(4/14/2020) - Many people are eager to get their boats in the water, but that will have to wait like many other things during the coronavirus pandemic.

Motorized boats can't be used under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's extended "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order, which will be in place through the month of April.

Whitmer said motorized boats are prohibited because servicing boats, getting gas and crowds at boat launches could impact social distancing. Avid boater Chad Gilbert doesn't agree.

"I don't think the logic is sound," he said.

He is really disappointed that the state's executive order prohibits the use of motorized boats during the coronavirus pandemic.

"I have had friends that have been infected with it. Luckily, they have recovered I do have family members who are front line employees at hospitals," Gilbert said.

So while he understands the need to stop the spread of coronavirus, he does not agree with the governor's new restrictions.

"If I can go on the boat and go down to the Detroit River and fill a cooler of walleye, you know, I would rather do that than stand in line in Kroger with everyone else," Gilbert said.

Ponemah Marina just passed an April 10 benchmark for people getting their boats in the water.

"I don't want to hold their boats hostage, but I am put in the middle of the predicament here," said Ponemah President Andy Castles.

He has 60 customers who want to get their boats out of storage now, but the marina is shut down.

"The changes that came in the last one, I really don't understand why that came now as to why it wasn't there in the beginning," Castles said.

Now he's hoping to salvage the season. He says he sells between 30 to 40 boats a year.

"We have marked down everything. We are trying to get rid of what we got," Castles said.