Paddle board craze hits Sand Bar Marine

MATTAWA - The new wave in water sports is the paddle board. And Sand Bar Marine of Mattawa is experiencing the craze. It has sold six boards, and Curt and Tammy Connor expect the number to rise.

The selling technique is simple. The Connors rent out the boards for $50 a day and many of the users are hooked after their first experience.

"One couple went out and used the boards and came back in and bought both of them," Tammy said.

Curt was hooked nearly the same way. He saw demonstrations of paddle board use at the Seattle Boat Show and ordered some.

"It started in Hawaii," Curt said. "People really enjoy them once they try them."

Curt and Tammy are planning a paddle board jousting tournament this summer right at Sand Bar Marine. He'll put together a channel by using hay bales and plastic lining. The competitors will carry a jousting lance (with pillow) in one hand and paddle with the other.

"I've seen it done. It's easy and it's fun," Curt said.

Because of the birth of one grandchild and illness of a daughter, the Connors did not spend the usual 2-3 months last winter in southern California. They closed for about one month then re-opened.

"We had good business this year in February and March," Tammy said.

Although they started Sand Bar Marine as a retirement business, the Connors are not treating it as such. They continue to grow it. They are now looking for boats for their consignment sales operation.

"Sales have been good, and we need inventory," Curt said.

Curt also needs to find a person or two he can train to be a marine mechanic. He's starting to expand his horizons to an expansion store in Vantage and event organization and promotion there. He needs to be able to take some time from his duties at Mattawa.

"I can train a mechanic if I can find a person with mechanical ability," he said.