Industry News and Announcements

6.11.13: New-Boat Sales Up, Reports NMMA

The National Marine Manufacturers Association announced today that recreational boating has an annual economic value of $121 billion, a number that includes new and used product sales, craft and trip sales and labor income.

“Everything that touches boating is a part of this study,” NMMA spokeswoman Sarah Ryser told Trade Only Today. “It’s the first time the NMMA has done something of this magnitude.”

The data showed that Americans spent more money on annual boat trips than in any other category, potentially reflecting the 6 percent increase in boating participation. They also spent more on maintenance, upkeep and parts in 2012 than on new boats, motors and trailers.

“Craft and trip” spending in the United States measured $83 billion, which includes new boats, motorsand trailers, accounting for $20.7 billion; used boats, motors and trailers, making up $11.74 billion; “annual craft spending,” or upkeep, parts and maintenance at $23.64 billion; and boat trip spending at $27.72 billion, Ryser said.

The industry supports 964,000 American jobs and 34,833 businesses, contributing $39.9 billion in annual labor income.

The findings were part of data collected for the annual U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, which will be released later in June.

Though they’re a small percentage of overall sales, new sailboat purchases were up 29.2 percent in 2012, giving new-boat sales a little push overall.

The NMMA had estimated that sales overall rose10 percent in 2012 — the biggest gain seen since the recession’s onset — launching a media blitz covering the industry’s rebound. New-boat sales were actually up 10.7 percent, to 163,245, with powerboat sales rising 10 percent, to 157,300 units, and new sailboat sales jumping 29.2 percent, to 5,945.

Outboard boats are the most popular type of new powerboat sold, making up about 82 percent of the market. Small fiberglass and aluminum outboard boats 26 feet or less continued their upward climb, with an 11.3 percent increase in the number of new boats sold.

Ski and wakeboard boats also saw healthy growth, with a 13.4 percent increase in new boats sold in 2012.

Jetboats, which are small fiberglass boats of less than 26 feet, were a growing category. Of the 157,300 new powerboats sold in 2012, 4,500 were jetboats, accounting for a 36.4 percent increase.

Boating participation posted the largest increase since the NMMA began measuring it in the early 1990s, with an estimated 88 million adults boating last year. That’s up 6 percent from 83 million in 2011, Ryser said.

The NMMA is forecasting that new powerboat sales will increase an additional 5 percent in 2013.

“Summer is a peak selling season for recreational boats, accessories and services throughout the U.S. as people look for ways to disconnect from the daily grind and enjoy fun times on the water,” NMMA president Thom Dammrich said in a statement. “New-boat sales have historically been a barometer for the U.S. economy, and the steady sales increases we’re seeing are being reinforced by the slow uptick in consumer confidence, housing and spending. As economic growth continues we anticipate sustained steady growth through the remainder of 2013.”

5.15.13: National Safe Boating Week Starts Saturday

Boating safety courses remain a priority with the approach of the 2013 National Safe Boating Week, which takes place May 18-24 with coordinated events across the country.

 

Public and private organizations are ramping up efforts to increase boater awareness of state safety guidelines as boating season and National Safe Boating Week begin. In 2011 boating accidents reached a 10-year high, underscoring the need for easier access to boating safety courses and other educational materials. New Coast Guard data released for the year 2012 shows that marine deaths hit a record low.

“We monitor the boating industry year-round, and with warmer weather comes the increased potential for boating accidents. Education and awareness are key factors in preventing accidents. The purpose of any boating safety course or training material is to prepare boaters for a variety of scenarios in and out of the water,” Kalkomey Enterprises president Kurt Kalkomey said in a statement.

Boating safety courses are available year-round; however, spikes in course registrants are typical in the early spring and summer. All boaters are encouraged to take a course, regardless of state requirements, before taking to the water.

Several states with education and license requirements also have age requirements for life jackets. The online boating safety courses offered at www.boat-ed.com outline the conditions for each state. In some states, boaters as young as 12 can legally operate a personal watercraft if they complete a boating safety course.

“More young people are earning boating certifications as they reach their state’s age of eligibility. Parents are a big part of this trend and it is encouraging to know that boating education is an increasing priority,” Kalkomey vice president of product development Cindy Kalkomey said in a statement.

5.14.13: USCG Releases 2012 Boating Statistics Report

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard released its 2012 Recreational Boating Statistics Monday, revealing that boating fatalities that year totaled 651, the lowest number of boating fatalities on record.
From 2011 to 2012, deaths in boating-related accidents decreased from 758 to 651, a 14.1 percent decrease; injuries decreased from 3,081 to 3,000, a 2.6 percent reduction; and the total reported recreational boating accidents decreased from 4,588 to 4,515, a 1.6 percent decrease.
The fatality rate for 2012 of 5.4 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels reflected a 12.9 percent decrease from the previous year's rate of 6.2 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. Property damage totaled approximately $38 million.
"We're very pleased that casualties are lower, and thank our partners for their hard work over the past year," said Capt. Paul Thomas, director of Inspections and Compliance at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters. "We will continue to stress the importance of life jacket wear, boating education courses and sober boating."
The report states alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 1;7 percent of the deaths. Operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, machinery failure and excessive speed ranked as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.
Almost 71 percent of all fatal boating accident victims drowned, with 84 percent of those victims not reported as wearing a life jacket. Approximately 14 percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had received boating safety instruction. The most common types of vessels involved in reported accidents were open motorboats, personal watercraft and cabin motorboats.
The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to boat responsibly while on the water: wear a life jacket, take a boating safety course, get a free vessel safety check and avoid alcohol consumption.

4.24.13: Timing Questioned in Fundraising for Boston-area Boat Owner

An online fundraising effort to help replace the boat destroyed in a shootout between authorities and a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing case has raised questions ranging from what type of boat it was to what happens when property is taken as evidence. The boat is a 1981 24-foot Falcon, possibly marketed as a Seabird since Falcon purchased the tooling from that company. Larry Russo Sr., of Russo Marine, told Trade Only Today that he has been inundated with people asking whether he is going to step into an effort to help David Henneberry get a new boat, so he looked up the public registration information to see whether the Watertown, Mass., resident was already a customer. “This is too raw, it’s too soon. We shouldn’t be talking about fiberglass right now,” Russo said. A campaign launched Saturday by Craig Dunlap, of Texas, on Crowdtilt — a site that seeks to make pooling money simple — asks donors to give until $50,000 is raised to replace or restore Henneberry’s boat. Henneberry, breaking days of silence, told WCBV: "It makes me feel wonderful that people are thinking like that, but it is my boat. People lost lives and lost limbs. I'd rather that [the money] go to the One Fund Boston. To buy me a new boat is a wonderful thing. I don't want that, really. They lost limbs. I lost a boat.” Ajay Mehta, who is with San Diego-based Crowdtilt, responded to criticism that the fund was created too quickly after the attacks. “It wasn’t like this was the most important cause right now. It was more about reaching out with a hand of support to a man who was unwittingly thrust into the spotlight,” Mehta told Trade Only. “It’s not like fundraising or charity. It’s just people can chip in if they want to.” Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn told Trade Only that the boat is in federal hands. The FBI said it wouldn’t comment even generally regarding what happens with property confiscated as evidence because of the high profile of the investigation. The Associated Press reported that Boston police and firefighter unions said they would give $50,000 to anyone who provided information leading to a suspect’s arrest. But even if there is a reward “it’s not really boat-replacement money,” Mehta said. "Slip Away is slipping away, but I say it did its job,” Hennebery told the station. “It held a bad guy and is going away like a Viking ship."

3.28.13: Palm Beach Show Reports Attendance Boost

Organizers of the Palm Beach International Boat Show say attendance increased by 3.7 percent from last year, and manufacturers and brokerages are reporting that sales were strong. “While the crowds seemed a little lighter to us, people brought their checkbooks, which is great,” Denison Yacht Sales president Bob Denison said. “I am glad we did [the show] and we will continue to invest in the show. From a brokerage’s point of view, it’s everybody’s favorite show because it has a very qualified crowd and it’s relaxed and it’s a well-run show.” Denison carries five brands — Greenline, Beneteau and Beneteau GT, Austin Parker and Monte Carlo. The 2013 event was the largest show since 2008, according to Efrem "Skip" Zimbalist III, CEO of Active Interest Media and Show Management, producer of the four-day event that ended Sunday. The amount of land display area shot up 22 percent to 89,000 square feet this year, compared with 73,000 in 2012. "We filled every available square inch and went scrounging for more space and still had to turn away a few exhibitors," Zimbalist said at a media breakfast on the first day of the show. "The show has been growing multidimensionally. We have some of the biggest boats we have ever had." The largest was the 223-foot Kismet. The number of new boats in the water increased 31 percent, from 186 new boats at the 2012 show to 244 this year. The 58 boats that made up that increase consisted of 44 boats under 60 feet; nine from 60 to 80 feet; and five larger than 80 feet. The number of brokerage boats in the water was up by 25 percent — there were 299 in 2013, compared with 239 in 2012. Total boats — new and used — were up by 28 percent, from 425 to 543. More manufacturers of boats and marine products attended the show, according to Zimbalist. For instance, Viking Yachts representatives were available at the HMY Yacht Sales display, he said. Representatives from Ferretti Yachts were on site, too, along with their brokerage arm, Allied Marine. I interviewed Brett Keating, the Ferretti Group’s vice president of marketing for the Americas. Ferretti Yachts and Allied prefer not to disclose specifics about the number of boats sold at the show, but “it was a positive show — it was great,” Keating said. “And we were quite happy with the results, and next year we’ll definitely be back, and hopefully with even more boats. That’s the plan.” Ferretti and Allied representatives noticed an increase in qualified buyers this year, Keating said. “The show has the potential to grow even more — in attendance and in number of boats,” she said. Mike Strassel, a broker with RJC Yacht Services & Charter in Fort Lauderdale, sold a 2003 54-foot Hatteras at the show. Strassel said he and some other brokers believe that local qualified buyers — boaters from Fort Lauderdale and Fort Pierce — are skipping the Miami International Boat Show to avoid the traffic and parking challenges. “But the local Floridian is going to the Palm Beach boat show and buying boats — it’s a great boat show,” he said. The show’s relaxed atmosphere draws customers to the Palm Beach event, said Strassel. “It has a real community spirit and lots of boats, from $200,000 10-year-old small motoryachts all the way up to yachts like the $10.9 million 147-foot Lady M that I had at the boat show.” You’ll also find niche markets at the show, such as retro mahogany runabouts, motoryachts and dayboats. Roger O’Neill, owner of O’Neill Craft, sold two of his 28-foot retro cruisers. His boats consist of fiberglass hulls and teak or mahogany from the hull up. He showed two of his vessels, which list at $252,000, at the show. “We had lots of interest,” he said. “We had people on the boats all day, every day.”

3.04.13: Survey Shows Marine Industry can Expect Gains

In light of an improving consumer outlook, more than half of marine industry survey participants say now is the time to increase inventory levels to be fully stocked for the spring selling season. That’s according to results released by GE Capital, Commercial Distribution Finance, which reported that 51 percent of respondents said it was the best time for dealers to increase inventory. GE Capital's survey was conducted Feb.13-15, according to The Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch. The respondents are a variety of marine industry participants, including manufacturers, dealers and distributors. "Overall, our data indicate sales are improving, costs are down and earnings are up at the dealer level," Bruce Van Wagoner, president of CDF's marine group, told the paper. "We believe that 2013 will look a lot like 2012 — slow and steady growth in a smaller, healthier market." Forty-three percent of survey respondents said they expect sales to increase 5 percent to 10 percent this year, and 30 percent said they expect sales to increase 10 percent to 15 percent. CDF's forecast, unveiled Feb. 13 at the Miami International Boat Show, calls for the marine industry to grow about 8 percent in the United States in 2013. "Of course, positive news on some of the most critical economic factors could kick up consumer demand and drive industry performance beyond current expectations," Van Wagoner said. Forty-two percent of survey respondents said consumer demand was their greatest business concern, down from 64 percent in 2012. Asked which trend will have the largest impact on the boating industry this year, 32 percent of respondents pointed to the popularity of low-cost or "base" models, up from 23 percent last year. Thirty percent of respondents expect long production lead times, compared to 21 percent last year. Aluminum boats, fiberglass fishing boats and recreational boats are the top three types, respectively, that the industry believes will be in demand this year. "Low stocking levels may result in lost sales, but today shipments are generally aligned with demand," Van Wagoner said. "Many dealers ask for market intelligence to make better-informed decisions about brand, segments and stocking levels so they can be sure to stock the products that their customer base wants to buy

2.20.13: Miami a Success, Say Exhibitors

MIAMI BEACH — Docks were crowded Feb. 14-18 at the Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami Beach and venues were jammed at the Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show and Strictly Sail as participants reported upbeat crowds and serious buyers.

“We’re doing great,” Viking Yachts spokesman Pete Frederiksen said Saturday on the docks at the Yacht & Brokerage Show on Collins Avenue. “We sold three new boats yesterday.”

That was despite some heavy rain that fell for much of the day Friday. (The rest of the show was otherwise clear.) Nonetheless, Frederiksen said there were about 420 visitors at the Viking booth — about half of what the builder would see on a typical sunny day — but still “an amazing number for such a rainy day.”.

The venue also seemed much busier than in past years, said Pete Beauregard Jr., president of Michigan-based Colony Marine.

Attendance was actually essentially flat for the NMMA show, edging down from 100,917 in 2012 to 100,689 this year, according to spokeswoman Sarah Ryser. Numbers for the Show Management show were not yet available this morning. Click here to see a time lapse video of the set-up of the NMMA show.

In addition to strong attendance, exhibitors saw an upbeat buying crowd, with some exhibitors reporting double-digit sales increases from 2012, Ryser said.

“The show was truly outstanding,” said Mike Collins, sales director for Contender Boats. “We took a dozen deposits, but more importantly, every one of our 16 dealers that worked the show has multiple deals they are working. Really think it will be the best Miami show in a very long time.”

Traffic was “excellent” on all five days of the show and every boat company he spoke with was pleased with sales and leads, Collins said.

At a Contender party preceding the show, Collins said the company had been busy building between four and a half and five boats a week.

“We’re rockin’,” Collins said.

Yacht builder David Marlow said Marlow Yachts sales outpaced the overall recovery when he spoke to Fox Business at the Miami International Boat Show. The Explorer 97E was the largest boat at the Sea Isle Marina and had already been spoken for.

As Colony Marine founder Peter Beauregard Sr. said on Thursday: “They were lined up to buy tickets.”

1.21.13: Charleston Boat Show Opens Friday

The 33rd annual Charleston Boat Show in South Carolina will open Friday and continue through Sunday at the Charleston Area Convention Center. Sponsored by Mercury, this year’s show features a variety of the latest models, with many offered at discount prices. The region’s leading dealers will showcase powerboats that include sport cruisers, motor and express yachts, sportfishing boats, center console fishing boats, bass boats, bowriders, deck and aluminum boats, runabouts, bay boats, shallow water flat skiffs, jet skis and family cruisers. Highlights of the show include: • Skipper Bivins and Trent Jackson, hosts of the Animal Planet show “Hillbilly Handfishin.’ ” Learn how they teach everyday folks how to catch massive catfish with their hands and feet. • Wild Wing Cafe and radio station Q104.5 team up for this year’s Wing Eating Contest; the grand prize is a Yeti cooler valued at $500. • Local archer Ella Kokinda is scheduled Sunday to demonstrate her talents. Featured on ESPN and Inside Edition, the Goose Creek, S.C., teenager is the state champion and the second-ranked female in the National Archery in the Schools program nationwide. • The Coastal Fishing Expo provides fishing seminars, demonstrations and one-on-one discussion with local experts. The seminars are for fishermen of all levels. • Adults and children are invited to test their skills at a fishing simulator presented by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. • Wild Wing Cafe will serve wings, nuggets, barbecue sandwiches, tater tots and house chips. • Children will be entertained with activities such as face painting, Loco Lazer Tag and Bouncy Houses.

1.07.13: Boat Sales Jump 10% in 2012

New numbers released by the National Marine Manufacturers Association showing a 10 percent jump in powerboat sales in 2012 are grabbing headlines at news outlets from the Wall Street Journal to the Miami Herald. NMMA president Thom Dammrich was set to appear on the Fox Business Network’s noon news hour to discuss the estimated increase in new powerboat sales, which the group says is driven by smaller vessels and signals that the tide is turning for the recreational boating industry. Early projections indicate that the industry will see additional increases in 2013 by as much as 5 to 10 percent, the NMMA said in a statement. The level of growth in 2013 will depend on a number of factors, including continued improvement in economic conditions that affect recreational boating — namely consumer confidence and the housing market — and sustained increases in Americans’ participation in outdoor recreation. “Improving economic conditions and what seems to be a resurgence in Americans’ love for the outdoors helped fuel steady growth in new powerboat sales in 2012,” Dammrich said in a statement. “A 10 percent boost at retail in 2012 is significant, as this is the first time since the recession we saw healthy growth across the powerboat market, which will create momentum in 2013.” The NMMA said another new trend that’s contributing to new-boat sales is the creation of innovative, more versatile and accessible boats that appeal to a variety of interests and budgets and fall within the 15- to 26-foot range. It’s these smaller boats, those less than 27 feet, that make up 96 percent of the 12.4 million registered boats in the United States and are leading the industry out of the recession, the NMMA said. Boats that fall into this category include aluminum all-purpose boats and pontoons, fiberglass bowriders, fish and ski boats, and jet boats. “One of the most significant trends we’re seeing in boat manufacturing is the versatile boat — one that can pull tubers or wakeboarders, can be used for fishing outings, relaxing with family or entertaining friends,” Dammrich said. “After a decade of decline, Americans are participating in outdoor recreation in growing numbers, and as they look for ways to spend time outdoors, boat manufacturers are taking cue, producing innovative boats that offer an all-encompassing entry to the boating lifestyle at a variety of price points.” In 2011, boating participation increased 10 percent, to 83 million — the largest proportion of adults (34.8 percent) who went boating since 1997 (35.8 percent).

12.18.12: Sea Ray 370 Venture Wins Boat of the Year

Sea Ray's 370 Venture was named "Boat of the Year 2012" by the editors of Boating magazine. “I’m happy to accept this award on behalf of our designers, engineers and craftsmen, who are truly the best at what they do,” Sea Ray president Rob Parmentier said in a statement. “We have been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to our 370 Venture. To receive such attention and recognition underscores our commitment to create innovative, consistently excellent boats.” The award was presented in Boating’s January 2013 issue. “Boating’s Tech Team tested more than 100 boats in 2012. In addition to performance data and commentary, Boating boat tests assess how a given boat compares to the other in the same category,” said the article announcing the award. “Sea Ray’s 370 Venture is powered by outboards, cleverly hidden and ingeniously installed. It offers a quieter ride, more stowage and larger accommodations than similar cruisers do. It possesses better shallow water ability and diminished corrosion concerns. In short, Sea Ray’s 370 Venture represents a category of one.”

