Most kids are operating boats before they can even drive cars. And many of them have boats instead of bicycles for getting around in. Boats are used for countless reasons and are invaluable to the owners, no matter what shape they are in. Quite a few boats aren't even operable but provide homes for those who own them. Many people spend entire seasons living on their vessels, fishing, crabbing, or processing, stopping in at land to stock up on fuel and food once every few months.
Watercraft are the lifeline to numerous ports and towns in Alaska.
In Southeast Alaska, barges that are tugged in from Washington state are filled with groceries for the supermarkets, consumer goods for business', and vehicles and boats for salesmen. They are also frequently used by locals who go south to shop and then load their goods onto a barge to be shipped north. This provides an inexpensive way to convey much needed items to remote locations. State owned ferries also provide inexpensive transportation to towns throughout Alaska, as well as Canada and Washington state. Watercraft, like aircraft, are used and valued as much, if not more, than automobiles in Alaska.