“It was cold for months, then we went from cold to wet,” she said. The company’s year-to-date sales are lower this year than last, despite the economy improving by many measures, she said.

Perceptions of sailing may also have affected the market.

“Many people have no idea sailing is so affordable,” she said, adding that for many, sailing brings to mind images of elite yacht clubs or the America’s Cup with its multimillion-dollar racing yachts funded by extremely wealthy patrons.

“We had one couple with two young children who were considering a pontoon boat but who stopped in to look at sailboats,” she said. “They had absolutely no idea they could get into sailing for around $3,000.”

Narishkin also cited a demographic shift as another reason for the poor local market.

Local sailing clubs are having difficulty attracting new members, and the number of Sea Scout troops in the area has declined from 44 in the 1940s to four today.

The Sea Scouts are a branch of the Boy Scouts of America that teaches youths about sailing and navigation.