11.28.12: Boat Sales Gain Strength in October

After stalling in September, the recreational boating industry roared back to life in October with double-digit sales increases in several categories during what is traditionally a low-volume month in the industry. Sales in the main powerboat segments rose 22.1 percent, to 3,490 boats, from October 2011, and they were up 21 percent to 5,181 boats industrywide, according to figures compiled by Ryan Kloppe, national marine sales manager at Statistical Surveys Inc. In October 2011, sales in the main powerboat segments and across the industry declined by double digits in early-reporting states. Kloppe believes the new figures show that consumers are gaining confidence as the economy and the job and housing markets gradually improve. “People are starting to feel a little more comfortable in their situation,” he said. Kloppe said the October sales information is based on registration data from 27 early-reporting states that comprise about 62 percent of the national market. October typically produces only about 3.5 percent to 4.5 percent of the industry’s sales for the year, but he said the month’s numbers were nonetheless impressive. “It’s pretty significant,” Kloppe said of the gains. “I don’t want to overhype it, but it is nice to see these improvements.” Sales of aluminum pontoon boats, an industry leader throughout 2012, rose 44.6 percent to 522 in October and sales of aluminum fishing boats climbed 16.8 percent to 1,062. Sales of small aluminum boats are “relatively soft, but the 16-foot-plus section is doing well,” Kloppe said. Sales in the high-volume 11- to 40-foot outboard fiberglass segment rose 24.7 percent to 1,540 boats and sales in that category are up 13.1 percent for the year to 31.257 boats. Kloppe said New York, Florida and Texas are leading the way in sales of deckboats and bass boats in the 11- to-40-foot segment, and also in jetboats. Even sales of 14- to 30-foot inboard and sterndrive fiberglass boats, which have struggled for months, rose 18 percent in October to 301 boats. They remain 2.2 percent lower for the year. Sales in three categories of cruisers and yachts continued to struggle, dropping by margins ranging from 22.9 percent to 46.3 percent. Among those segments, only the 63- to 99-foot semi-custom and custom yacht category is showing growth for the year. Reported sales of documented vessels are about 90 days behind because of data entry delays at the Coast Guard, Kloppe said, creating an incomplete report for boats larger than 31 feet and understating the cruiser and yacht markets. Through October, main-segment sales are up 11.9 percent to 109,351 boats and industrywide sales are up 9.6 percent to 177,053 boats. “We’re optimistic as the numbers tick upward, but are aware that the numbers aren’t what they used to be five years ago,” Kloppe said. Sales of jetboats, ski boats and personal watercraft were sharply higher during the month, although the sales totals reflect October’s typically diminished market. PWC sales rose 50.7 percent, or 239 units, to 710, ski boat sales were up 41.2 percent, or 40, to 137, and jetboat sales rose by 35, or 67.3 percent, to 87. Sales of sailboats fell 9.8 percent, or nine boats, to 83.

10.27.12: Many Insurers in "Frankenstorm" Sandy's Path

Insurers are already gearing up for a storm they call Sandy, which is set to dampen the East Coast for a second straight Halloween. (Remember the snow storm in the Northeast a year ago?) A look at the top writers of homeowners' multiperil and private passenger automobile insurance reveals exposure for many insurance companies, who are currently sending press releases about their readiness to handle anticipated claims from the storm. The path of Sandy, currently a hurricane, can change dramatically. But right now the storm is expected to slam into another weather system to produce a historic storm with an enormous wind field that could hit some of the most populated areas of the country, with the potential to cause billions of dollars in damage.

10.10.12: Brunswick Moving Bayliner Production to South America

Brunswick Boat Group announced Tuesday that it will stop building and selling Bayliner cruisers in the United States so the brand can focus on its core bowrider and deckboat models, as well as new categories, such as the jetboat segment. As a result, Brunswick said it will stop production at its plant near Knoxville, Tenn., where 225 full-time workers are employed, by the end of 2012 and make its Brazil operations the center for its Bayliner cruiser business. It will suspend the brand’s cruiser sales and production outside of South America. Bayliner produces a line of six cruiser models from 24 to 33 feet. “We will continue to maintain our leadership position in the North American cruiser segment with our Sea Ray brand," Andrew E. Graves, president of Brunswick Boat Group, said in a statement. Over the next several months, Bayliner will introduce a new line of bowriders, a new series of deckboats and will launch “Element,” the company’s break into “affordable boating,” Graves said. Bayliner will also enter the jetboat segment in 2013 with a new series. “We believe this effort will solidify our position in the market and offer dealers and boaters a wide variety of choices and models,” Graves said. The world’s largest boatbuilder cited changing global trends and fluctuating needs of boat buyers for the move. "Our current plan reflects a change in focus for Bayliner's global product portfolio to emphasize and expand its leadership across a broader set of recreational dayboat craft types," Graves explained. "Additionally, Bayliner will make its Brazil operations the center for its cruiser business but will suspend the brand's cruiser sales and production outside of South America,” he said. "This strategic repositioning of Bayliner further reduces the need to maintain the Brunswick Boat Group's current cruiser production capacity in the U.S., particularly in view of current market weakness for cruisers. As a result, we will consolidate our U.S. cruiser production for Sea Ray into our Palm Coast, Fla., and Vonore, Tenn., facilities while producing Bayliner cruisers in Brazil. This will be more efficient and still allow us to retain capacity equal to three times our current worldwide cruiser demand, enabling us to adequately increase production when the market improves," Graves said. The company estimates that these actions will save $10 million to $12 million a year once implemented. "The complexion of the global marine marketplace continues to evolve and so does Brunswick," said chairman and CEO Dustan E. McCoy in a statement. "Our continuing challenge is to adapt our brands, models and technologies to best appeal to today's boating consumers, as well as the shifting global marine marketplace. "Though the U.S. marine marketplace has improved recently, the recovery has been uneven across the various market segments," he added. "While sales of smaller boats, such as popular fishing boats and pontoons, have improved, demand for cruisers and larger boats remains weak. We believe this is due to a number of factors, including continuing economic uncertainty, as well as a cautious and evolving consumer. The actions announced today are a necessary step in enabling us to reach our near-term operational and financial objectives while positioning the company to exploit future market growth in the fiberglass boat segment." Separately, Brunswick also concluded that a portion of its long-lived assets pertaining to certain boat brands, including Hatteras, Cabo and its European and Asia-Pacific boat brands, have been impaired and that impairment charges related to these brands will be recognized in the third quarter. Brunswick's estimate of total restructuring and impairment charges in the third quarter will be in the range of $25 million to $32 million, pretax. These charges primarily include non-cash asset write-downs but also include charges for severance, facility closing and other costs. Further, the company anticipates that additional charges pertaining to these actions will be recognized in future periods.

9.21.12: Ft. Lauderdale Boatshow tries "Theme Park" Model

The term "theme park" might not spring to mind when thinking about the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, but that’s a model producers are trying to emulate in efforts to make the mammoth show more accessible: They’re creating "villages" themed around certain types of boats and lifestyles. In addition to grouping like products together, the villages will offer entertainment and food to make the show more enjoyable, says Kristina Hebert, president of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, which owns the event. The huge show, with $3 billion in boats and products on display, takes place Oct. 25-29, spread across six locations in Fort Lauderdale — the Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Municipal Marina, Fort Lauderdale Hilton Marina, Greater Fort Lauderdale/ Broward County Convention Center and the Sails Marina. “We have always tried to keep it organized, but it really is massive, so those who come and just want to see superyachts or experience family boating or sportfishing boats, for example, [can] have their own experience,” Hebert says. “That will morph over time [into] almost like a Disney World-type experience, where it is massive, but yet you can go to a village and see what you want to see.” The approach is just one way organizers say they are trying to elevate the fun quotient. “The No. 1 reason people participate in all of these is to have fun,” says Efrem “Skip” Zimbalist III, CEO of Active Interest Media, the company that owns show producer Show Management. “Everybody has their own definition of fun,” Zimbalist says. “For some, it’s looking at 23 different kinds of fishfinders. For others, it’s people-watching or seeing big boats, and for others it’s entertainment and music. There are a lot of boat buyers there, and most of the people who buy a boat go to a show to do research and maybe buy one there, but also to have fun. We’re trying to increase the fun quotient.”

9.13.12: Newport Boat Show Brings Strong Crowds

NEWPORT, R.I. - Thursday's opening day of the 42nd annual Newport International Boat Show — the first of the fall boat shows and viewed as a bellwether of the industry’s fortunes — drew strong crowds and had more exhibitors than there were at last year’s show. “We feel we’re up, given the overall activity on our website and the feedback from our exhibitors,” Tom Delotto, division director of the Newport Exhibition Group, the show’s producers, said this morning. “We’re seeing a lot of activity from exhibitors — positive and enthusiastic — on our Facebook page.” More than 600 boats ranging from 15 to 90 feet and 750 exhibitors, a total that sold out the exhibition space, greeted the stream of attendees that started early and remained steady throughout the first of what is forecast to be a string of crisp, sunny early fall days stretching past Sunday, the closing day of the show The annual news conference focused on the addition of the show’s new relationship with the Discover Boating program. Carl Blackwell, chief marketing officer of the National Marine Manufacturers Association and president of Discover Boating, spoke about how mobile devices and social media can be critical components of an industry rebound. “Mobile devices are now the second most-used medium next to television — a 1,000-percent increase year over year,” Blackwell told a gathering of media and exhibitors. After showing several of Discover Boating’s videos, which incorporate personal photos provided by boaters that promote “the ‘ing,’ not the thing,” Blackwell noted that these passionate customers are the industry’s best ambassadors for the lifestyle. “Boating is obviously a very social experience, so it’s only natural we use social media to promote it,” he said. As part of the new Discover Boating partnership, the show offered for the first time for-fee, on-the-water clinics on boat operation through the Hands-On Training Series. More than 100 people had signed up for the clinics, which can cost upwards of $100. “That tells us they are vested and serious about boating,” Delotto said after the event. “To us, that’s a home run.” Newport for New Products, the show’s recognition of the best new boats and boating products, had nearly 40 entries this year, more than in any year since 2008. Included among the debuts are new sailboats from Dufour, JBoats and Bavaria, new powerboats from Hunt, Hinckley, Jeanneau and Protector, and electronics and equipment from Forespar, Imtra and others.

8.27.12: Tropical Storm Isaac Heads Toward Gulf Coast

Though it initially was projected to hit Florida’s coastline, Tropical Storm Isaac took a left turn Sunday and appeared to be on the same track and timing as Hurricane Katrina, but with less power.

The National Hurricane Center predicted that Isaac will grow to a Category 1 hurricane over the warm Gulf of Mexico and possibly hit late Tuesday somewhere along a stretch that starts west of New Orleans and runs to the edge of the Florida Panhandle, nearly seven years after Katrina struck in 2005.

The center predicted that the storm could become a Category 2 hurricane — with sustained winds between 74 and 95 mph — by the time it hits the coast.

Hurricane warnings were in effect Monday morning from east of Morgan City, La., to Destin, Fla., a stretch that includes New Orleans.

Before reaching Florida, Isaac was blamed for eight deaths in Haiti and two in the Dominican Republic, and downed trees and power lines in Cuba, according to a CBS report.

It brushed the Keys two days after the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, which caused more than $25 billion in damage and killed 26 people in South Florida.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency and 53,000 residents of St. Charles Parish near New Orleans were ordered to leave ahead of the storm, according to a USA Today report.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu also declared a state of emergency, said CBS affiliate WWL-TV in New Orleans, as did Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley.

Oil companies began evacuating workers and cutting production at Gulf offshore rigs in Isaac's projected path.

Even though the storm was moving well west of Tampa, where Republican National Convention events were canceled today, tropical storm-force winds and heavy rains were possible in the area because Isaac is a large storm, forecasters said.

As of 8 a.m. (EDT) Monday, the storm was centered about 185 miles southwest of Fort Myers, Fla., and 360 miles southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Isaac had top sustained winds of 65 mph and was moving west-northwest at 14 mph.

7.18.12: Sea Ray to Release Outboard-Powered Boat Models

Sea Ray will launch an outboard-adapted version of its Sundeck line in the late fall or early winter of this year as part of its efforts to have a presence in more boat segments, Sea Ray President Rob Parmentier recently said in a statement. Both models will be similar to the boat builder’s current Sundeck line but adapted to accommodate the outboard motor. Sea Ray’s outboard boat offering will feature a 22- and 24-foot model. “We want to enter the market, and we have some specific areas of the country that have requested it, especially in Florida,” Parmentier said. Parmentier said the boat builder will use its current partnership with Mercury Marine and equip both models with Verado outboard engines. Sea Ray’s entry into the outboard boat market will come soon after the launching of its jet boat line this fall.

7.13.12: Sea Ray President Discusses New Jet Boat Line

Following the recent announcement of its new jet boat line, Sea Ray President Rob Parmentier spoke with Boating Industry about the thinking behind the launch and what Sea Ray is bringing to the jet-propulsion market. Parmentier said the release of its 21- and 24-foot models brings Sea Ray into a market segment that faired well in a tough economy. Sea Ray also has history with jet boats; several decades ago it previously sold models with jet packages. Like its sport boat line, Sea Ray jet boats target a higher price point and include the quality features associated with the boat builder. “We are going to offer a jet propulsion boat that gives customers that excitement but will have that fit and finish and quality of a Sea Ray,” Parmentier said. Sea Ray believes there may be some level of cannibalism between the new jet boat line and its sport boat models, but Parmentier said it is also reaching new consumers who are on shallow waters that are restricted by the draft of other propulsion types. “Sea Ray is very prevalent among the East Coast, West Coast and Florida,” Parmentier said. “This gives us an opportunity to reach some people we may not otherwise be able to.” Parmentier is anticipating global success with the new line, with particular excitement in the shallow-water areas in the Middle East and Asia. The jet boat appeals to a slightly younger demographic, particularly in Asia; however, buyers are found in all age groups. “The buyers are not that much younger. A lot of these instances you still have parents and grandparents with disposable income that are buying boats for their kids,” he said. Parmentier said Sea Ray jet boats feature a “socially-active” cockpit, which is required in a successful jet boat line. And the lengths of the two models are in the sweet spot of the jet boat market, according to Parmentier. The propulsion system in the jet boat will come from Weber Motors, a German engine manufacturer. Parmentier worked with Weber Motors while he was president of Brunswick’s former boat line, Baja. “In our prior experience, we had a great relationship, and they build a great package that we are familiar with,” he said. Sea Ray will launch the two jet boat models in the fall, and as of now, they have no plans beyond that. However, Parmentier would not rule out the jet boat line spreading to other Brunswick boat brands in the future. “I will never say never, and Brunswick is a large company, so you don’t know what else could happen,” he said. “Right now, it is a Sea Ray 21 and 24.”

7.10.12: US House Plans Marine Industry Discussion

A U.S. House subcommittee hearing titled "Sinking the Marine Industry: How Regulations are Affecting Today's Maritime Businesses," will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The wide-ranging discussion will examine regulatory actions by the Department of Labor; planning and permitting processes for the Army Corps of Engineers’ maintenance of navigable waterways; and the intrastate taxation of small businesses. Specifically, the hearing will examine these issues in the context of job creation and economic growth within the small-business segment of the maritime industry. An opening statement will come from subcommittee chairman Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo. Testimony will come from industry players, including Kristina Hebert, chief operating officer of Ward’s Marine Electric; Mark Ducharme, vice president and chief financial officer of Monterey Boats on behalf of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida; and Capt. Steve Engemann, president of Herman Sand and Gravel, on behalf of the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

6.28.12: Boat Sales Up In May

Smaller boats played a sizable role in May as the recreational boating industry continued to rebound, posting another double-digit sales gain. Sales of pontoons rose 31.9 percent to 3,249, sales of jet boats were up 35.5 percent to 469 and sales of PWC climbed 21.3 percent to 3,735. “That end of the market is certainly showing positive reinforcement,” Rosen said. “The pontoon market is just on fire. The builders say they’re selling both ends of the spectrum” — entry-level and high-end models. Sales among larger and higher-priced cruisers and yachts fell by margins ranging from 16 to 31 percent, but overall the industry’s main powerboat segments — seven categories of aluminum and fiberglass boats — produced 10,231 sales, 16.8 percent more than they did in May 2011. There was a familiar caveat to the cruiser and yacht data. Reports of sales of documented vessels were complete only through April 25 because of data entry delays at the Coast Guard, Rosen said, which means sales totals for boats 30 feet and larger were significantly understated. “The Coast Guard is still behind, so you’re not seeing the volume in those categories,” but the big-boat market is not suffering, Rosen said. Sales in the high-volume 11- to 40-foot outboard fiberglass segment rose 16.1 percent, to 3,071 boats, and sales in the core 14- to 30-foot fiberglass category rose 9.2 percent, to 1,436 boats. Sales of aluminum fishing boats, which along with pontoons have helped to lead an industry recovery, rose 8.1 percent, to 2,331. Sailboat sales fell 7.3 percent, to 217. The data for May were based on information from 23 early reporting states that comprise about 55 percent of the U.S. boat market. May sales represent 15.5 to 16.5 percent of the year’s retail activity.

5.25.12: Prepare for Less-Active Storm Season, says NOAA

Conditions in the atmosphere and the ocean favor a near-normal hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin this season, NOAA said Thursday from Miami at its Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, home to the Hurricane Research Division. For the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center says there is a 70 percent chance of nine to 15 named storms (with top winds of 39 mph or higher), of which four to eight will strengthen to a hurricane (with top winds of 74 mph or higher). Of those, one to three will become major hurricanes (with top winds of 111 mph or higher, ranking Category 3, 4 or 5). Based on the period 1981-2010, an average season produces 12 named storms with six hurricanes, including three major hurricanes. “NOAA’s outlook predicts a less-active season compared to recent years,” NOAA administrator Jane Lubchenco said in a statement. “But regardless of the outlook, it’s vital for anyone living or vacationing in hurricane-prone locations to be prepared. We have a stark reminder this year with the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew.” Andrew, the Category 5 hurricane that devastated South Florida on Aug. 24, 1992, was the first storm in a late-starting season that produced only six named storms.

