Tariff Turmoil: How Rising Costs Are Challenging American Hobbies

Posted by Mark Gallot May 5, 2025
1 of 3 | Frank Vaughan in Garland, Texas, has spent hundreds of thousands on his sailboats. But Vaughan says that if the cost of materials keeps going up like it has been he may give up sailing. (Shelby Tauber / The New York Times)
1 of 3 | Frank Vaughan in Garland, Texas, has spent hundreds of thousands on his sailboats. But Vaughan says that if the cost of materials keeps going up like it has been he may give up sailing. (Shelby Tauber / The New York Times)

Since October, Frank Vaughan has been engaged in a labor of love, restoring a 1990 Catalina 18 sailboat at his Cedar Creek, Texas home. As the project neared completion earlier this year, all that remained were the sails. In February, Vaughan, 66, attempted to procure two new Dacron sails from a Chinese manufacturer at an estimated cost of $400 each. However, due to tariffs, the price surged to $1,200 per sail. In search of alternatives, Vaughan approached a Canadian company, only to find that their sails, also sourced from China, would cost 50% more than anticipated. A U.S. company quoted him $800 each, but with a six to eight-month wait. In the end, Vaughan settled for used sails at $236 each, though they lacked the new sails’ sheen. “They will do for a while,” Vaughan commented, expressing frustration at the cost. Having invested significantly in sailing since the 1980s, Vaughan now faces the possibility of abandoning the hobby due to escalating material costs. “It would be a terrible loss,” he lamented. “Looking at the water, wishing I was on the water.” Tariffs, introduced by former President Donald Trump, are affecting nearly every aspect of American life. A recent 10% blanket tariff on most imports, while less severe than earlier plans, is expected to drive up prices. Specifically, tariffs on Chinese goods, set at 145%, threaten to impact a wide array of consumer products, particularly those cherished by collectors and hobbyists. The ripple effect of these tariffs is being felt across various hobbies. For instance, some consumers are bracing for increased costs of Chinese-made dice for role-playing games, while others may forgo or reduce their indulgence in hobbies altogether. In times of economic uncertainty, discretionary spending on hobbies often takes a hit. According to Sucharita Kodali, a retail analyst at Forrester, consumers might cut back on nonessential purchases like recreational supplies. The situation is twofold for hobbyists: not only do foreign goods become more expensive, but domestically produced items may also see price hikes as raw materials increase in cost. Keith Williamson, a 52-year-old wine collector, has preemptively stocked up on wines from Bordeaux and Rhône Valley, fearing the impact of potential tariffs. Although he indulges in an expensive hobby, Williamson remains mindful of value and rarely spends over $200 per bottle. Should tariffs significantly affect wine prices, he may turn to his existing collection and domestic wines. Alia Danilo, 29, a recreational baker in Brooklyn, New York, is particularly concerned about the rising cost of Kerrygold butter, imported from Ireland. With premium baking ingredients at risk of price hikes, Danilo, who lives paycheck to paycheck, might have to give up her baking hobby altogether. Quilters and board game enthusiasts face similar challenges. Kate Hay, a quilter who started an online quilt supply shop, remains wary despite the temporary pause on tariffs. The uncertainty surrounding tariffs has many hobbyists reconsidering their activities. For baseball-card collector Gary LeMaster, the cost of protective sleeves and cases has nearly doubled, threatening the sustainability of his hobby. Meanwhile, adult consumers, who constitute a significant portion of the toy market, may be forced to absorb higher prices if tariffs persist. The gaming industry, heavily reliant on Chinese imports, is also in “panic mode.” Andrew Lynch, inventory manager at a Brooklyn game store, anticipates rising prices and has preemptively stocked popular games. The uncertainty has led some U.S. board game companies to halt Chinese shipments or shut down. Despite the challenges, some hobbyists remain optimistic. Luis Garcia, 25, a manga card game player, hopes his group will agree to forego new card sets if prices escalate. Similarly, Avery Heinonen, 20, a model train enthusiast, believes the hobby’s resilience will endure, as it has through past economic hardships. Note: This article is inspired by content from https://www.seattletimes.com/business/want-to-escape-the-financial-news-dont-try-a-hobby/. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.