A national association that tallies boat sales by segment came out with its annual report. It’s no surprise that people in 2008 bought fewer outboard boats, inboard boats, stern-drive boats, personal watercraft, houseboats and even sailboats.

But what about kayaks?

Just as I suspected, the decline in yak sales was tiny compared with sales of other boat types.

It’s not rocket science, but it shows what all of us here along the Great Calusa Blueway are seeing anecdotally – more people are getting into the kind of boating that doesn’t use gasoline and that doesn’t cost as much to get into either.

I can’t drive to work and back without seeing a kayak or two or six strapped on top of a car. Today there are kayaks designed for fishing, racing, touring, even standing up on. Despite the tough economy, new outfitters are still opening shops along the trail (a new one is set for Matlacha soon – tune in come mid-July).

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (www.nmma.org) report showed that 2008 kayak sales totaled 322,700. That’s only 6.9 percent fewer than 2007.

I realize that some other national associations report yak sales annually that may be larger numbers. I suppose it all has to do with who counts and the method they use. But for now, the NMMA report is what we’ve got.

By comparison, outboard boat sales dropped nearly 20 percent to 151,400. Personal watercraft sales (aka Jet Skis, Sea Doos, Wave Runners, etc.) dipped 21.7 percent to 62,600. Skiing and wakeboarding boats and other inboards had a 26 percent drop in sales to 8,900.

I could go on, but you get the idea.

As with any statistical report, though, there’s always one number or category that sticks out.

So I’d say theory about people moving away from boats that need engines is not foolproof. Get this: Canoe sales plummeted 26 percent to 73,700.

I guess, in the end, it’s not so much about just the fuel but about the vessel itself. Kayakers are populating the planet – or at least the United States – a lot more. That’s certainly the case down here in paradise, where kayaks get you up close and personal with otters, dolphins, manatees and sea turtles.

It figures: good type of boat, great area. After all, the manatees don’t know there’s a recession going on, do they?