4.27.12: Brunswick Confident in Strategy after 1Q Results

The first quarter of 2012 represented Brunswick Corp.'s ninth consecutive quarter of year-over-year earnings per share growth, which "demonstrates the continuing success of our business strategy," chairman and CEO Dustan McCoy said Thursday in a call with analysts following the company’s quarterly earnings release. The boat segment, which saw a 1 percent increase in sales, recorded its first profitable first quarter since 2007, which McCoy noted was a big hurdle to overcome. He attributed the increase in the boat segment to: • an investment in 2009 in the dealer network and ongoing work to keep the network healthy • becoming better at choosing the right products to take to market • better communication with dealers, which allows the company to be more flexible and hit local markets with appropriate product Brunswick has fewer products and models than it did in the past, but those that remain are in demand from consumers, McCoy said. He said there is “one category” operating at a loss, but did not name that category or boat line. Overall, Brunswick Thursday reported a slight decline in net sales, which were $974.2 million, down from $985.9 million a year earlier. It reported net earnings of $39.7 million, or 43 cents per diluted share, for this year’s first quarter, compared with $27.5 million, or 30 cents per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2011. The decline in sales was largely attributed to specific factors affecting the marine engine and life fitness segments, McCoy said. Sales grew in the outboard and the parts and accessories areas, but were offset by declines in sterndrives. Global sterndrive sales decreased because of production ramp-up issues and overall weaker demand, he said. The boat segment reported net sales of $306.4 million for the first quarter of 2012, compared with $303.5 million in the first quarter of 2011. Boat segment production and wholesale shipments increased during the quarter, compared with the first quarter of 2011. The increase in wholesale unit shipments was partially offset by the effect of a higher mix of smaller-boat sales and the absence of sales from the Sealine brand, which was divested Aug. 30, 2011. McCoy said he expects smaller boats, with smaller margins, to continue to be more in demand than larger boats. He noted that in 2011 an estimated 139,500 units were sold in the United States — up one half of 1 percent from 2010. It’s a small increase, he said, but the first annual increase recorded since 2004.

4.16.12: Suncoast Boatshow Set to Open

This roundup of upcoming shows and events includes news from the Suncoast Boat Show in Florida and the Marina del Rey (Calif.) Marina Fest. The 30th annual Suncoast Boat Show will take place Friday through Sunday at Marina Jack in downtown Sarasota, Fla. The Gulf Coast's leading boat dealers, such as Galati Yacht Sales, MarineMax Sarasota, Marine Dynamics, Sarasota Yacht & Ship and Cannons Marine, will display hundreds of boats from builders such as Sea Ray, Tiara, Viking, Cruisers, Grady-White, Boston Whaler, Everglades and Jupiter, along with a full range of marine electronics, products and accessories. New to this year’s Suncoast Boat Show is MyBoatShow, the show’s new smart-phone app. Officially launched at the 2011 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the free app is available on iPhone, iPad and Android platforms and is designed to help users navigate the show’s docks, land areas and tents. Attendees will be able to access show maps and search for exhibitors, manufacturers, product categories and boats by specifications and size. The app, which is available for all Show Management-produced boat shows, also will provide the show schedule, parking information, food and drink locations, restroom locations and emergency services. “We are looking forward to celebrating 30 years in Sarasota and are happy to report that the show is on track to sell out,” Show Management senior vice president and chief operating officer Dane Graziano said in a statement. “We’ve expanded the in-water display area to accommodate all the exhibitor requests we have been receiving, and we are expecting a very solid show this year.” The Suncoast show is managed and produced by Show Management and sponsored by Lincoln, Pioneer Linens, Budweiser, Smallwood’s and BoatQuest.com.

3.19.12: Boat Dealers Optimistic for Boat-Buying Season

Dealers are generally more optimistic toward the upcoming boat-selling season than they have been in the last few years, according to a report from Longbow Research. “On average, our dealer contacts have experienced growth of about 14 percent so far during the first quarter (6 percent in January and 21 percent in February),” the report said. “While these numbers were clearly aided by unseasonably warm weather and [comparing] against exceedingly small numbers from a year ago, our dealer contacts are generally more optimistic towards the upcoming season than they have been in a handful of years.” Although attendance was up just 1 to 2 percent at recent boat shows, the analysts said sales at the shows seem to be up considerably more. Among Longbow’s contacts, sales at the Miami, New York, Fort Lauderdale, Minneapolis, Fargo, Baltimore and New Jersey boat shows were all up. Dealers reported flat year-to-year sales at the Atlantic City show and lower sales were reported at the Mid-America (Cleveland) Boat Show. “While we believe attendance is normally positively correlated with sales, the true indicator of a boat show’s success are the number of sales and sales leads which result from it,” analysts said. ”On this front, the majority of our contacts reported significantly better results than in the prior year, citing particularly strong interest in boats at the high and low end of the price spectrum. For boats in the 25- to 40-foot range, demand is beginning to return, although dealers say that these consumers are still deal-conscious and at least as inclined to buy a used boat as new.” Another cause for cautious optimism: Average inventories are now in line with desired levels, an improvement from the inventory shortages that were reported late last year. Longbow based its report on more than 25 domestic powerboat dealers it contacted to gain insight into trends in demand, pricing, inventory levels and market share in the January-February 2012 time frame and the outlook for the next 12 months. The geographic breakdown of the contacts was 22 percent East Coast, 22 percent Midwest, 26 percent South and 30 percent West Coast. “Outlook among our contacts is predominantly positive, although with the significant caveat that rising gas prices may end up being a drag on 2012, particularly among the price-conscious customers who buy smaller (less than 25-foot) boats,” the report said. “While the exact relationship between boat sales and gas prices remains unclear, even to dealers, it is apparent that certain thresholds in fuel prices (i.e., $4-a-gallon gas) represent a psychological barrier for many customers with regards to the ultimate in discretionary purchases.” Anecdotally, a few dealers also told Longbow they are having a difficult time getting floorplan financing for boats that are 10 years old or older. “This waning supply of used boats, combined with consumers who are still bargain-conscious, has produced a dynamic where used boats are often selling for a few thousand dollars above list price because consumers would rather slightly overpay for a used boat than shell out full price for a new one, particularly in the mid-sized range of cruisers and fishing boats,” analysts said. From 2000 to 2007, new-boat sales represented roughly 27 percent of total sales (new and used combined). This number has come down dramatically and appears to have bottomed in 2010 below 16 percent of total sales. “While progress has been extremely slow, we believe 2011 new-boat sales represented between 16 percent and 17 percent of total boat sales, and that based on anecdotal feedback from dealers we should expect continued improvement in 2012,” according to the report.

2.27.12: Judge Delays Gulf Coast Oil Spill Trial

A federal trial over the nation's worst offshore oil disaster was delayed for a week to allow more time for settlement talks, a judge ruled Sunday.

About 120,000 plaintiffs filed a combined 535 lawsuits, according to media reports. Among those involved in the suit are numerous marine-related businesses that were hurt by the oil spill.

The trial centers on the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, which killed 11 workers and unleashed the largest oil spill on U.S. waters.

BP, which owned the well; Transocean, the rig's owner; and Halliburton, which provided cement services, are named as defendants in the case.

A report last year by the National Oil Spill Commission spread blame among all three for not properly evaluating risk in the well design, not designing a better cement mixture for the well and not recognizing early signs of the underwater blowout that led to the explosion. Witnesses will include scientists, energy experts and high-level BP executives.

Assuming the trial goes forward, the case is expected to stretch into next year and could reach the U.S. Supreme Court, according to legal experts. Separately, BP and its subcontractors have been in talks with the government to settle a bevy of regulatory and criminal fines.

U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier, who will preside over the non-jury trial, has consolidated the myriad spill cases into one case split into phases:

• Phase 1 would attempt to assess blame among defendants for the explosion and release of more than 170 million gallons of crude. It's expected to run through the end of May.

• Phase 2 would look at the containment process and the nearly three-month effort to cap the spewing Macondo well.

• Phase 3 would examine cleanup efforts and the spread of the spill.

2.22.12: Boat Sales up in January

The U.S. boatbuilding industry began 2012 much the way it ended the previous year, with strong sales gains in two aluminum boat categories and the largest category of fiberglass boats.
January sales in the high-volume 11- to 40-foot outboard fiberglass segment were up 14.4 percent, to 1,064 boats, from the same month in 2011, according to figures compiled by Aarn Rosen, national sales manager at Statistical Surveys Inc.
Sales of aluminum fishing boats rose 17.3 percent in January, to 861 boats, and sales of aluminum pontoons rose 20.6 percent, to 263 boats.
The double-digit increases helped to lift sales in the industry’s main powerboat segments by 10.5 percent for the month, to 2,599 boats, from January 2011. Those segments consist of aluminum fishing and pontoon boats, plus fiberglass boats in five segments that range from 11 to 99 feet.
Industrywide, sales for the month were up 8.4 percent, to 3,756 boats.
The January results were tempered by the fact that the month traditionally produces the second-lowest sales volume of the year. January sales are just 2.6 to 3.5 percent of annual retail activity, but Rosen said the significance of the gains industrywide and in the main powerboat segments shouldn’t be discounted as the spring selling season — February through May — gets going.
“At least we’re seeing positive trends,” he said. “What we’re coming from is double-digit declines. The overall picture is a lot brighter than it has been.”
The sales information for January is based on registration data from 31 early reporting states that represent about 65 percent of the U.S. market. Rosen said reports of sales of documented vessels were complete only through Dec. 13 because of data entry delays at the Coast Guard. For that reason, he said, sales figures for boats 30 feet and larger are significantly understated in the data.
Sales in the core 14- to 30-foot fiberglass category fell 8.8 percent for the month, to 301 boats, sales in the 31- to 40-foot cruiser category dropped 18.7 percent, to 61 boats, and sales of 41- to 62-foot yachts declined 28.8 percent, to 42 boats.
“The fiberglass sterndrive business remains softer than all of the aluminum segments, but it’s better than last month,” Rosen said.
Sales of personal watercraft rose 1.7 percent in January, to 361 units. Sales of jet boats rose 37.5 percent, to 55 units, but sales of ski boats dropped 15.9 percent, to 69 units.
Sales of sailboats fell 6 percent, to 78.

1.12.12: Boat Shipments up through October

Through October, wholesale shipments of boats were up 14 percent and corresponding dollars were up 23 percent for the National Marine Manufacturers Association's control group of manufacturers, the association said in its monthly economic report.
Advance data indicated that the trends would continue through November.
New powerboat registrations were down 2.5 percent on a rolling 12-month basis through September, compared with a year earlier. Advance estimates indicate that sales in bellwether states will be up 4.7 percent on a rolling 12-month basis through November, the NMMA said.
Recreational boat and marine engine export volumes were up 13 percent in the third quarter of 2011, and dollars were up 3 percent from a year earlier. Corresponding import volumes were up 4 percent and dollars were up 0.8 percent, according to the association.

12.29.11: Boat Shows Set to Make Splash in NE

Venerable New England boat shows return in January in Providence, R.I., and Hartford, Conn. Both will follow the oldest boat show in the nation, which is held in New York City.

The 19th annual Providence Boat Show will be held Jan. 12-15 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in downtown Providence.

The first winter boat show in New England offers a collection of large and small power and sailboats from 150 exhibitors displaying more than 200 boats from 8 to 40 feet. There also will be more than 100 booths with electronics, engines, accessories and services, including financing, insurance, storage, repair and maintenance.

A new feature at this year’s show will be live trout fishing from a stocked indoor pond.

Two weeks later, the 43rd annual CMTA Hartford Boat Show returns Jan. 27-29 to the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.

“We are very proud of our long-running show. It’s professionally run, has a very dependable gate, and every year it just gets better,” show chairman Tom Krivickas said.
Preceding the New England shows, and beginning before the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is down, is the New York Boat Show.

The show runs Jan. 4-8 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

12.16.11: Boat Industry Leaders Gather for Growth Summit

The National Marine Manufacturers Association hosted a summit of 160 marine industry leaders from across the marketplace Tuesday and Wednesday to address how the industry can grow in 2012.

Leaders from all segments of the industry were in attendance, including bankers, big box retailers, consumer organizations, dealers, distributors, insurance companies, boat, engine and accessory manufacturers, marinas, boat yards, trade associations, publishers, yacht brokers, marine representatives and government groups.

The event kicked off with two presentations: “Trends in U.S. Recreational Boating” from Thom Dammrich, president of NMMA, followed by “Changing U.S. Demographics and the Boating Industry” from Steve Murdock, professor of sociology at Rice University and former director of the U.S. Bureau of the Census.

Both presentations provided insight into dramatic economic and socioeconomic shifts taking place in the U.S. that have affected recreational boating growth and will continue to do so in the future.

“I think a lot of participants were shocked at some of the missed opportunities, industry trends and overall need for our industry to adjust to the changing population in the U.S.,” Dammrich said in a press release. “The summit opened a lot of eyes and created a sense of urgency throughout all industry segments to put something in motion to build recreational boating that we can all work toward.”

The NMMA asked participants to complete an extensive survey prior to the summit and used results from the survey to develop four “vision” statements to work toward in 2012: “Unified Industry Cross Sector Collaboration Brings Results — Boating Now the Preferred Recreational Choice,” “Boating Participation Soars — New Generation, Highly Diverse, Family Friendly Lifestyle and Consumer Friendly,” “Expanded Access to the Water and the Lifestyle Has Been Achieved,” and “Smarter and Fewer Regulations and Better Boating Education Results in Safe, Affordable and Enjoyable Boating.”

Participants at the summit worked together to address priorities for the industry to focus on in the coming months, including universal recognition that all segments of the industry have a role and an important stake in developing approaches to grow the industry.

11.22.11: Powerboat Sales Record Third Month of Positive Growth

Sales of 15-foot or greater powerboats rose in October, though they show signs of leveling off just below five percent growth, according to Info-Link Technologies Inc.’s Bellwether Report. The report provides a rolling 12-month year-over-year percent change in unit sales and has been updated through October.

The report showed outboard boat sales continued to grow in October, rising to 7.4 percent growth.

Graphs of all of Info-link’s data can be viewed by clicking here: Info-Link Bellwether Report

Outboard Sportfishing boat sales achieved positive growth in October for the first time in over five years, rising to about 0.3 percent positive year-over-year change. Outboard sportfishing boat sales had been leveling out since March. Personal watercraft sales improved slightly to seven percent negative growth, roughly a half percent change over September.

Sales of ski boats were down six percent in October, compared to five percent in September. Sterndrive/jet boat sales fell roughly seven percent compared to the same month of 2010.

The Bellwether Report is based on new U.S. boat registrations in geographically dispersed states representing roughly half of the U.S. boat market.

11.08.11: MDCE Gets Underway in Orlando

ORLANDO — For the fourth year in a row, the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo is growing. The event, which kicked off with a networking reception last night at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando not only offers a record-breaking 22 educational sessions and the largest expo hall in the history of the event, but also more than 470 dealers have already registered for the event, a slight increase compared to dealer registration numbers in 2010, and on-site registration continues to build.

“This event continues to deliver the content, networking opportunities and products and services that the market needs during these challenging times,” said Liz Walz, editor-in-chief of Boating Industry magazine, which co-produces the event with the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “The dealers here this week understand the role education and training play in their ability to grow in today’s market, while the industry’s manufacturers and suppliers are here to support dealer success, knowing that it drives their business success.”

Today, the MDCE Expo Hall opens for the second day, and a trio of bonus sessions began at 10:30 a.m., leading up to this evening’s keynote address and another networking reception. On-site registration remains available — with both single-day and full passes — for the four-day event.

“We continue to be gratified by the importance that dealers are placing in attending this one-of-a-kind event to educate themselves,” said Phil Keeter, president of the Marine Retailers Association of America. “Even in this slow market, an increasing number of dealers take advantage of the value offered to them through the MDCE and continue to invest in their business and in their future.”

A total of 96 marine industry suppliers have signed up to sponsor and exhibit at this year’s event.

Once again, MDCE offers three educational tracks, Powering Profits, Sales & Marketing and Service & Marina. The marina content, new for 2011, is offered through a partnership with the Association of Marina Industries and the American Boat Builders & Repairers Association. All three tracks begin on Tuesday and run through Wednesday.

10.18.11: NMMA President Wants to Expand Boating Base

For the boating industry to grow and prosper, it must work together and reach beyond the traditional customer to embrace millions of Americans who haven’t yet experienced the thrill and fun of boating.

That was the message Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, presented this morning at the industry breakfast that marked the opening of the 21st annual International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference.

“We must change if we want to grow,” he said. “We need more boaters. We’re going to have to work together to grow.”

Although 2011 hasn’t seen the growth the industry hoped for, Dammrich noted that retail sales through August, on a trailing 12-month basis, were up 2 percent — not a small feat in an industry that has seen continuous sales declines in recent years.

“Better sales and smoother waters are ahead for the recreational boating industry,” he said.

Another silver lining: The average age of a boat today is 21 years. At 25 years, a boat is no longer attractive in the used market. This, Dammrich said, should lead to more new-boat sales in the coming years.

The key, he said, is to get more children out on the water — kids that boat become adults that boat. Also, Dammrich said, the majority of boaters are middle-aged white men, although that segment of the population is shrinking. Minority-group members need to see themselves in boating magazines and ads and see that boating is a viable recreation option.

“We need to look beyond our traditional customer,” Dammrich said.

Despite the challenges, boating remains a $30 billion business, with wholesale shipments up in units and dollars this year, and that growth is expected for the next few years.

The NMMA, Dammrich said, is hosting a growth summit in December with about 200 industry leaders from all segments. The purpose: Figure out how to bring more people into boating. Discover Boating’s “Welcome to the Water” campaign has been successful, but more needs to be done.

“Passion for the water is contagious. Be a part of the movement,” he urged IBEX attendees. “Together we will create a better future for recreational boating.”

9.07.11: Boat Owners amongst hardest hit by Hurricane Irene

The New York Times reported Wednesday that Hurricane Irene will likely prove to be one of the 10 costliest catastrophes in the nation's history. Flooding records were broken in 26 rivers, and about 9 million residents lost power. Because much of the damage was done by flooding, rather than winds, insurance companies were let off the hook in many cases -- leaving homeowners to pay for repairs out of pocket.
Boat owners know all too well that the marine community is amongst the most vulnerable during natural disasters. Hurricane Irene was no exception -- just check out this video, tellingly titled, "Maine: Hurricane Irene Boat Graveyard." An eye witness describes seeing 14 boats rip from their moorings. The lucky simply washed on shore, while others were smashed to pieces.
Precise numbers are difficult to come by, but it's clear that from the Carolinas, through Chesapeake and to the far North of the nation, there were widespread reports of damage. CBS quoted one boat owner as saying, "It's pretty ridiculous that they would even leave their boats in the water...I don't really understand why they would have taken the chance."
And then there's Marshal Harris. Unfazed by the storm, he rode it out in this boat at Washington, North Carolina. "I've been through a lot worse," he chuckled. "Anything I can do to save my home, I’m going to do that."
He was one of the lucky ones. Jose Sierra, a father of 13 from the Bronx, became one of the storm's first victims while checking on his boat. This tragedy serves as a somber reminder to take the proper precautions before a storm hits. There are numerous guides easily available online with tips on how to keep yourself and your boat safe, whether your boat is docked, moored, anchored or trailerable.

