A growing number of Canadian buyers are helping to pull the state of Washington's boating industry out of a prolonged slump.

Buoyed by the strength of their dollar and an economy rebounding more quickly from the recession, Canadians have been crossing the border in recent months to buy boats in Washington. Most come from British Columbia, but some buyers come from as far away as Alberta, according to a report in Three Sheets Northwest.

Though the state does not track sales of boats that are purchased in Washington and registered elsewhere, Northwest brokers say Canadians have made up an increasing percentage of business in recent months.

"Our market has not been hit as hard as other parts of the country, and one of the main reasons for that is we've been fortunate to have Canadian buyers," said Matt Maynard, the owner of Irwin Yacht Sales in Seattle, who closed two boat sales to buyers from British Columbia in a recent week.

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