Anderson: Arrival of the Minneapolis Boat Show signals that open water — and better times — are ahead

The Minneapolis Boat Show, opening Thursday, Jan. 22 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, is arriving at a difficult time. The Twin Cities — and all of Minnesota — are under tremendous pressure and feeling a vibe that is opposite of the one that radiated from Time magazine on Aug. 13, 1973.

Pictured on the publication’s cover that day was a beaming Minnesota Gov. Wendell Anderson, holding a northern pike, alongside which, in bold letters, were the words, “The Good Life in Minnesota.”

Not so much these days.

But good times will come again — you can count on it — and the Minneapolis Boat Show, with its fantasy displays of watercraft, is a bellwether of what is and always has been the best that Minnesota offers: Its lakes and rivers, and the good times they provide.

Granted, not everyone can afford a yacht.

But everyone can go to a beach, swim in a cool lake, and dream that someday they, too, might own that paddle board, kayak, canoe, fishing boat or even the yacht that lazes by dreamily in the distance.

Boat crazy is what it’s called, and countless Minnesotans suffer from it.

Here are three low-cost, high-adventure ideas to get you on the water:

A canoe — a Minnesota must-have

Minnesota offers more paddling options than any state. In addition to the 1,100 lakes and nearly countless rivers in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota boasts some 30 water trails covering 4,500 miles of riverine beauty.

As watercraft-purchasing options go, canoes are a relative bargain — though gone are the times when $800 would get you a new double-ender.

Even old standbys, such as Grumman aluminum 17-footers, will set you back $2,400 or so nowadays. These are great watercraft that can last a lifetime. But at 70-plus pounds, they’re heavy, which can be a drag when crossing long Boundary Waters portages.

Modern 17-foot canoes can be bought that tip the scales at about 40 pounds, and in some cases even less, depending on materials and trim. Plus, these canoes travel fast, track easily and are more maneuverable than aluminum models.

But not all lightweights paddle the same. On-the-water test runs can aid decision-making, as can advice from knowledgeable paddlers who have trekked in a variety of canoes.

New canoes from Northstar, Wenonah, Souris River or other manufacturers run $3,500 to $4,000. If you’re willing to buy a used model at season’s end from a BWCA area outfitter, you’ll spend less.

Solo canoes also are great to have around, as are 19-foot aluminum square-stern canoes that can be outfitted with small outboards. The former make possible personal adventures, while the latter can get anglers and hunters into small waters where bigger boats can’t go.

Jon boats

Regardless, in Minnesota, they’re a must-have to hunt, fish or simply sightsee the state’s many rivers.

But consideration is required when purchasing.

Many jon boats are 16- or 18-footers designed for 25- to 50-horsepower outboards and have modified V-hulls rather than flat-bottom hulls.

Some of these are set up specifically for duck hunting, with camouflage paint, gun lockers, and tunnel hulls designed for use with jet outboards. Bigger jons with center consoles are essentially fishing boats that can be used for hunting.

I own two jons, one 18 feet long and one 14 feet. The smaller one is old, narrow and fairly light — ideal for motoring up the Rum River and similar-sized rivers for smallmouths, or traveling the Mississippi River between Monticello and Elk River, or the St. Croix near Grantsburg, Wis., for smallies, northerns and the odd walleye.

Upshot: While small jon boats — whichever way it’s spelled — powered by equally small outboards aren’t ideal for large rivers such as the Mississippi, they can deliver big adventures on smaller waters for a modest price.

Fishing boats

I wrote a column recently about Minnesotans’ love of XXL fishing boats, as in 18- to 21-footers with 200-plus-horsepower outboards.

These walleye catchers are fun to own and sometimes even necessary while plying Minnesota’s largest and occasionally wave-tossed lakes, such as Upper Red, Vermilion, Rainy, Leech, Cass, Mille Lacs and Lake of the Woods.

But boats don’t put fillets in a frying pan.

Until about 25 years ago, a tiller-driven 16-footer with a big enough outboard to put the boat on plane was the ideal Minnesota fishing boat. A flat floor and pedestal seats added comfort and a stern-mounted electric trolling motor allowed anglers to hover more or less immobilized atop reefs, drop-offs and other walleye haunts.

First popularized in Minnesota by walleye fishing icon Al Lindner, this type of boat is still a supreme fish catcher, and countless versions of it will be displayed through Sunday at the Minneapolis Boat Show.

Some will be more expensive, some less.