UNDATED -- It's another sign the economy is improving -- boat sales in Minnesota are on the rise.

Customers are returning to showroom floors and buying everything from docks and lifts to new and used boats.

Jason Westre of Westre Marine in St. Cloud says his customers are feeling better about the economy because they are starting to finance boats after two years of mostly cash customers.

Jim Buranen owns J & J Marine in South Haven. He says sales are already up 15-percent over last year and just had his best Memorial Weekend Saturday since they opened in 1997.

DNR figures from the end of 2009 shows Minnesota with more than 800,000 registered boats.  Minnesota is also number one in the nation with one boat for every six residents.

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