ELKHART — It's an unexpected position for many local marinas who expected to face a tough economic storm. Slips and docks are beginning to fill up on inland lakes and rivers, after a dismal start to the local boating season.

Many were prepared to face their toughest season in decades. Instead, they're now facing what some say is a new sign that economic recovery is underway.

Jeff Haradine is one of them. He's suddenly a very busy man. Phones at his Wakeside Marine store on Elkhart's Simonton Lake have been ringing off the hook lately.

Boat storage is up. So are service calls. And sales numbers?

"New sales aren't what we'd like them to be, but we go get an awful lot of repeat business. And most dealers I speak with in the area have seen used boat sales better than they've been in many, many years," Haradine said.

It's a position he never expected to see, at least not until next season.

"Our season really begins in January, and the boat shows were very quiet this year compared to years past. I would've told you in January, I'm very concerned about what our industry going to be like come summertime," Haradine said.

Recently, his feelings changed.

"As the weather's started to turn, it seems like people are getting a little more comfortable," Haradine said. "The phones are ringing. We're seeing signs of pickup. I think we're just starting to see the confidence come back with people a little bit."

On Eagle Lake in Edwardsburg, it's been smooth sailing, too.

Eagle Lake Sailing Club Commodore Brian Reedstrom says cool weather initially kept the lake mostly empty, but things are now running full steam ahead.

"We're pretty much on par with where we have been for at least the last five years," he said. "All the places where boats get parked are pretty full."

It didn't start that way. For the first month of the season, traffic at Eagle Lake was mostly local.

"Six months ago, with the economy the way it was, I would've expected to see local traffic here, but not quite as many of the people that come over from Chicago. But the people I know here that come from Chicago are coming regularly," Reedstrom said.

Why the sudden change in direction?

Some experts think it could be another sign of economic recovery at work, as consumers slowly return to regular spending habits.

"This is a good location, because people view this almost as a stay-cation. It's pretty close to where people live. You come up here and you kind of get away from it," Reedstrom said.

This summer, getting away costs less with prices at the gas pump nearly half what they were one year ago. It's helping to fuel a new sense of optimism among both boaters and the local marine industry.

Haradine cautions there's still a long recovery road ahead.

"We're seeing signs of pickup, but we're not out of the woods quite yet," he said.

"Until the entire credit problem is solved, our industry still has obstacles that we face. Manufacturers are going to continue to struggle over the next 6-8 months while the wholesale market shakes itself out. So, I think we're probably a year away from our entire industry being flushed out and really getting back to normal levels," Haradine continued.

Even a little confidence can go a long way. The hope now is this new wave of change is just the beginning of even better things to come.