Oakmont Regatta Could Boost Local Economy

Locals will enjoy a weekend of nautical activities at the 's annual regatta this Saturday and Sunday, and community business owners hope it boosts the local economy.

Area boating businesses owners also have noticed that the industry has not been unaffected by the downturn in the economy, but things are starting to turn around.

More people are selling boats than there are people buying boats, said Oakmont Yacht Club Commodore Tim Connelly.

“I just hope we can get over that,” he said.

There’s seems to already be a change in the tide, according to Brian Illar, owner of Outboard Haven, a boat services shop in Verona.

Although business at Outboard Haven has been down the past two years, Illar said business has picked up this boating season.

“I haven’t been this busy in a long time,” he said.

At in Plum, owner Brian Blackall said he has always been busy during his seven years of service.

“During boating season, there’s never a moment that I don’t have something to do,” Blackall said.

Despite the economy’s impact on the boating industry, the Greater Pittsburgh boating community still contributes to local business, Illar said, and that makes the boating culture important locally. 

“It’s huge. It’s good for the economy,” Illar said.

There are 138 dock slips at the Outboard Haven, and as Illar sees it, that’s an opportunity for more than 100 people coming to the town to use the services.

The Oakmont Yacht Club's regatta brings in 50 to 60 boats into the Oakmont marina and about 3,000 to 4,000 people, said Molly Frank, the Regatta chairwoman. However, that all depends on the weather, she said.

Weather plays a part in the boating business in general, according to Illar.

“It’s a tough business—you have to rely on Mother Nature," Illar said. "Mother Nature pays your bills. She can make you or break you."

While the majority of regatta guests are from Verona and Oakmont, people from Minnesota come to play volleyball, and people from Virginia and the Akron Yacht Club attend as well.

While local restaurant owners say there isn’t a noticeable surge in business during the Regatta weekend—such as during the Greek Food Festival—there is steady business from boaters yearly.

Boaters always are stopping at restaurant for a bite, said the owner’s son, Michael Sciulli.

“All year round, you get people from the boating marinas,” Sciulli said.

And these boaters are not coming from just Verona and Oakmont docks, said Dan Monaco, owner of and .

“We get them from all the docks around here for dinner,” Monaco said.

Boaters docked a few days in Fox Chapel and other docks further out tend to stop in at his restaurants for a meal.

About 30 percent of Illar’s business comes from Verona and Oakmont residents, he said. Blackall said about 15 percent to 20 percent of his business comes locally.

The state of the boating industry, however, cannot be judged from the Oakmont and Verona perspective, Connelly said. While Oakmont maintains a full marina, other marinas are struggling, including the Brackenridge marina he said.

Soaring gas prices are not helping, either.

The economy and gas prices may hinder boaters from traveling far, Gosser said.

Connelly said these factors will not matter as much to people who have been boating for years.

“Older boaters will always be boaters,” Connelly said.

Even with the struggles, Illar said boating is just part of who he is.

“Been doing it all my life,” said Illar, who has been working with boats for 30 years.

Blackall also says boating is simply something he enjoys doing.

“It’s kind of like being on a motorcycle…just the enjoyment of cruising around,” he said.