John Freeman has owned the Small Boat Exchange in Shelburne for 26 years. This small boat dealer sells boats that can fit on a trailer or car top. From sail boats to power boats, and canoes to kayaks, Freeman is an expert in helping his customers pick out the boat that is right for them.

In terms of the trends in boat buying, Freemen said that when he started his business, it was the "end of the sailboat era" and the beginning of the powerboat one. Now, Freeman said the sailboat era is back, and "people want to relax more on the water."

Freeman also spoke to the kayak phenomenon: "Kayaking took off in the benchmark years - from the mid-90s to 2004 was the peak season for kayaks." He went on to explain that purchases of kayaks are slowly fading, primarily because the boats do not break or wear out; a kayak can last for 15 years without needing to be replaced.

As far as the Vermont market is concerned, Freeman said that that 80 percent of his business comes from Vermont and 20 percent is from out of state. The season in Vermont starts about when the skiing stops, explained Freeman. People are starting to look for their boats right about now, and the season goes from about April to November. Freeman pointed out that anglers usually stretch the season until the lake freezes over.

Although Freeman primarily sells new boating crafts, he also does consignment and trades.
Freeman is the is the president of the Vermont Boat and Marine Association and has been involved with the association since its beginning in 1991. Goals of the association include promoting boat safety, protection of water and the environment, and advocating with legislature to reach these goals. Currently, a primary objective of the association is to prevent water pollution from boats. The program, entitled, "Don't ‘P' in the Lake" attempts to lower phosphate levels in local waters. The idea is to educate boaters on safe materials and effective ways to clean their boats without polluting the waters. The group deals with the Environmental Protection Agency and local marinas to ensure that the boats docked are not using harmful cleaners, and that when they wash the algae off the bottom of their boats, they do not wash it right back into the lake. The overarching purpose is to create a more environmentally friendly system, which equals a healthy lake.