8.26.11: East Coast Prepares for Irene

A slightly weakened Hurricane Irene is making its way toward the East Coast of the United States, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour and promising a wet and windy weekend for residents along the Mid-Atlantic coast up into New England.
Governors from at least seven states declared states of emergency in advance of the storm, which was about 375 miles south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, N.C., at 8 a.m., according to the National Hurricane Center.
A hurricane warning is in effect for Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands and Little River Inlet, N.C., north to Sandy Hook, N.J. A hurricane watch is in effect from Sandy Hook to the mouth of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts, including New York City, Long Island, Block Island, Boston, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Interests elsewhere in New England are urged to monitor the storm’s progress.
A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected in the warning area within 36 hours. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible in the watch area within 48 hours.
The core of Irene will pass well off the coast of northeastern Florida today and approach the coast of North Carolina tonight, according to the hurricane center. The hurricane is forecast to move near or over the Mid-Atlantic coast Saturday night.
Irene is now a Category 2 storm, but could intensify today, the hurricane center said.
Potential damage from the storm could be in the billions, some experts say.
“One of my greatest nightmares was having a major hurricane go up the whole Northeast coast,” Max Mayfield, former chief of the National Hurricane Center, told ABC News, saying it will lead to damage in the billions.
“This is going to have an impact on the United States economy,” he added.
Beachgoers enjoying one of the last weekends of the summer are being urged, and in some cases ordered, to evacuate beaches along the East Coast.
As many as 200,000 tourists and residents were expected to evaluate North Carolina in advance of the storm. State officials ordered evacuations in Hyde County for residents and visitors, as well as for visitors in Dare and Currituck counties.
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell ordered a mandatory evacuation of non-residents along the state’s coastal areas and strongly urged residents with the ability to leave beach communities to do so as soon as possible.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called on people to voluntarily leave the shore and temporarily suspended tolls on all parts of the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway.
Up and down the coast, marina personnel were working overtime to haul boats out of the water.
“The phones have been ringing off the hook for people who want to get on the list to have their boats pulled,” Erik Tornquist, at Navesink Marina in Sea Bright, N.J., told the Asbury Park Press.
Tornquist and fellow worker Tim Mckiernan said they had a list of 50 boats waiting to be pulled out of the water as a precaution because of the pending hurricane. They had already pulled 17 boats out of the water by early Thursday afternoon and had more boats to pull before the day ended.
At Wright Island Marina in New Rochelle, N.Y., operations manager Leroy Marriott looked at a list of four boats at least 45 feet long that he planned to take out of the water.
“I've been here since '91, and this is the first time we've pulled the boats,” he told lohud.com. “People are panicking. They're saying now that it's going to be a direct hit.”

8.24.11: Hurricane Irene on Path for N. Carolina

Hurricane Irene, now a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour, is expected to miss Florida but come close to North Carolina this weekend.

In North Carolina, where some forecasters predict that the hurricane could make U.S. landfall, tourists on Ocracoke Island, accessible only by boat, have been asked to evacuate, according to reports.

Hurricane experts said the storm is not expected to hit Florida, although the east coast of the state could experience tropical-storm-strength winds, rip tides, shore erosion and rain from the storm, whose center is expected to be about 150 miles offshore.

Flash flooding and power outage warnings have been issued along the East Coast from Florida to Maine.

As computer models continue to shift Irene's path eastward it remains uncertain where or whether the storm will make landfall in the United States this weekend. Should it hit the East Coast, Irene likely will do so as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 131 to155 miles per hour, some experts warned.

At 8 a.m., Irene was about 335 miles southeast of Nassau, Bahamas, and hurricane warnings were in effect for the southeastern, central and northwestern Bahamas, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The core of Irene is expected to move over the southeastern and central Bahamas today and over the northwestern Bahamas Thursday.

7.22.11: Boat Sales Drop Slightly in June

The new-boat market slipped in June as sales of fiberglass boats, including personal watercraft, dropped 1.7 percent and sales in the popular 14- to 30-foot category fell 4.8 percent.

 

Sales of PWCs fell 9.3 percent for the month. Sales of aluminum boats rose by 0.77 percent.

The data are from 27 early reporting states that represent about 66 percent of the national market. Reports of sales of documented vessels were incomplete in the data because of entry delays at the Coast Guard.

For that reason, sales in the overall fiberglass market could be understated. Only states that provide weekly or monthly information are included, and the data are year over year.

Through June, sales of 14- to 30-foot fiberglass boats have declined 1.5 percent this year. Sales in the PWC category are down 12.1 percent for the same period; sales of aluminum boats are up 4 percent.

Boat sales remained firm in June in the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions. Florida had double-digit percentage increases in the 14- to 30-foot fiberglass segment and the aluminum pontoon category. Pontoon sales also soared in Michigan, increasing 20.1 percent on 899 units. Sales in the coastal states of Texas and Louisiana were low in all categories.

Final second-quarter numbers will be reported by mid-September, when figures from states that report quarterly become available.

7.08.11: Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show Plans New Features

Organizers of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show said plans are under way for enhanced logistics, improved signage, a new layout at the convention center and more parking for the 52nd annual show, which runs Oct. 27-31.

Many exhibitors are requesting additional space to accommodate expanded offerings, they said. Improved signage and a more integrated digital experience are part of a revamped, strategically laid-out show, and organizers continue to work with the city of Fort Lauderdale and privately owned locations on convenient and affordable parking options for the public.

The new layout at the Broward County Convention Center will offer a strategic traffic pattern assuring that each booth space will be a prime sales location, organizers said. Educational marine activities presented by the Blue Wild Dive and Travel Show, the International Game Fish Association's School of Sportfishing and Hook the Future also have been repositioned.

“Through feedback from our exhibitors and attendees we continue to work to present an improved show year after year,” Dane Graziano, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Show Management, said in a statement. “Demand for space is exceeding last year and we have made some tremendous logistical improvements. We are looking forward to a fantastic show in October 2011.”

The show spans six sites this year and will feature more than $3 billion worth of boats, yachts, superyachts, electronics and engines and thousands of boating accessories from every major marine manufacturer and boatbuilder across the globe. There will also be exotic cars, clothing and jewelry.

5.27.11: Boaters Gear Up for Memorial Day Weekend

Boating business owners around the country are hoping Memorial Day weekend — the traditional start of boating season — will be the beginning of a profitable summer.
In central Illinois, marinas along the Illinois River are readying for a busy weekend.
“We've seen a tremendous number of boats going in the water the last two weeks,” EastPort Marina harbormaster Michael Childers told The Journal Star newspaper. “I see it coming back slowly. We've probably sold seven or eight new slips this year.”
There’s also been recent activity at National Marine, a boat shop and marina in Peoria Heights, owner Patrick Ward said.
“Since we came through the [wet spring], we've 'dumped' 30 boats, with another 30 to go," he said, referring to plans to put customers' boats in the water.
“We're moving forward. When we had that week of 80-degree weather in March we were wall-to-wall with people. Then it died down. But in the last five to seven days we've had people looking at new boats.”
It’s the same story in Tennessee, where Elm Hill Marina has every boat rented and about 80 percent of its boat slips are taken.
The recent spike in gas prices could even lead to more traffic on Percy Priest Lake, with people reluctant to take long car trips. “If they can’t take a huge vacation, people are going to rent boats,” office manager Mandy Reilly told the Tennessean newspaper.
Area lakes, such as Old Hickory and J. Percy Priest, should see big crowds this weekend, with officials expecting a 50 percent spike in boaters, compared with the average weekend.
The National Park Service estimates that there will be 150,000 to 180,000 visitors at Nevada’s Lake Mead during the three-day weekend, on par with the number the lake had last year.
“We are gearing up for our biggest weekend of the summer,” park service spokesman Andrew Munoz said.

5.23.11: NOAA Predicts Busy Hurricane Season

Across the entire Atlantic basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting 12 to 18 named storms. Six to 10 of them could become hurricanes, with winds of 74 mph or higher, the agency says.
Each of these ranges has a 70 percent likelihood and they indicate that the activity will exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
“The United States was fortunate last year. Winds steered most of the season’s tropical storms and all hurricanes away from our coastlines,” said Jane Lubchenco, undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, in a statement. “However we can’t count on luck to get us through this season. We need to be prepared, especially with this above-normal outlook.”
NOAA’s seasonal hurricane outlook does not predict where or when any of these storms could hit. Landfall is dictated by weather patterns when the storm approaches.
Next week is National Hurricane Preparedness Week. To help prepare residents of hurricane-prone areas, NOAA is unveiling a new set of video and audio public service announcements that are available in English and Spanish.

5.09.11: Yamaha Defendant in PWC Lawsuit

Opening arguments took place last week in Palm Beach County, Fla., in a lawsuit against Yamaha brought by parents of a teen who died and another who was gravely injured in a 2005 accident involving a WaveRunner.
During opening arguments, a lawyer representing Samantha Archer, who sustained brain damage and suffers a multitude of physical problems, said he will seek nearly $7 million for past and future medical bills. That does not include the millions he and lawyers representing Jaysell Perez's parents will seek for pain and suffering after the teen's death, The Palm Beach Post reported.
Yamaha, the WaveRunner's manufacturer, set the stage for the accident by ignoring years of warnings about flaws in the steering system, lawyer Robert Baker said.
In March 2005, having celebrated Easter Sunday collecting colored eggs on Dr. Eugene Holly's waterfront lawn, Archer and Perez allegedly falsely assured Holly that they knew how to operate his WaveRunner and took off.
Five minutes later, 14-year-old Perez was dead and 15-year-old Archer was gravely injured when the WaveRunner collided with a boat.
A lawyer representing Yamaha acknowledged the stakes.
"They will ask for millions and millions and millions and millions of dollars," Rick Mueller told the newspaper.
Lawyers for Archer and the Perezes said the request is justified.
"The girls turned right in front of a boat. You know why?" said David Kleinberg, who represents Archer. "They couldn't steer."
Mueller, who gave an abbreviated version of an opening statement he will resume today, agreed that the accident was avoidable.
If the girls had not told Holly that they knew how to operate a water scooter, Mueller said, Holly would not have let them take it out on the Intracoastal Waterway, which was crowded with holiday boat traffic. Further, Mueller said, Archer was not 16, the legal age to drive water scooters in Florida.
"Sadly and regrettably, an underage, unlicensed, untrained and inexperienced young girl was out in an environment, a very congested waterway. That's why the accident happened," he told the newspaper.

4.18.11: FL Suncoast Boat Show Rebounds

The salesmen who were smiling through their Ray-Ban sunglasses this weekend at the Suncoast Boat Show in Sarasota, Fla., were hiding a lot of old pain.

By last spring, just when they thought they had navigated the reefs of the Great Recession, they were stuck talking their way past the huge oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico. But the signs are improving with each boat show and each new sale.

"It's not back 100 percent, but I would say 60 percent," Ron Johnson, manager at Chris-Craft Tampa Bay, told the Herald-Tribune of Sarasota, Fla., while sitting in a 25-footer powered by Volvo and priced at $123,000.

"Nobody's segment was untouched," said Darren Plymale, sales manager at Galati, a high-end brokerage with eight sites, mostly on the Gulf. For the survivors, the world is starting to look navigable again.

4.14.11: 5-Division Fishing Tournament Hits Sarasota

SARASOTA, FLA, April 14, 2011 – National Boat Owners Association (NBOA Marine Insurance) today announces its first annual fishing tournament, the Gulf Coast Open to be held April 29 and 30. Sanctioned by the Southern Kingfish Association (SKA) tournament trail and benefiting the Make-a-Wish Foundation of central and northern Florida, anglers from across the Southeast will compete in their choice of king mackerel, redfish, big game offshore and inshore divisions. NBOA Marine Insurance is one of the largest specialized insurance agencies in the country. An industry leader and partner to many marine manufacturers and organizations, NBOA aims to promote all aspects of the boating lifestyle. The Gulf Coast Open is a natural extension of their 25+ year philosophy.
Located at the Ramada Waterfront Hotel and Sara Bay Marina, tournament highlights include over $60,000 in cash and prizes as well as a 21’ Contender center console boat, Yamaha motor and Loadmaster trailer as the first place prize for its king mackerel division. Free to the public, the event also features demo rides from Yamaha Motors, displays from local marine dealers and vendors and a virtual fishing tournament for children, courtesy of Best Buy Marine 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
“We are fortunate enough to have phenomenal partners in this industry. Everyone has come together in an effort to create a spectacular event for boaters in our community,” says Iceseas Farrell, NBOA’s tournament director. “After 25 years of supporting tournaments and boating events, it’s NBOA’s turn at the helm and we’ve got quite a show planned.”
For event hours and more information on NBOA’s Gulf Coast Open, visit www.gulfcoastopen.com.

3.04.11: Boat Builders See Boost from Miami

Many builders are reporting positive results from the Miami International Boat Show, Strictly Sail Miami and the Miami Yacht & Brokerage Show, all of which ran Feb. 17-21.

Here are some of their results:

• Marquis Yachts announced a record-setting Miami Yacht & Brokerage Show today. Confirmed contracts during the show include 15 yachts sold, including contracts for three new custom Marquis 72s and one 69. "We couldn't be more pleased with the efforts of our dealer partners," president Robert VanGrunsven said in a statement. "This show has been a tremendous success. We are confident this is a precursor for continued strength for Marquis Yachts and our dealers throughout 2011."

• Australian builder Riviera recorded the best international boat show results in the last two years, with 11 new boat sales at the Miami Yacht & Brokerage Show. "This was an extremely successful show for Riviera, with overall inquiry and sales up over 200 percent from last year, further reinforcing Riviera's reputation for quality and innovation, a tremendous achievement and a great start to 2011," director of Riviera Yachts Chris McCafferty said.

• Maritimo USA president Dave Northrop said his company's stand saw a 30 percent increase in registered visitor numbers from the 2010 show. "With this result, we are looking at a great year," he said. "While the weather was on our side, the strongest factors were the preparation and performance of our dealers. The addition of HMY and Galati Yacht Sales to our team played an important role."

• Cigarette president and CEO Skip Braver reported an increase in traffic at his company's booth. "Our sales have remained steady, thanks to our strong dealer network around the world and we saw great interest in Cigarette's brand and innovations throughout the Miami show, which is an important one for us in our hometown," he said.

• U.K.-based Discovery Yachts, exhibiting for the first time at the Miami show, enjoyed substantial interest in its 50-foot catamaran. A number of test sails were booked and a New Mexico couple signed up for their new Discovery Cat on the last day of the show, the company said.

• Viking recorded one of its most well-attended Miami Yacht & Brokerage Shows, with 4,800 registered guests during the five-day event, a 50 percent increase from last year. Six Vikings were sold - two 76 Convertibles, a 70 Convertible, two 60 Convertibles, and a 66 Convertible, a brand new model announced at the show.

• Rec Boat Holdings reported "better than projected" retail success for its Four Winns and Wellcraft brands. The company attributed the results to increased show traffic, effective retail incentives and new 2011 products. The majority of boats retailed this year were 26 feet and larger, the company said. Four Winns sold several express cruisers that ranged from 26 to 48 feet. The V475 and V435 were the popular-selling models this year. Wellcraft secured sales from its coastal fishing and Scarab lines, all above 29 feet.

1.20.11: WI Yacht Builders Recall Workers

Business has improved for Wisconsin's yacht builders, with many saying they have rehired employees that were laid off during the recession.

Carver Yacht Group has recalled more than 300 people from layoff in the last 12 months - that's practically everyone who worked for the Pulaski-based company when the recession hit, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

KCS International Inc., which builds Cruisers and Rampage yachts in Oconto, has recalled about 100 people from layoff.

Burger Boat Co. has employees on layoff. But the company is building two vessels in Manitowoc and it hopes that other orders will come before the boats are finished in the spring and summer, the newspaper said.

Builders have seen their biggest sales gains overseas, especially in Eastern Europe, Japan, Singapore and China. Some of the increases have been tied to a weak U.S. dollar, although yacht builders say the downside to a weak dollar is that they're paying more for engines from Sweden and Germany.

After recent boat shows in Fort Lauderdale and Chicago, the builders say they are encouraged about the U.S. market, according to the article.

 

11.24.10: Boat Sales Decline Slows in October

Boat sales fell again in October but at a slower rate than September's numbers.

Fiberglass sales in the popular 14- to 30-foot segment fell 24 percent in October, and sales of personal watercraft fell 17.8 percent. In September, sales in the same fiberglass category fell 27.8 percent, and sales of PWC fell 25.3 percent.

Sales of aluminum boats fell 0.5 percent for the month in 31 early reporting states after rising 3.1 percent on a year-over-year basis in September.

The early reporting states represent 68 percent of the national market.

These sales figures are preliminary and help to identify the prevailing retail trends in the 30-foot-and-under marine market segments for states that are able to report either monthly or weekly.

 

11.05.10: Boost in Attendance seen at FLL Boat Show

Attendance at this year's Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which concluded Monday, ran about 5 to 6 percent ahead of last year, show organizers announced.

Additionally, exhibitors reported strong interest from the crowds, with many touting large increases in the number of boats sold at the show, compared with the past few years.

"The attendance was up strongly the first three days of the show - Thursday, Friday, Saturday - Saturday itself was up about 23 percent, Thursday and Friday were up less," said Efrem "Skip" Zimbalist III, president and CEO of Show Management. "Sunday was down quite a bit because of the rain, and Monday was down a little bit. But overall we ended up 5 to 6 percent on attendance."

Show Management does not release specific attendance figures.

Zimbalist said he heard good reports from exhibitors, many of whom called it the best show in at least three years. There were 1,087 exhibitors this year - up from 2009.

"We thought we had a shot from the exhibitor side of things to be flat with last year and we ended up, I think, up 5 percent in numbers and in dollars from last year, which was terrific, especially given the fact that we didn't have Pier 66 this year.

But we did have the Sails property where Cakewalk [the U.S.-built, 281-foot yacht] was, so that kind of compensated for Pier 66," he said.

For the first time, the show sent invitations to every registered boat owner in the country with a boat 35 feet or larger.

