse, the moon covers the sun but leaves an outside ring, called a “ring of fire,” and it only darkens the sky instead of plunging Earth into a night-like darkness.
We’re just 10 days from when the total solar eclipse, and now you know to be ready if you are in the path.