Zimbalist said he thinks that helped get some people out to the event. Also, he noted, people seemed more optimistic than last year and ready to "pull the trigger" and purchase a boat.

"They were definitely in a more positive mood about shopping for new models and new boats," said David Hensel, brand and marketing director for Grand Banks Yachts. "They were lining up at the show - literally - to get on board our boats. Last year on Thursday when the gates opened, people started to trickle down the docks, and it was slow.

"This Thursday [before the show officially opened] someone was at our booth asking to get on board the 53 and every time I went on the boat during the show it was packed with people," he said, adding that Grand Banks sold a boat at the show and came away with deals in the works and strong leads.

"Overall, the mood was far better than it had been for many years and our hot lead list is extensive," said Bentley Collins, vice president, sales and marketing for Sabre and Black Cove Yachts. "Every model from the Black Cove 30 to the Sabre 52 salon express created plenty of good leads."

Everglades, which was in the convention center, retailed about $2 million in boats, the company said.

"We sold a lot of big boats, but we also sold boats across the line," said Bryan Harris, vice president of sales and marketing. "We sold 23s, 24s, 27s, 32s and 35s, so it was pretty well rounded for us across the board."

Harris said the results from the show made him feel confident heading into 2011.

"I think that people were waiting for the election to see what was going to happen, and so hopefully now that that's over and with Fort Lauderdale being a success, I think that will help our industry move forward," he said.

Looking ahead to the 2011 Fort Lauderdale show, Zimbalist said he's feeling more optimistic than last year at this time.

"Based on everything I know now, I [will] plan up a little bit, not dramatic, not huge, but up a little bit. I think people are encouraged by what happened this year, so I think the existing exhibitors will at least maintain the space they have and many of them will increase a little bit," he said.

9.22.10: NOAA Re-Opens More Gulf for Fishing

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this week reopened to commercial and recreational fishing 7,970 square miles of Gulf waters along the southern boundary of the federal closed area.

This area is about 60 nautical miles off central Louisiana and about 140 nautical miles off Mississippi, Alabama and the western edge of the Florida Panhandle.

"This area is significant to commercial and recreational fishermen who target tunas and billfish that migrate far and wide and provide an important source of income and sport," said Jane Lubchenco, undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, in a statement. "We'll continue to work with our partners at FDA and the Gulf states to ensure our Gulf seafood is safe so we can reopen more areas to fishing."

The total area reopened today is about 3 percent of federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico and 20 percent of the current closed area, as last modified on Sept. 3.

No oil or sheen has been documented in the area since July 21, NOAA said. At its closest point, the area to be reopened is about 50 miles south of the Deepwater/BP wellhead.

The remaining closed area now covers 31,915 square miles, or about 13 percent of the federal waters in the Gulf.

NOAA also announced this week that recreational red snapper fishing in the Gulf will reopen for an added season to allow fishermen to catch the quota they did not reach because a portion of the Gulf was closed because of the oil spill.

Recreational fishing will be allowed Friday through Sunday for eight weeks, from Oct. 1 through Nov. 21.

9.16.10: Northwest Boating Community Joins in Promoting Boating

The Pacific Northwest Yachting Association and the Northwest Marine Trade Association signed a memorandum of understanding that aligns their efforts at promoting boating in the region, the groups announced.

Earlier this year, leaders of both organizations began discussing a collaborative agreement in which the trade association's resources could be used to benefit the large yacht industry while widening the breadth and scope of its promotional and legislative goals.

One of the first steps as part of the new agreement is to create an ad hoc superyacht committee that focuses on many of the yacht group's goals and efforts. Charlie Crane, of Platypus Marine, and the current president of the Pacific Northwest Yachting Association will serve as the committee chairmen.
"There is a tremendous amount of overlap between our two organizations. Taxation, regulation and education are some of the most critical issues for all boating businesses, regardless of vessel size," Northwest Marine Trade Association president George Harris said in a statement.

"We have a staff of eight that works on these issues every day, one of the best business lobbyists in the state, Cliff Webster, and the facilities and systems in place to communicate with members, legislators and the media," he added.

8.18.10: Discover Boating Music Features to Website

Discover Boating today announced the launch of several new features on its website to enhance its entertainment and information offerings while helping to drive more traffic to the site.

The new features include a series of iTunes playlists and special boating and marine iPhone applications, in addition to a relaunched Boating News Room that combines the site's social media elements into one simple, user-friendly page.

"There's a powerful connection between music and boating that you can't ignore - turning the music on is one of the first things you do when you board your boat," Carl Blackwell, vice president of NMMA and Grow Boating, said in a statement.

"Our Discover Boating iTunes playlists are a unique way for us to capture the music and boating connection and continue to lead the way in offering new media solutions that create a feeling of fun on the water, whether you're on your boat or on land."

Site visitors can sample songs and purchase mp3 files for their own on-the-water mixes through the iTunes playlists. Discover Boating fans also will have the opportunity to suggest songs for future Discover Boating playlists via the Discover Boating Facebook page and Twitter.

In addition to music, the site now allows visitors to download helpful boating applications for the iPhone that simplify everything from finding boat ramps to getting the latest marine fuel prices. Twelve applications are available for download.

Discover Boating also has relaunched the Boating News Room to incorporate various Discover Boating social media elements. This allows visitors to access information in one location and stay current with what's happening across the Discover Boating brand.

The Boating News Room includes live Facebook and Twitter feeds, as well as posts from the Discover Boating blog and the latest news from the industry and the Discover Boating team.

8.10.10: Top Ten Boat Insurance Claims

Top 10 Boat Insurance Claims

Boating is certainly one of the most relaxing and carefree activities you can do on the water, however it does not come without its risk. If you’ve ever run aground or hit a submerged object, you know the inherent danger in operating a boat, even if you are an avid operator.

Unfortunately, boat collisions are an all-too-common occurrence, regardless of how well you prepare behind the wheel. In fact, boat collisions are far more prevalent than boat theft.

How to Protect Your Vessel
Besides preparing for your sailing expedition, using Marine charts and having safety equipment such as EPIRBs and sonar devices installed onboard, you can better protect yourself, your passengers and your boat by having comprehensive boat insurance.

Most Common Boat Insurance Claims
Most boaters enjoy the season without a problem. However, some do have an accident, whether it was at-fault or not. Submerged objects are the most common boat insurance claim, mainly due to the high frequency of submerged logs or debris in water, and the fact they usually cannot be seen until they’ve already hit the engine. Below is a list of the most common boat insurance claims:

1. Hitting a submerged object while cruising
2. Theft while anchored
3. Collision with other boats while boating
4. Storm damage while moored
5. Theft while in storage
6. Accidental damage while cruising
7. Flooding while moored
8. Sinking while moored
9. Owner negligence while cruising
10. Accidental damage while moored

Thefts while anchored are more likely to occur during the warmer summer boating months, so it is important to remember a few practical tips to prevent the theft of your boating equipment and supplies while the boat is anchored:

• Remove any expensive electronics from sight.
• Don’t leave anything of value on the deck.
• Properly secure the motors, tenders and life rafts to the boat.
• Secure all boating equipment, such as oars and anchors to the boat.

Understanding your boat’s limits before you push off, knowing the weather and tides, and properly installing safety and navigational equipment are the key in preventing accidents while boating.

If you do have an accident, being protected by the right boat insurance is paramount. At NBOA Marine Insurance, we know accidents happen. Whether it is a broken propeller or a more serious accident, NBOA is there to help you get back on the water safely. For more information about boat insurance, or to receive a free boat insurance quote, visit www.nboat.com or call 1-800-248-3512 to speak directly to a knowledgeable agent.

 

8.05.10: Most Gulf Oil is Gone, Reports NOAA

The vast majority of the oil from the BP oil spill has either evaporated or been burned, skimmed, recovered from the wellhead or dispersed, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

A third of the total amount of oil released in the Deepwater Horizon/BP spill was captured or mitigated by recovery operations, including burning, skimming, chemical dispersion and direct recovery from the wellhead, according to a government report.

An additional 25 percent of the total oil naturally evaporated or dissolved, and 16 percent was dispersed naturally into microscopic droplets. The residual amount, 26 percent, is either on or just below the surface as residue and weathered tarballs, has washed ashore or been collected from the shore, or is buried in sand and sediments.

"Less oil on the surface does not mean that there isn't oil still in the water column or that our beaches and marshes aren't still at risk," NOAA said in a statement. "Knowing generally what happened to the oil helps us better understand areas of risk and likely impacts."

7.29.10: Brunswick Sells Triton Boats

Brunswick Corp. said today that it sold Triton Boats to Fishing Holdings, an affiliate of Platinum Equity.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"This decision was part of our ongoing strategic review to further refine our product portfolio and best focus our resources on those brands and marine segments that we believe are core to our success going forward," Brunswick chairman and CEO Dustan E. McCoy said in a statement. "As such, Brunswick will maintain its leadership position in the recreational and fishing boat markets, with a strong presence in the freshwater and sportfishing segments, as well as leading brands in the runabout/cruiser and yachts segments."

Known for its quality bass boats and saltwater fishing boats, Triton also builds separate lines of aluminum, pontoon, ski and walleye boats. The company was founded by industry veteran Earl Bentz.

Brunswick will retain the rights to certain intellectual property and other rights to Triton aluminum boats and will continue to sell those models under license as part of Brunswick's aluminum portfolio.

In connection with the transaction, the production of Triton fiberglass boats will be relocated from Ashland City, Tenn., to Flippin, Ark. Lund fiberglass manufacturing will be moved to the Brunswick Boat Group's Tellico fiberglass boatbuilding facility in Vonore, Tenn. Trophy fiberglass fishing boats will be built in Ashland City through the remainder of the year as Brunswick evaluates strategic alternatives.

Those boats will continue to be built at Brunsick's Lebanon, Mo., aluminum manufacturing facility. Brunswick's Cypress Cay pontoon boats, which are manufactured in Fort Wayne, Ind., and carried by many Triton dealers, are not affected by this transaction.

Brunswick's Mercury Marine unit will continue to supply propulsion systems to Triton and Fishing Holdings' other brands.

As a result of these actions, Lake Forest, Ill.-based Brunswick said it estimates that associated restructuring charges could total between $18 million and $20 million, pretax, of which $15 million was recorded in Brunswick's second-quarter financial results.

7.20.10: Obama Issues National Ocean Policy

Recreational boating is highlighted in a final report on ocean management, which was used as the basis for the Obama administration's establishment of a National Policy for the Stewardship of the Oceans, Coasts and Great Lakes.

President Barack Obama signed an executive order Monday establishing the policy, which adopts the final recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force and directs federal agencies to take appropriate steps to implement them.

"The importance of recreational boating, the recreational marine manufacturing industry, recreational fishing, all of the activities surrounding tourism are hightlighted in this final report, which will form the basis for significant new approaches toward oceans management for the next, probably, five years and going forward," said Mat Dunn, legislative director for the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

The executive order strengthens ocean governance and coordination, establishes guiding principles for ocean management and adopts a flexible framework for effective coastal and marine spatial planning, according to a statement from the White House.

The final recommendations create a National Ocean Council to strengthen ocean governance and coordination. The recommendations prioritize actions for the council to pursue and call for a flexible framework for coastal and marine spatial planning to address conservation, economic activity, user conflict and sustainable use of the ocean, our coasts and the Great Lakes.

Dunn said the council will consist of senior officials from federal agencies, but they are required to consult with stakeholders throughout the long-term planning process, which was a requirement the NMMA requested.

7.15.10: Economic Recovery Slowing, FED Says

The Federal Reserve Wednesday acknowledged a slowing of the U.S. economic recovery as it renewed its vow to hold benchmark interest rates exceptionally low for an extended period.
In a statement at the end of a two-day meeting, the Fed scaled back its assessment of the pace of recovery, taking note of pockets of weakness, and also issued a cautionary note about volatile financial markets in light of Europe's debt woes, according to media reports.
But it stuck to its expectation that the economy will continue to gradually emerge from the worst recession in decades.
"Financial conditions have become less supportive of economic growth on balance, largely reflecting developments abroad," the central bank said in a statement.
As expected, the Fed held overnight rates in the zero to 0.25 percent range set in December 2008 as the central bank fought the deep recession and virulent financial crisis.
A report on Wednesday showing new single-family home sales plunged to a record low in May after a popular homebuyer tax credit expired dealt a setback to hopes for a speedy pickup in growth.

7.09.10: Discover Boating New Facebook Campaign

CHICAGO (June 24, 2010)– Discover Boating officially launched a series of online games today, titled Making Waves, to put at-home current and potential boaters and outdoor enthusiasts in the virtual captain’s chair to experience the fun of life on the water. The games are part of a larger online marketing strategy to leverage existing networks, such as Facebook, already being used by a substantial number of consumers within the Discover Boating target audience.

The Making Waves games will specifically target adults 25-54 who have expressed interest in the outdoors, boating and fishing. Placing the game within the U.S. Facebook network of 120-150 million users, or approximately 40 percent of the U.S. population, allows Discover Boating to reach a larger, targeted audience of potential boaters and communicate with them via an interactive experience, bringing boating to life. What’s more, the average Facebook user has an estimated 130 “friends”, adding a viral element to the effort as players invite their friends to play and post their game play and scores to their Facebook wall. The game complies with all of Facebook’s newest privacy standards.

“Social media marketing has become incredibly mainstream and has proven to be extremely efficient in enabling us to reach outdoor enthusiasts who use sites like Facebook as a way to connect with family and friends,” notes Carl Blackwell, vice president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Grow Boating Inc. “We’ll be promoting an alternative to connecting on the computer by promoting connecting on the water. With so many media options available, particularly online, now more than ever it’s important to be where your target audience is spending a lot of their time. Facebook allows us to hone in on potential boaters in a very effective, measureable way.”

Making Waves extends Discover Boating’s online presence which includes an extensive Facebook advertising campaign. The game and advertising campaign carry Discover Boating brand messages and are tied to the same target audience, allowing for a more streamlined approach to reach potential boaters.

As an added incentive to drive traffic to the game, players receive an exclusive opportunity to register to win $25,000 towards a purchase of a new NMMA Certified boat. Players can also sign up via the application to receive a free Get Started in Boating DVD.

The campaign will be promoted to potential users via Facebook’s extensive network of users as well as through public relations and social media channels. Discover Boating will also promote the game through its existing email list of nearly 400,000 consumers.

The 2010 Discover Boating marketing campaign also includes the industry’s comprehensive consumer site, DiscoverBoating.com, various online advertising efforts, a national public relations campaign and social media program.

The Making Waves game provides players an opportunity to experience the onscreen thrill of everything you can do on water. Players choose from a selection of boat types, colors and different activity modes. Game modes include cruising between buoys with a water-skier in tow; navigating the shoreline to pickup and drop off family members; and, dropping lines to go fishing.

Making Waves is available now at http://apps.facebook.com/making-waves/.

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About Discover Boating
Discover Boating is a national awareness campaign developed by the North American recreational boating industry and managed by the industry’s trade group, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA.org). Discover Boating programs focus on improving the boating experience and building interest in recreational boating by providing a resource for Americans to explore the benefits, affordability and accessibility of the boating lifestyle. To find out more, visit DiscoverBoating.com

7.07.10: Good Boaters Carry a Spare

In my mind, self-sufficiency represents the single greatest character trait missing from the general American populace today. Society lives with the attitude that if they screw up somehow, someone will come rescue them, so why worry?
Most people passionate about traveling offshore don’t suffer from this self-reliance flaw. They plan. They execute. They return safely. They live to head offshore another day. The U.S. Coast Guard motto, Semper Paratus (Always Ready), applies to every boater, not just the Coast Guard. And not only does being ready mean having all the likely spares aboard that you might need, it also means having the tools to swap them out and the knowledge of how to do it. Here are the most common solutions boaters are likely to face.

• Bent/Broken Prop
If you have two engines on your transom, you can always limp back on one. If you sport a single, you’d better have a spare prop, an extra hub kit and a prop wrench. Actually, it’s always better to have a spare wheel for each engine — remembering of course that counter-rotating engines use different propellers. And one other item: You should probably also carry a diving mask, snorkel and fins aboard. (Be sure to tie to your wrist any tools you use in the water.) This can often make changing a propeller easier on an outboard, and even remotely possible on inboard vessels. The latter will also require a gear puller. If you can make it home at all on an inboard boat with damaged props, do so. Changing such props at sea can be difficult and very dangerous in any kind of waves.

• Fouled Fuel Filter
If you haven’t experienced this problem, you haven’t been boating for very long. Especially in today’s petrochemical world of ethanol-enhanced fuel, clogged fuel filters are commonplace. Steve Lee, global brand manager for large outboards for Mercury, says you can either remove the filter and clear as much water and detritus as you can or simply replace the filter if you have the spare. Spares are cheap ($30 to $35), and you should have at least one or two for each engine.

• Water Pump Not Working
For livewells and washdowns, it behooves you to carry a complete spare pump. Changing out a water pump on an outboard offshore means dropping the gear case, so don’t plan on doing that. Fortunately, water pumps on outboards represent one of the items least likely to fail.

If you run an inboard boat, be sure to have spare impellers and grease for each pump aboard. Changing an impeller is not that difficult. Simply remove the flat plate covering the impeller, carefully remove the split ring from the shaft and use pliers to pry the impeller (and pieces of it) from the pump. Remember which way the rubber impeller blades bent in the housing. Grease up the new impeller, and while bending the rubber blades in the same direction as the ones you removed, slide the new piece into place. Replace the split ring, make sure the gasket is still usable or replace it, and screw the plate back in place.

• Electronics Down
Many recreational boat owners honestly don’t know how to navigate (I don’t mean you personally of course — those other guys). However, they can and do know how to place the cursor of their electronic chart plotter on their desired destination and click "Go To." And since they don’t know about set and drift, setting up a crab angle and the like, as their steering director continues telling them they are drifting off course, they simply hit "Go To" again and again. Do they eventually get to their destination? Sure, albeit via the great circle route, but they get there. Taking an online course on how to actually navigate would be a real benefit. Short of that, knowing where you are at any given moment will allow you always to have a general idea of a compass course home and how far home actually might be from you. Of course, a simple and inexpensive handheld GPS solves the problem instantly. Add to that a waterproof handheld VHF and a personal locator beacon, and you will never need to worry about faulty electronics.

• Engine Not Running
Again, if you have two (or more) engines, this shouldn’t pose too great an inconvenience. Simply head back home at a slower speed. I carry a prop for each engine that is two inches lower in pitch. If I actually lose one of my engines, that smaller pitch lets me spool up and get on plane more easily and run home on one engine at something closer to normal cruising speed.

Single-engine vessel owners face different decisions. Those two decisions include: (1) Fix it and get it running again; or (2) call for a tow. And since the Coast Guard no longer gives free towing assistance in nonemergency situations, there’s no excuse for anyone to be offshore without a subscription to Towboat US (www.towboatus.com) or Sea Tow (www.seatow.com).

Troubleshooting for No. 1 should follow a logical path. It takes several ingredients for an engine to function: fuel, air, spark. Subtract any one of these and your engine stops. When troubleshooting, start at one end of a system and work your way to the other end. For example, if you think your problem is fuel, start with the fuel filter. If that’s clear, continue to check the path to the engine from the fuel tank to see where the blockage has occurred. Diagnosing air and spark issues can be handled similarly.

• Trailer Issues
Many anglers trailer their boats, and the trailer itself can often be the weak link. Brakes and bearings can corrode and fail. Tires can degrade and fail from naught more than sitting idle in the sunlight. Connections and bulbs in lights that submerge each time you launch and retrieve your precious cargo can fail. The tension put on your winch cable can cause the cable to snap — always at the most inopportune moment. Frequent inspection and preventive main-tenance can help you avoid most of these problems.

 

Suggested Spares and Spanners Stockpile

I suggest that you keep a written inventory of your spare parts, noting where on board you have stored them.

Owner’s manuals
• Waterproof flashlights with spare batteries
• Spare horn(s)
• Spare propeller for each engine
• Replacement bulbs for running lights
• Fuel filters (several in case you have a serious contamination problem)
• Oil filters
• Water-pump impellers and gaskets (with gasket cement)
• Engine oil and lower-unit lube (if applicable)
• Fan belts (if applicable)
• Coolant
• Zinc pencil anodes for engines
• Tapes (electrical, duct, Teflon)
• Hose clamps
• Injectors for half the number of cylinders (diesel inboards)
• Spare alternator and starter (inboards)
• Hydraulic fluid, spare hoses and funnel
• Spare transom plug (if applicable)
• Enough nonspoilable food and water for two days

Electrical Tools
• Ohmmeter, wire cutters, electrical tape, selection of connectors with crimping tool, battery-powered soldering iron and solder
• Handheld GPS, VHF, PLB

Mechanical Tools
• Some Neanderthals believe men are born with knowledge of what should be in a comprehensive tool kit. If you weren’t, the kit should include: pliers, vise grips, screwdrivers (flat and Phillips) wrenches, hammers (rubber and metal) hacksaw, serrated-edge knife, snap-ring pliers, duct tape, WD-40, cordless electric drill with bits.

Trailer Parts
• Bearing grease with Zerk gun, set of new bearings for each wheel, spare lightbulbs, flasher relay, towing ball with lock washer and pin, spare tire, jack and tire iron, bungee cords, flares.

 

6.30.10: NOAA Re-opens 8,000 sq Miles for Fishing off Gulf

More than two-thirds of the Gulf of Mexico is available for fishing since NOAA has opened more than 8,000 square miles of previously closed fishing area because the agency did not observe oil in the area. The significant opening is an area due south of Mississippi that was closed June 21st. Some smaller areas were opened of the Louisiana and central Florida coasts also.

These areas were closed as a precaution as oil was projected to be in these areas within days. However, after review of satellite images, radar and aerial data it was determined that oil has not moved into these areas.

The federal closed area does not apply to any state waters. Fishing is closed in this area as a precaution to ensure that seafood from the Gulf will remain safe for consumers.

The closed area, which is approximately 32.5 percent of the Gulf of Mexico, represents approximately 78,600 square miles, leaving more than two-thirds of the Gulf federal waters available for fishing. The closure took effect at 6 p.m. on June 29, 2010.

To keep oiled products out of the marketplace, federal and state governments have systems in place to monitor and test the seafood and prohibit harvesting from affected areas. NOAA continues to work closely with the US FDA and the states to ensure seafood safety; NOAA and FDA re implementing a broad-scale seafood sampling plan. This plan includes sampling seafood from inside and outside the closed area, in addition to market-based sampling.

There are approximately 5.7 million recreational fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico region who took more than 25 million fishing trips in 2008; commercial fishermen harvested over 1 billion pounds of fish and shellfish in the same timeframe.

NOAA continues to evaluate the need for fisheries closures based on the evolving nature of the oil spill and will re-open closed areas as they deem appropriate. They will also re-evaluate the closure areas as new information that could possibly change the boundaries of these closed areas becomes available.

6.29.10: Sea Ray Boats Announces Concert Lineup

Sea Ray Boats released the final lineup of musical acts to perform at the AquaPalooza 2010 Signature Event, which is scheduled for July 10 at The Reserve at Lake Travis near Austin, Texas.

As previously announced, the event hosted by Sea Ray and its local dealer Sail & Ski Center will have Brad Paisley headlining in front of a crowd of thousands of concert-goers on boats.

Other performers include the AquaPalooza Battle of the Bands winner, which will be chosen July 9; Matt Stillwell; Joanna Smith; Lee Brice and Jerrod Niemann.

"AquaPalooza has become synonymous with great music and great times on the water," said Rob Noyes, vice president of marketing for Sea Ray, in a statement. "We're very excited to have a performer of Brad Paisley's caliber headlining this year's signature event, along with a great supporting cast of new and rising country music stars."

6.25.10: Boat Sales Results Mixed in Early '10

With registration data in from 48 states, or 99 percent of the U.S. boat market, Statistical Surveys released its final boat-sales figures for the first quarter 2010.
Alabama and Iowa data was incomplete for March because of delays in data entry.
New-boat sales continued to fall in the first quarter. Aluminum boat volume decreased less than fiberglass. The total fiberglass market for all lengths was down 16.2 percent on 16,566 units for the quarter, down from 19,780 units in the comparable quarter last year.
In the fiberglass 14-foot-and-up segment, sales decreased by 21.1 percent in the first quarter on 10,910 units versus 13,829 for the same period last year. Sales fell 20 percent in the 30-foot and up segment year-to-date on 976 units. Unit volume was 1,220 in the first quarter of 2009.
Aluminum sales fell by 16.8 percent in the quarter. Unit volume was 12,165 units, down from 14,613.
Ski boat sales dropped 18.9 percent on sales of 719 units. Pontoon sales declined 10.1 percent on 2,644 units. Deck boat sales were down 26.6 percent on sales of 689 units, down from 939 units.
PWC sales posted a modest increase on 4,047 units, up 3.4 percent in the quarter. Jetboat sales also improved 3.3 percent in the quarter on 475 units, up from 460 units.
The first quarter of 2010 set another record low, but pontoon sales saw just a 10.1 percent decline. Jetboats and PWC saw modest increases on low volume.
Data for April at this point indicates segment declines are continuing to slow. The oil crisis in the Gulf of Mexico, however, may negatively influence gains in the second quarter.

6.16.10: Sail Boat Industry Conference Held in MD

On the first day of Sail America's 2010 Sailing Industry Conference, 140 attendees heard about the industry's troubles during the recession and its attempt at a comeback.

Layered between Dean Brenner's opening remarks at St. Johns College in Annapolis, Md., about leadership communication and Gary Jobson's suggestions at the end of the day to make sailing essential again (which included a lighthearted recap of the America's Cup since 1980), attendees could choose from several panels and sessions to discuss social networks, trends in retail and commercial banking customer behavior and marine financing.

The consensus among the speakers was that much has changed in two years since the first conference in 2008.
"Then it was a marine industry conference," said speaker Dean Brenner, chairman of the U.S. Olympic sailing program and president of The Latimer Group, who attended both events.

"This year it is a business conference," said Bob Bitchin, publisher of Latitudes and Attitudes magazine. "The timing is good and the content is good, because it is addressing people who run a business."

Bitchin, who is on the board of Sail America, is tasked with helping the organization develop individual membership. For first-time attendee Greg Eck, sales manager at Yanmar America Corporation, the conference was proof that the industry is alive and well, but not unscathed as it emerges from the recession.

"The bomb went off, now everybody is digging out from the pile of rubble," he said.

5.24.10: NMMA Releases 2009 Year in Boating

The National Marine Manufacturers Association recently released its 2009 Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, providing data that offers an in-depth look at the state of the industry.

Key findings from the NMMA's 2009 Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract include:
• An estimated $30.8 billion was generated in boating sales and services in 2009, a decrease of nine percent from 2008.
• In response to a weakened economy throughout 2009, the number of new boats sold decreased 19 percent to 572,500 units.
• New boat and motor sales totaled $8.5 billion in 2009, a 24 percent decrease from 2008.
• The traditional powerboat segment declined 24 percent in units to 153,550; retail sales were down 25 percent to $5.7 billion.
• Adult participation in recreational boating decreased 6 percent to an estimated 65.9 million in 2009 from 70 million in 2008.
• Total boat and engine exports of $1.8 billion and imports of $1.2 billion resulted in a trade surplus of $574 million, down 34 percent from the previous year (which had the largest trade surplus since the NMMA began collecting data in 1996).

"There's no question the declines in the U.S. and world economy in 2009 had a significant impact on new boat sales, however, our industry continues to find ways to position ourselves for future growth by adapting to the ever-changing economic landscape to help position our industry for growth in the coming years," NMMA president Thom Dammrich said in a statement.

"Despite the new-boat sales decreases we saw in 2009, there was strong participation, increases in sales at businesses that serve existing boaters and solid accessory sales - all indicators that boating is alive and well and boaters will continue to take to the water to enjoy the lifestyle even in trying economic times," he added.

 

5.18.10: IN Boat Builder Ramps Up Production

Indiana pontoon boat manufacturer Bennington Marine plans to significantly increase new hiring in the next two years to meet growing product demand.

Diana Engle, Bennington's vice president of administration, told Elkhart, Ind., officials they were going to spend about $1 million on new equipment and planned to hire 80 new employees, according to a story from local CBS affiliate TV station WSBT.

The company was asking the Elkhart city council for a three-year, phase-in tax abatement. The company currently employs about 120 people.

Engle told the city council that hiring has already begun because demand has increased.

"This time last year we were doing eight boats a day, three days a week," Engle told officials. "Currently, we are doing 20 boats a day, six days a week. We have dealers crying because they can't get production slots."

The city council approved the tax abatement for Bennington, but must approve it twice, and plans another vote in two weeks.

5.12.10: Oil Spill Could Cripple FL Tourism

It's anyone's guess whether the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will reach the shores of South Florida, but if it does it could translate into a loss of $10 million a day for hotel, boating and fishing businesses in the area.
Authorities and forecasters says the spill is still days away, or may never get there, depending on the winds and Gulf currents, The Miami Herald reports.
The massive oil spill erupted after the April 20 explosion on the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, killing 11 people. BP owns the leaking well in the northern Gulf.
On Monday, the spill was about 80 miles from the "loop current,'' which gets its name from the fact that it loops around the eastern Gulf toward the Keys. The current then travels up South Florida's east coast.
If the oil enters the loop current, it could take about 10 days to hit the Keys and even longer to reach Miami-Dade and Broward, Igor Kamenkovich, a professor at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, told the newspaper.
"It's highly unpredictable,'' said Kamenkovich. Any major changes in wind or weather patterns such as a cold front or a hurricane could change the forecast, he said.

4.29.10: 2010 IBEX Poised to be Largest Ever

The 2010 International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference, with the addition of the Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show, is poised to be the marine industry's largest and most influential trade event in North America, organizers say.

This year's show takes place Sept. 28-30 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. IBEX is produced by Professional BoatBuilder magazine and the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

"To improve the efficiency of marine trade shows, the scope of IBEX needed to change, becoming a must-attend event for the growth and success of all marine trade," said Carl Cramer, IBEX co-director and publisher of Professional BoatBuilder magazine. "One trade event for OEM and aftermarket parts and accessories will create a more productive environment, reduce exhibitor costs and time, and attract a broader base of attendees to the show."

In addition to the new MAATS Aftermarket Pavilion, IBEX 2010 is planning an expanded seminar series, other specialty pavilions, opportunities for buyer-supplier meetings, free workshops and more.

"And as the sixth-largest convention facility in the U.S., the Kentucky Exposition Center offers an affordable and centrally located home for IBEX that can easily accommodate exhibitors, attendees and activities," said NMMA president Thom Dammrich.

4.21.10: Mercury Marine Logs 1M Injury Free Hours

Employees at Mercury Marine’s Plants 3, 4 and 36 in Fond du Lac recently recorded one million consecutive work hours worked without a lost-time injury. The company celebrated the safety milestones earlier this month during recognition luncheons at the respective plants.

Plant 3, whose safety record dates back to May 20, 2008, is Mercury’s global distribution and customer service center. Plant 4 produces gears and shafts for the company’s outboard engines; its safety record dates back to June 6, 2007.

Plant 36, whose safety record dates back to Oct. 12, 2006, is Mercury’s high-performance manufacturing facility. Mercury Environmental Health and Safety Director Tom Baumgartner said each plant’s accomplishment is testament to the company’s dedication to employee safety.

“Their leadership and commitment have made significant progress toward building awareness and achieving sustainable safety practices in their workplace.” He added that with more than 500 employees between the three plants, preserving a safe workplace is an ongoing challenge.

“Mercury emphasizes a focus on prevention,” said Baumgartner. “We perform regular audits of plant safety practices and we educate our employees about what programs are in place to ensure continued operational safety. “Ultimately, we are steadfast in our commitment to make safety part of everything we do.”

4.09.10: Sea Ray Boats Lands Music Star for Event

Sea Ray Boats announced today that country music star Brad Paisley will headline the AquaPalooza 2010 Signature Event, which is scheduled for July 10 at The Reserve at Lake Travis near Austin, Texas.

The event, hosted by Sea Ray and its local dealer Sail & Ski Center, will have Paisley performing in front of a crowd of thousands of concert-goers on boats, floats and kayaks.

"AquaPalooza has become synonymous with great music and great times on the water," said Rob Noyes, vice president of marketing for Sea Ray, in a statement. "We're very excited to have a performer of Brad Paisley's caliber headlining this year's signature event. This is a free event where your boat is your ticket; there will be no land access to the signature event."

For those who can't make it to Lake Travis, Sea Ray dealerships around the world will transform more than 100 additional locations into official AquaPalooza event sites, making it easy for boaters to get to and enjoy the family fun.

Most of the events will take place during the last two weekends in July.

In 2009, the fourth annual AquaPalooza attracted approximately 15,000 boats and 84,000 guests to 123 events.

NBOA is a proud sponsor of AquaPalooza…look for us there and receive a free gift!

4.07.10: Brokerage Gains Spurred by Big Boat Sales

As the first quarter of 2010 ended, yacht brokerages in the United States closed nearly 30 percent more boat sales than in the same period in 2009 and at a total valuation 70 percent higher.

Close to 6,000 boats were sold, compared to approximately 4,600 in 2009, according to YachtWorld.com member brokers reporting sales in the proprietary database, SoldBoats.com.

The broker reports showed that unit sales for March increased from 2,037 in 2009 to 2,574 this year, and valuation grew from $167 million to $326 million. Driving the dramatic increase in valuation was the sale of bigger, more expensive boats. In March alone, for boats more than 55 feet long, sales were up from $41 million in 2009 to $148 million in 2010, with 89 boats changing hands compared with 51 boats a year ago.

While the number of brokerage boats less than 45 feet sold in March increased about 25 percent - from 1,893 to 2,356 - larger boats sold at a rate about 50 percent higher than March 2009, with 218 boats sold, up from 144. Clearly, some of those larger boats were more expensive units than the ones selling 12 months ago.

Brokerage sales have been stronger than the previous year's benchmarks for several months. However, for the first time, in March 2010, unit sales not only beat those of March 2009, they were actually 150 boats (6 percent) higher than sales two years earlier (March 2008).

And for the first quarter of 2010, with 5,943 boats sold, sales were almost even with the first quarter of 2008, when 5,985 boats were sold. That's a big improvement, although still about 1,000 boats short of the number sold in the first quarters of 2005 through 2007.

3.31.10: Sea Ray's AquaPalooza Dates Change

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The date of the AquaPalooza 2010 Signature Event has been changed to July 10 to accommodate the schedule of a major musical act, which will be announced in the near future, Sea Ray Boats reported in a recent statement.

“AquaPalooza has become synonymous with great music, thanks to the past involvement of artists like Taylor Swift, Alan Jackson, Soul Asylum, Everclear and Cracker,” said Rob Noyes, vice president of marketing for Sea Ray. “By shifting the date of our Signature Event forward three weeks, we move closer to signing another big-name performer for 2010. Hopefully, we’ll be revealing the big news in a few more weeks.”

This year’s Signature Event will take place on Lake Travis, a short drive from both Austin and San Antonio, Texas, and will be hosted by Sail & Ski, which has locations in Austin, Lakeway and San Antonio, and was recently ranked the No. 1 dealer in North America by Boating Industry magazine.

The 19,000-acre Lake Travis offers 250 miles of shoreline, 15 marinas and 11 public boat ramps, as well as numerous powerboat, houseboat and PWC rental facilities. The Signature Event will be held at The Reserve at Lake Travis, a new waterfront resort between the Pace Bend and Point Venture areas of the lake. It will be a free event in which the only access will be via a boat in the water.

In addition to the Signature Event, Sea Ray dealerships around the world will transform more than 100 additional locations into official AquaPalooza event sites, according to Sea Ray. Most of the events will take place during the last two weekends in July.

In 2009, the fourth annual AquaPalooza attracted approximately 15,000 boats and 84,000 guests to 123 events from New York to California, and from Austria to Australia. Since its inception in 2006, the multi-location celebration has grown bigger each year. For more information, visit www.aquapalooza.com.

3.31.10: Sales, Traffic Up at Palm Beach Boat Show

Following a trend with several recent boat shows, optimism was on the rise at the Palm Beach International Boat Show, which was held March 25-28 in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Andrew Doole, senior vice president and COO of show organizer Show Management, said the event exceeded his expectations.
"It went extremely well. The weather cooperated and we had tremendous crowds," said Doole. "We had a lot of fly-in traffic. I think some people from the Northeast, who couldn't make it down to the Miami show because they were snowed in, flew down to our show, so we definitely benefited from that."
Show Management CEO Skip Zimbalist said attendance was up 3 percent from last year, and boats on display were up 3 to 4 percent.
"We're really thrilled, considering we were budgeting the attendance would be down about 15 percent," said Zimbalist. "We couldn't be happier."
Presale online tickets were up 5 percent and overall exhibitors were up 20 percent compared to last year, according to show officials. Zimbalist said the show also benefited from a recent $30 million renovation of the city's waterfront.
"From the attendee point of view, this is the most beautiful show in the country, bar none," said Zimbalist. "It's a great combination of big and small boats and, unlike the larger shows in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, it is much more manageable because everything is all in one place and in one setting."

3.11.10: Brunswick Stock at Annual High

In a burst of trading over the last week, Brunswick Corp.'s shares have soared almost 50 percent to a new 52-week high of $15.89 a share.

A presentation by Brunswick chief executive Dustan McCoy at a Raymond James investment conference this week helped ignite a fresh rally in the shares Wednesday, prodded along by Rochdale Securities analyst Hayley Wolff, who issued a note saying dealer inventories are historically low, according to a report by Chicago Breaking Business News.

"The boat market continues along the road to recovery, particularly on the wholesale side," Wolff wrote after a meeting with Brunswick management. "While retail sales remain in negative territory, retailers ... must increase orders."

Brunswick stock stood at $15.35 in early morning trading.

3.03.10: Big Boat Brokerage Sales Up

Among boats larger than 55 feet, U.S. yacht brokerage sales surged in February, the third month in a row that big-boat sales have outpaced the same month a year earlier.
Sales recorded by YachtWorld.com member brokers were up by more than 50 percent compared to February 2009, and the valuation of those boats increased by more than 100 percent.
Across all sizes, unit sales grew by a third, from 1,323 in February 2009 to 1,759 boats last month, and the value of those sales increased from $132 million to $221 million. Combined with January, the number of boats sold was reported at 3,367, a 31 percent increase over 2009, and valuation was $411 million, up 55 percent.
Sailboat sales, after lagging behind the rise in powerboat sales in January, were up sharply in February, leading the market with unit sales 41 percent higher (at 367 boats) and valuation up 77 percent (to $28 million).
All sizes of boats sold better in February than the same month a year earlier, with increases in unit sales of at least 29 percent. And while boats over 55 feet made the largest gains, strong sales were also recorded among boats 36 to 45 feet long, with 364 boats changing hands - 44 percent above February 2009.
The only negatives in February's report were that unit sales overall lagged slightly behind the five-year average for the month, with 1,759 total boats sold, compared to an average of 1,888. Also, as a reflection of the slowness of the big-boat market throughout the recession, it's not surprising that the average time on the market for the boats over 55 feet sold this year so far is up about 40 percent, to 515 days.

3.01.10: South FL Marine Industry Meets with SBA

The Small Business Administration is traveling the country meeting with frustrated business owners and South Florida's boating industry vented its concerns in the latest stop in Miami.
Esther Vassar, national ombudsman and assistant administrator for regulatory enforcement fairness, heard from many small-business owners in the Sunshine State who are concerned about tight credit markets, red tape and complex regulations, the South Florida Business Journal reports.
Frank Herhold, executive director of the Marine Industry Association of South Florida, brought his message about his organization's displeasure with a pilot program that offers government-guaranteed loans to finance inventory for eligible boat, auto, recreational vehicle and other dealerships.
As the economy began to stumble, most lenders stopped servicing the marine industry, leaving boat dealers with limited or no access to credit.
"The program has a lot of potential. However, a one-year pilot program is a deterrent to lender participation. Here we are, just getting a new program off the ground, and there is a September deadline staring us in the face," Herhold said. "Ms. Vassar was very receptive to our concerns and I believe she will look into an extension of this SBA pilot program."

2.23.10: NMMA Disagrees with Keys' No-Discharge Zone

The National Marine Manufacturers Association submitted comments to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regarding NOAA's proposed ban on marine sanitation device discharges from vessels in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
If NOAA's effort is successful, similar regulations could be enacted in other marine sanctuaries, the NMMA said.
The NMMA said NOAA's policy and procedures for designating no-discharge zones in marine sanctuaries should be consistent system-wide and not determined solely on the specific needs of one sanctuary. It said NOAA should adopt the procedure already established by the Clean Water Act by which states obtain permission from the Environmental Protection Agency to designate state waters as no-discharge zones.
For more information, visit www.nmma.com .

2.11.10: Miami International Boat Show Opens

The 69th annual Miami International Boat Show and Strictly Sail Miami opens today and organizers are hopeful boat buyers will be out in full force.
"I think we're expecting a good show. I think we're expecting more people than last year," Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, told Soundings Trade Only. "Because it's a little bit smaller than last year, it's going to seem like it's much more crowded."
"I think there's a great deal of optimism based on the early shows that they'll be a buying crowd here," he added.
Around 2,000 exhibitors are on hand for this year's show, down around 200 from 2009. Many of the NMMA's shows have been smaller this year, but that's not necessarily bad - smaller footprints mean more dense crowds, Dammrich said.
"That just creates a level of energy at the show that we haven't seen in a few years," he said. "I think most dealers are reporting good sales at the shows - not everybody, but certainly there seems to be a lot of activity in smaller boats, and we're getting a lot of feedback that dealers are seeing the first-time boat buyer again that they haven't seen for three or four years."
Last year, 96,736 people attended the Miami show, down 26 percent from 2008. The NMMA is expecting more than 100,000 attendees at this year's event, which runs through Monday at the Miami Beach Convention Center and the Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center.
The 22nd annual Yacht & Brokerage Show runs concurrently with the Miami show.
Later today, Dammrich is presenting his annual State of the Industry address. In previewing that speech, he noted that 2009 should turn out to be a little better than previously predicted. It had been estimated that about 135,000 units were sold last year, but that number now looks closer to 145,000 to 150,000 units, he said.
"That's good news for the manufacturers because production was down so low last year that if we sell 150,000 boats [this year], we're probably going to have to build 150,000 boats and that's probably double what we built last year," Dammrich said.
As for 2010, sales will likely be flat this year, but a successful Miami show can bode well for a lucrative spring selling season.
"I think the industry always needs a good show in Miami, but we've been down for so long that a good show here, I think, would be a precursor to a good year and would be great for the industry's morale," Dammrich said.

2.01.10: Sea Ray Recalls 150 Workers

About 150 employees have been called back to work at Sea Ray Boats plants in East Tennessee this month as parent company Brunswick Corp. has begun gradually increasing production.
Brunswick spokesman Dan Kubera said that, since Jan. 1, 90-95 workers have been recalled at Sea Ray operations in Forks of the River Industrial Park in East Knox County and 50-55 have been called back at the Sea Ray plant in Vonore. No further call-backs are planned and whether more workers are brought back will depend on how the market develops in 2010, Kubera said.
"I don't want to give any false hopes that this is going to be any sort of snap-back bounce, this is going to be a slow recovery," Kubera said.
Citing plummeting demand for pleasure boats, Brunswick closed one of its two production facilities at Forks of the River for three months over the summer, furloughing 240 workers, and mothballed the other plant there, laying off 300 workers.
Thursday, Lake Forest, Ill.-based Brunswick reported it lost $124 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 as sales fell and the company slashed prices.
However, the company noted some improvement - leaving 2009 with $527 million in cash, a leaner company and a dealer network less bloated with inventory as Brunswick scaled back production to match demand.
Sales for the 2009 fourth quarter were $657.3 million, down from $837.7 million in the same period a year before.
For all of 2009, Brunswick's annual revenue fell 41 percent to $2.78 billion from $4.71 billion in 2008.
Kubera said dealer inventories have been reduced to historically low levels, and now need to be replenished. In a prepared statement, Brunswick Chairman and CEO Dustan E. McCoy said the company gradually will ramp up production throughout 2010.
"So while the economy and markets in which our businesses operate may remain challenging for the foreseeable future, this transition requires that in 2010 and beyond, as the world's economies improve, we remain disciplined to: generate positive cash flow, perform better than the market in each of our business segments, and grow earnings faster than we grow sales," McCoy said.
Kubera said that in 2009, retail sale of boats was down 25-30 percent and Brunswick decreased its production by about 65 percent to allow dealers to move excess inventory off the sales floors. He believes the result of such efforts was that in a year in which nationally about 20 percent of boat dealers failed, less than 1 percent of dealers in Brunswick's network failed.

1.26.10: Maritime Security Company to Build HQ in Florida

SeaAway may build its world headquarters near the Sea Ray Boats campus on Merritt Island, Fla., and create 100 new jobs to help fight terrorism on the ocean.
The maritime security company proposes to spend $60 million on construction and $12 million for equipment, Florida Today reports. The move would add three buildings and expand two others at a Sea Ray facility near the Banana River.
The Brevard County Commission will consider a tax abatement package that could save the SeaAway family of companies up to $3.9 million over 10 years. A public hearing on the abatement is scheduled for Feb. 23.
Construction could start in May, the newspaper reports.

1.14.10: Judge OKs Genmar Auction

A bankruptcy court judge in Minnesota Wednesday approved all bids for Genmar's assets, chief restructuring officer Mark Sheffert said.
The sale will officially close Jan. 20.

California-based Platinum Equity purchased the majority of Genmar Holdings' assets for $70 million. J&D Acquisitions purchased Carver and Marquis for $6.05 million. And MCBC Hydra Boats, a subsidiary of Wayzata Investment Partners, purchased Hydra-Sports for $1 million.

J&D Acquisitions is a company founded by Genmar founder Irwin Jacobs and billionaire businessman John Paul DeJoria. Wayzata Investment Partners also owns MasterCraft Boat Co.

The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors had asked the judge to set aside the results of last week's auction or, alternatively, deny approval of Jacobs' bid for the Carver and Marquis lines.

The committee said it appears the aggregate amount of the prevailing bids will not satisfy the secured claims, the Chapter 11 administrative expense claims, and will provide nothing for the prepetition unsecured creditors as a group.

There are an estimated 4,000 unsecured creditors that are owed more than $100 million, according to court documents.

The committee also objected to the decision to award J&D Acquisitions the winning bid for the yacht group brands and the facilities in Pulaski, Wis., over an identical bid made by Genmar Yacht Acquisition, which the committee said is an affiliate of Patriarch Partners LLC.

GYA also filed its own objection in the case.

"The committee's objection is nothing more than anger directed at an individual owner of a bankrupt debtor who is not legally responsible to pay the debtors' debts to unsecured creditors, who may, unfortunately, go unpaid," J&D said in court papers.

"Genmar went bankrupt because of economic conditions," the document continued. "Mr. Jacobs and other entrepreneurs cannot change that, but they can attempt to rebuild the businesses that have been lost."

1.05.10: Florida Boating Requirements Change

Boating-safety education requirements changed in Florida beginning Jan. 1.

Boat operators who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, must pass an approved boating-safety course and possess photo identification and a boating-safety education identification card issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to legally operate a boat with a motor of 10-hp or more.

"We want to encourage everyone, regardless of when they were born, to take an approved boating-safety education course, because all of us can learn something new, even if we have been boating all our lives," said Capt. Carol Keyser of FWC's boating and waterways section, in a statement. "For some, it is now required to take the course."

For inquiries, contact FWC's division of law enforcement at (850) 488-5600.

12.30.09: Cigarette Boat Production in "High Gear"

Cigarette Racing Team hired 19 employees, and company officials say production is ramping up. Some of the boatbuilding workers were brought back after last year's layoffs and some are new hires, the company said.

The 150,000-square-foot factory is working in "high gear," according to company president and CEO Skip Braver.

"We have seen the need to keep our factory running and producing, anticipating the pent-up demand we now have for our custom-built boats," Braver said in a statement. "Though we saw some softening of the market last year, we stayed lean and mean, and we're now in an accelerated mode. Our boat workers are a very special group. They have distinct skills that are hard to find, and we're glad to welcome them back."

The company said it is also preparing for a sizable display at February's Miami International Boat Show.

"The Miami show holds much tradition for Cigarette, and we will be prepared with new boats and innovation for our customers," Braver said.

Cigarette builds custom deep-vee performance powerboats from 38 to 50 feet.

12.23.09: Homeland Security Outlines Boating Funds

In the Dec. 18 Federal Register, the Department of Homeland Security outlined spending on recreational boating safety projects, programs and activities.

These programs were funded under the Provisions of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. The law makes $5.5 million available for these programs.

Expenditures included $789,019 for the Recreational Boating Safety Outreach Program; $335,624 for the Boating Accident Report Database Web System and $224,625 for a National Recreational Boating Survey.

Of the $5.5 million available for fiscal 2009, more than $3.5 million has been committed, obligated or expended, in addition to more than $1.5 million of prior fiscal-year funds that have been committed, obligated or expended.

Approximately $7.9 million has not been committed, obligated or expended from previous years and is being reserved for a multiyear national boating survey.

12.18.09: Future of South Florida's Marine Industry Discussed

In these lean times, no city wants to lose its businesses, so Wednesday the Marine Industries Association of South Florida and the city of Fort Lauderdale co-hosted a workshop to talk about creating a better climate for marine businesses.
The city is committed to economic development, creating jobs and preserving its marine industry, said Fort Lauderdale mayor Jack Seiler.
"Fort Lauderdale was founded on three industries - tourism, real estate development and the marine industry," he said. "All of them are critically important to the city. They are critically important to our families."
Industry leaders and business owners raised several issues:
• Megayachts: They need big-boat dockage, said MIASF executive director Frank Herhold. Some 1,500 visit the city annually. Each spends on average $488,000 while they're in Fort Lauderdale. Dredging is also critical, as the yachts keep growing, many to more than 200 feet. Dredging to 17 feet on the Dania Cut-Off Canal should begin this summer, followed by dredging on the Intracoastal Waterway in 2011 and the New River in 2013, said Susan Engle president, of EnviroCare Solutions International.
• Smaller boats: Seventy-six percent of registered boats in Broward County are under 26 feet. Cities' ordinances make it difficult to keep a boat on a trailer at home. The city and county need more boat ramps and more parking for trailers. The county has 38 boat ramps and 1,200 parking spaces - only 500 of them for salt water.
• Working waterfront: Most city waterfront is built out already. Marine businesses with waterfront are under pressure to convert their property to high-end residential. Water-dependent businesses will have to redevelop waterfront in the future. Herhold said city rules on "neighborhood compatibility" make it difficult for new marine businesses to find a suitable location.
• Taxes: Florida's 6 percent sales tax drives many boat buyers to other states where the tax is not so high to make their purchase.
• Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show: It must continue to have a home at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center as that property is redeveloped. Dredging along the ICW is critical to opening the show to the biggest yachts. The show needs a hospitality center for the "high rollers" from around the world who come to shop for megayachts. They expect to be treated like royalty.
• Permitting: Permitting - from the city, county, state and federal governments - is still too costly and time-consuming, and discourages businesses from moving to or staying in Florida.
• Dredging at the dock: State rules require marinas to provide mitigation for any seagrass they destroy while dredging. They must grow new grass beds at another site that is not state-owned bottom, said Kevin Quirk, who oversees the marina at Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Resort and Spa. He says there is no bottom like that left in the county to do this, so dredging for megayacht slips is stymied.
• Boat lifts: A new interpretation of city rules has cut the distance that boat lifts are allowed to encroach on waterways to the point that 90 percent of city waterfront are now disqualified for a boat lift, said Randy Whiteside, CEO of Neptune Boat Lifts. The city promised to look into that problem.
• Manatees: Save the Manatee Club has petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to designate much of Broward County's waters (as well as many other state waters) critical manatee habitat, which - if approved - could result in significantly more restrictions on boating in the county and around the state.
Herhold said other regions are competing for the marine businesses and boats now based in Fort Lauderdale. Among them: Riviera Beach, Jacksonville, Palm Beach, Savannah, North Carolina, as well as Europe and Caribbean islands.
"Everyone wants a piece of the megayacht business," he says.

12.17.09: NMMA Buys NE Boat Show

The National Marine Manufacturers Association today announced the acquisition of the New England Boat Show from North America Expositions Company as part of a larger strategic repositioning of its boat show portfolio.Specific terms of the sale were not disclosed.
The purchase of the New England Boat Show confirms the NMMA's belief in the long-term value of boat shows and its stance that shows in large, populated boating markets are most viable and will remain a successful and important part of the boating industry, the organization said in its release.
"The New England Boat Show is the dominant boating event in the region and presents enormous opportunities to bring qualified customers and sales to participating companies through NMMA's wealth of marketing resources," said Thom Dammrich, president of NMMA, in a statement.
NMMA will continue the longstanding partnership between the show and the Massachusetts Marine Trade Association.
The New England Boat Show, now in its 54th year, will run Feb. 20-28 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, and will continue to be directed by longtime show manager Joe O'Neal. O'Neal has been with North American Expositions Company for 29 years and has managed the show for 25 years.
With its most recent purchase, NMMA now owns and produces 20 consumer boat shows annually throughout North America.

12.11.09: For the Boater on Your List – Perfect Presents

Hey there! Captain Chris here!

This past weekend I was asked by two different people what would be a great gift for the boater in their life. As I sat there and thought for a minute what I would want, what I need, and what i can always use; I came up with a short list that will meet anyone’s budget. Take a look and let me know if I’m missing anything important:

¦Deluxe Pocket Knife - A sailor or a power boater cannot live without one of these.
¦Charts - You can never have too many charts of where you are going or where you boat is. Maps are continuously updated, so make sure that your captain has the most up to date and current charts.
¦Binoculars - Make sure that your captain can see what lurks on the vast horizon
¦Handheld VHF
¦Gift card to their favorite marine accessories store. Let them choose the perfect gift
¦Grills - This is a win-win for everyone. You get a boat ride and a great cooked meal, while your captain gets a great looking grill to add to the back of the boat.
¦Waterproof duffle bag -Waterproof bags are perfect for any boat and come in all sizes. Get one small enough for their cell phone and wallet or big enough to carry their clothes and food in.
¦Handheld GPS - Whether it’ being used as a back up or as a primary GPS unit, handhelds are the perfect addition to any captain’s navigational toolbox.
¦Folding Bike - Fold it up and put it under a seat, un-fold it and run to the store to get ice for your favorite beverage when you are at the docks.
¦Books - every captain should have a copy of Chapman’s Piloting and Seamanship. Coast Pilot’s and light lists are also great tools that are constantly being updated.
¦Weather Station - Looks great on a boat or in the house. Helps your captain know whether or not to leave the dock.
¦Non-Breakable Glasses -No more worries about dropping or breaking when your captain’s crew gets tipsy from the waves.
¦Captain’s Hat -My wife and daughter think that every captain should have their own captain’s hat so they got me one.
What do you think makes for a perfect gift? As a boater, what would you want to receive? What gifts have you given?

12.10.09: Ten Tips for Clean and Green Boating

 

Prevent oily discharges from the bilge. Keep your engine well tuned to prevent fuel and oil leaks. Secure an oil absorbent pad or pillow in your bilge and under your engine where drips may occur. Check the pads often, do not let them clog the bilge pump, and dispose of them as hazardous waste at a marina or local hazardous waste collection center.

1.Spill-proof your oil changes. For oil changes, use an oil change pump to transfer oil to a spill-proof container. Wrap a plastic bag or absorbent pad around the oil filter to prevent oil from spilling into the bilge.
2.When fueling, stop the drops! Prevent fuel spills by filling fuel tanks slowly and using absorbent pads or rags to catch drips and spills. Don’t "top off" or overflow your fuel tank. Leave the tank 10% empty to allow fuel to expand as it warms.
3.Do not add soap. Never use soap to disperse fuel and oil spills. It increases harm to the environment, and it is illegal.
4.Minimize boat cleaning and maintenance in the water. If possible, save maintenance projects for the boatyard. When performing work on the water minimize your impact by containing waste. Use tarps and vacuum sanders to collect all drips and debris for proper disposal.
5.Reduce toxic discharges from bottom paints. Minimize the discharge of heavy metals found in soft-sloughing antifouling paints by using a less toxic, or nontoxic antifouling paint. Use only non-abrasive underwater hull cleaning techniques to prevent excessive paint discharge. Remember, dry storage reduces the need for antifouling paints and saves money.
6.Dispose of hazardous waste properly. Dispose of paints, batteries, antifreeze, cleaning products, oil, oil filters and other hazardous wastes at a hazardous waste collection facility or event.
7.Plan A-head! Manage sewage wastes properly. Never discharge sewage within 3 miles of shore. Use harbor pump-out stations and shore-side facilities. If you don’t have an installed toilet, use a port-a-potty and empty it at a harbor dump station or bathroom.
8.Stow it, don’t throw it! Keep your trash on board. Never throw cigarette butts, fishing line, or any other garbage into the ocean. Take advantage of shore-side facilities to recycle plastic, glass, metal, and paper.
9.Reduce Greywater discharges. Use a phosphate-free biodegradable soap to minimize the impacts of greywater on the marine environment. Also minimize discharge by doing dishes and showers on shore whenever possible.

12.09.09: Boating is Affordable

Boating is affordable and there’s a boat for every age, lifestyle and budget.
• Most people don’t realize how affordable boating is: in some instances, you can buy a brand new boat financed for around $250.00 a month, like a car.
• Boats provide tax deductible and cost effective second homes. Interest on a boat loan can be deducted if the boat has a galley, berth and head.
• Visit a boat show to see what boating products are available and line up the best deals.

Fuel:
• The typical boater only operates his or her vessel about 75 hours a season.
• Nearly 95 percent of boats on the water today are under 26’ in length. These crafts do not require exorbitant amounts of gas, so any impact would be negligible.
• In fact, 64 percent of boaters say they purchase less than fifty gallons of gas per season—roughly two trips to the gas station to fill up your SUV or Minivan. (NMMA/RMRC, July 2005)
• Boating isn’t an activity like driving where you are using gas all the time. In fact, when a person is boating, they may be fishing or swimming and not using the motor at all. If you own a sailboat the motor is used even less.
• Higher fuel prices present a marginal increase in the operating cost of your boat. For owners of $500,000 boats that use 100 gallons in a weekend, a 50 cent increase in gasoline means that a weekend of fun on the water will cost $50 more, while owners of smaller boats that use 20 gallons of gas will end up spending $10 more on gas. The small increase in operating cost isn’t expected to limit boaters’ time on the water.

Insurance:
• Boat insurance costs vary by boat length and type, cost of the boat and level of coverage.
• Consult your insurance agent for quotes or compare rates online. Some smaller boats can be insured for a nominal sum as a rider on a homeowner’s policy.
• You can reduce the cost of marine insurance premiums by taking a boater’s education course.
Maintenance:
• Boat, trailer, and motor maintenance can be as simple as a freshwater wash down after each use and keeping them covered between adventures, helping to keep maintenance costs at bay.
• Costs for routine maintenance vary by region, but for more involved services, such as oil changes and winterizing, expect to pay what you would for your car on an hourly basis. Pre-owned boats can require significantly more maintenance.

Storage:
• You have several options depending on the size of your boat. You won’t find a less-expensive way to keep a boat than storing it on a trailer in your driveway or backyard. Another alternative for smaller boats is rack storage. A typical rack storage facility keeps your boat in a covered shed with trailer-like cradles.
• For owners of larger boats, and owners of small boats who crave convenience, a marina slip is the best way to go. Costs vary by state/region as well as by the size of your boat.

11.30.09: Hurricane Season Comes to a Quiet End

The Atlantic hurricane season, which officially ends today, produced nine named storms, including three hurricanes, during the six-month period that began June 1.

Of the three hurricanes, two were considered major, with winds of more than 110 mph.

The first named storm of the season - Tropical Storm Ana - didn't form until mid-August, nearly three months into the hurricane season.

11.21.09: More awards handed out at Marine Dealer Conference & Expo

ORLANDO, Fla. - The manufacturer of the year award, Darlene Briggs woman of the year award and the Jerry Martin journalism award were presented Wednesday at the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo.

Brunswick Corp. was named the Marine Retailers Association of America's manufacturer of the year for its dedication to its dealer network.

"We're only as good as the dealer network," Brunswick CEO Dusty McCoy said in accepting the award.

There's been a lot of pain in the industry this year, he noted, but reiterated his company's commitment to its dealer network.

The Darlene Briggs award, presented annually to a woman in the marine industry, was given to Nancy Smith, co-owner and vice president of the Colorado Boating Center.

Smith, a member of the MRAA board of directors, is a certified dealer and a strong advocate of Grow Boating, dealer certification and new boater education.

"I am deeply honored," she said in accepting the award. "I'm very passionate about boating. If we all work together we can grow this industry.'

The Jerry Martin journalism award was presented to Beth Rosenberg, associate editor of Soundings Trade Only, for support of the marine industry and recognition of marine retailers.

11.20.09: SBA issues first marine floor plan loan

WASHINGTON – The first marine loan has been issued under the Small Business Administration’s Dealer Floor Plan pilot program, according to a release from the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Tennessee-based Cleveland Boat Center has finalized its SBA Dealer Floor Plan loan with longtime SBA lender Citizens National Bank of Athens, Tenn. The SBA Dealer Floor Plan program, which launched earlier this year, offers government guaranteed loans to finance inventory for eligible boat, auto, RV and other dealerships.

“We’re pleased to hear that the SBA has finalized its first marine floor plan loan and hope to see many more marine loans,” Jim Coburn, president of the National Marine Bankers Association, said in the release. “This is a vital program for our industry and we encourage SBA to make it a permanent lending program once the pilot ends.” 

To date, there have been 23 businesses approved for SBA DFP loans. Of these, there are marine businesses in Michigan and New Jersey that have pending loans, in addition to the Cleveland Boat Center, according to the NMMA.

“Our SBA loan has provided our business with manageable terms and increased flexibility,” Randy Wattenbarger, owner of the Cleveland Boat Center, said in the release. “It’s helping us preserve jobs and keep boats available to local boaters at a price they can afford.”

The NMMA also reported that last week, GE Commercial Distribution Finance brought more than $500 million in securitized floor plan loans to market partially under the Term Asset-Backed Securities Lending Facility (TALF). GE previously brought an initial $500 million in floorplan loans through TALF to market in early August. NMMA said it has worked successfully to get marine floorplan asset-backed securities eligible under TALF.

“As the economy slowly recovers, initiatives like TALF and the SBA DFP program are providing additional, much-needed help to resilient marine businesses as they work to emerge from this downturn,” NMMA President Thom Dammrich said in the release. “NMMA has been working hard to make these programs relevant to the marine industry and we look forward to continued collaboration with SBA and the Obama Administration.”

The SBA DFP program is set to end on Sep. 30, 2010, at which point SBA will decide to extend the pilot, terminate the pilot or make it a permanent part of SBA’s lending programs. NMMA has recommended that in lieu of that current expiration date, SBA make the program a three-year pilot program that will automatically renew unless SBA determines that floor plan financing is readily available from the private market.

11.19.09: Spader Dealer Reports

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — New boat sales were down by 34.2 percent and total dealership sales were down by 23.0 percent for the average dealer tracked by Spader Business Management during the nine-month period ended Sept. 30, compared to the same period of 2008, the company reported in a recent statement. Those numbers are slightly improved from last month, when new boat sales were down by 36.5 percent and total dealership sales were down 25.5 percent.

The average dealer reported year-to-date new boat sales of $2,977,439 and average total dealership sales of $6,363,451 for the first nine months of 2009. This compares to the average new boat sales of $4,522,078 and the average total dealership sales of $8,260,010 reported for the first nine months of 2008. 

The training and consulting firm tracks North American boat dealers, both large and small, to compile an average profile, then compares year-over-year trends in a number of different categories.

Pre-owned boat sales for the average dealer tracked by Spader Business Management brought in $897,323 during the first nine months of the year, down only 5.2 percent when compared to the same time frame in 2008, according to Spader.

New boat inventory levels were down 21.5 percent for the first nine months of the year — from $3,347,226 to $2,626,923. Spader reported pre-owned boat inventory was down 5.8 percent to $398,114 during this period, resulting in a total inventory decline of 19.8 percent.

F&I revenue fell 39.2 percent and service revenue dropped 10.5 percent for the period, while parts and accessories revenue was down 7.8 percent, marina revenue was down 14 percent and other department sales rose 0.8 percent.

The total dealership gross margin percentage was up by 0.5 percentage points because with boat sales down, a greater percentage of revenue is coming from higher margin areas such as parts & accessories, service, finance & insurance and marinas, Spader explained. Unit gross margin percentages were down by 1.9 percentage points to 17.2 percent, compared to last year.

"Spending in terms of dollars is running just under 18 percent less than a year ago," Spader said. "However, as a percentage of gross margin, expenses are over four percentage points higher than last year."

At the end of September, the average dealer earned a net profit of 2.2 percent of sales. This compares to an average net profit of 3.4 percent of sales in 2008. This is a 50-percent decrease in net profit dollars for the nine months ending Sept. 30.

11.17.09: Bluewater racers switch to survival mode

Posted on November 13, 2009 The fleet racing in the Transat Jacques Vabre double-handed bluewater race for both monohulls and multihulls from Le Havre, France, to Costa Rico, has been once again been battered by storm force 9 conditions (more than 50 mph) in the North Atlantic.

As British racer Alex Thompson said on board Friday, "it's horrific out there, just horrific, I have no other words to describe it. These are boat-breaking conditions. You can't do anything on the boat right now."

Thompson's boat, Hugo Boss, has gone into "survival mode" as the IMOCA class battles the 50-knot winds and squalls. There has been damage across the fleet. Veolia Environment has reported mast track damage, Mike Golding Yacht Racing is still without major instruments and Artemis has sustained damaged to its sail battens and boom. It was BT who suffered the worst damage today after reporting the coach roof was torn and the boat was two-thirds full of water. The crew set off their emergency EPIRB and were hoisted by helicopter 200 miles from the Azores.

11.16.09: Megayacht Industry Sees Signs of Recovery

Many assume the megayacht segment is resistant to economic downturns because affluent buyers don't feel the financial pinch. However, this is no typical downturn.
"This category in the market is normally impervious but not in a deep recession like this," Jim Eden, a longtime broker with International Yacht Collections, told Soundings Trade Only.
He said that the 20 to 25 percent dip in megayacht brokerage sale prices during the last few years translates to multimillion-dollar "discounted" prices on yachts. Prices, however, are starting come back up.
"The dip's over; we're starting to see prices creep up and firm up," Eden said of the megayacht market. "The boats are selling."
Show Management, which produces the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, reported more than 155 yachts over 100 feet at this year's show, and another 100 from 90 to 100 feet.
IYC displayed 14 yachts, from an 81-foot Cheoy Lee to a 177-foot Trinity.
"The traffic was definitely off from years past, but the quality of the buyers was great," Eden said. "I had two serious new clients and was working with three existing clients on brokerage boats. Two new guys of this quality in these times at the show is just great."
One of the new clients was interested in a 150- to 160-foot new build, while the other was looking for a 120- to 130-foot brokerage boat.
Karen Blake, vice president for Palladium Technologies, which designs yacht monitoring systems, alarm security software and entertainment systems for yachts 100 feet and larger, reported a "really good show."
"We were so busy Thursday and Friday I had trouble getting into our booth," Blake told Soundings Trade Only.
She attributes much of the success to new product. Palladium, which introduced the SiMON yacht monitoring and control system in 1991, has added entertainment systems and electrical switchboards to its offerings. And its iSiMON software allows users to monitor yachts on their Apple iPhones.
"We found with more yachts being crewed by younger crew, they are all very familiar with this technology," Blake said.
Blake acknowledged that the megayacht segment has felt the economic downturn and noted some owners mothballed their yachts the last couple of years.
"But I think people are slowly starting to feel comfortable," she said. "The siesta is over for some of these people."

 

11.13.09: Optimism after Ft. Lauderdale Show

The second Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show held amid the economic downturn wrapped up Monday with the expected mix of optimism and realistic expectations expressed by exhibitors.
Celebrating its golden anniversary this year, the show, which typically draws about 100,000 attendees, saw attendance drop 4 percent last year, and organizers budgeted for an 8 percent drop this year. But that appears to have been too skeptical.
"I was thrilled with the way the show turned out," said Efrem "Skip" Zimbalist III, chairman and CEO of Active Interest Media, which owns show producer Show Management.
Final attendance figures were unavailable this morning, but Zimbalist was expecting "flat to up 1 percent" for this year's attendance.
"Attendance was up 10-plus percent through Friday," Zimbalist said. "We had a small dip in 'family' attendance on Saturday and Sunday, with Monday trending up slightly. I've heard from several exhibitors that sales were well up compared to last year, but still a ways to go to get back to 2007 levels."
Frank Herhold, executive director of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, which owns the show, summed up the event this way:
"Sales were made, the weather held, crowds were strong - everything fell into place. Even in these times I call the 'new normal,' the show remains a bellwether, and I think this year it's a positive bellwether for the industry," Herhold said. "This industry is very resilient, an optimistic industry, and we tend to look more to the future than the past."
Though overall foot traffic was down from typical levels, many of those who attended - despite the hot and humid weather - were serious about purchasing.
"The quality of attendees was excellent," Clay Gaillard, public relations manager for Cummins MerCruiser Diesel, told Soundings Trade Only. CMD attended in support of its distributors, namely local distributor Cummins Power South.
"We've had some very encouraging reports regarding consumers seeking opportunities to repower with our Zeus or Axius drives, and a number of OEMs who showed a lot of interest in integrating pods into their product," Gaillard said.
In the scaled-back Fort Lauderdale Convention Center, several smaller boatbuilders said they fared well.
"We had a surprisingly strong show, with six boats from 17 to 33 feet sold so far," said Peter Truslow, president of EdgeWater Powerboats. All were cash deals - two 17-footers, an 18-, a 26-, a 31- and a 33-footer, according to Truslow.
"We also have some other orders coming in from our foreign dealers and expect to close more deals this week," he added.
The Sea Fox & Mariah Boat Company reported a nearly 54 percent increase in sales from the 2008 show.
"It looks like we got 20 solid sales with a possibility of a few more," said Jeff DeBar, senior vice president of sales and marketing. Most are cash buyers and not in need of financing.
"This is a 180-degree change from year's past," he said. "If the 20 sales stick, this would be better than the 13 compared to last year."
Out on the Bahia Mar docks, Pompano Beach Marine Center, which displayed several Grady-White models, including the new 366 Canyon, reported modest sales success.
"We sold some smaller boats this year compared to last year," said salesman Michael Zantop, noting cash sales of an 18- and a 20-footer. He said another customer wants to move up from a 33-foot Grady-White to the new 36-footer, but the sale is pending the dealer finding a buyer for the trade-in boat.
Zantop said a half-dozen 366 Canyon sea trials have been set up for the coming weeks, and the dealership came away from the show with "several good leads."
Robert McDougal, president of Allied Marine, which was purchased by Ferretti last year, issued this statement assessing the show:
"After considerable preparation of our team, we were cautiously optimistic going into the show. Today, we can say that we are pleased with the number of written contracts for both new and brokered boats coming from the show. We are on track for achieving our goals."

11.12.09: New Michigan boaters’ association formed

LIVONIA, Mich. – The Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA), which serves marine retailers and manufacturers, has created the Boaters’ Association of Michigan (BAM) for area boat owners and boating enthusiasts, according to a release from the group.

BAM’s mission is to create a voice for Michigan’s boaters to effectively express their views on legislative and regulatory issues that impact the boating lifestyle, the group said. In addition to representation in Lansing, member benefits will include discounts at participating marine businesses and boat shows and networking at social events.

A new Web site, boatmichigan.org, will act as a portal and information source for BAM members as well as other boaters in Michigan. A BAM members-only section will be included as well as a comprehensive product and services guide for boaters.

Members will pay a $25 annual fee to join.

11.04.09: Better Year Expected for Boat Builders

Boat Builders Look Ahead to 2010 As the boating season has come to a close for many areas of the United States, boating industry executives planning for 2010 have been forecasting little to no improvement in retail sales. However, despite that outlook, National Marine Manufacturers Association President Thom Dammrich believes boat builders have something to look forward to in the year ahead. “Conventional wisdom is that the boating industry will sell 135,000 units at retail in 2009, but only build 50,000 units,” Dammrich wrote in an e-mail interview. “In 2010, sales are expected to be between 135,000 and 150,000 units, which would be an 11 percent increase at the high end of that range. But production will likely be close to the retail units sold. Our production numbers could triple from 50K to 150K and that will feel like a big recovery for the manufacturers.” Despite what many have characterized as a very different kind of recession, our industry’s best indicators of future performance haven’t changed, according to Dammrich. They are consumer confidence (which NMMA expects to turn up in the next four months), housing stats, new car sales, RV sales, availability of credit and GDP growth, he stated. In fact, the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) recently reported that RV shipments in July were at their highest seasonally adjusted level since October 2008. July’s total represented the smallest percentage decline in month-over-month comparisons since April 2008, according to the RV association. It’s unclear whether this is due to RV dealers’ healthier inventory levels or an increase in consumer demand. Dammrich said he suspects it is a reflection of both. As the boating industry’s recovery historically has trailed the RV business’ recovery by about six months, this is a source of optimism, he suggested. Thinking ahead to recovery As the industry begins to recover, the future of the Grow Boating Initiative is likely to resurface. “It is an absolute necessity, and as resources become available, they will be deployed to achieve the original goals to get more people participating in boating,” commented Dammrich. “Participation precedes purchase.” What exactly a recovery will look like for our industry has been the topic of much discussion in recent months. Many industry executives have speculated that a decline in the availability of home equity lines of credit and a general tightening within the credit market, combined with the increased financial conservatism of consumers, will translate into a smaller, wealthier base of potential boat buyers. Dammrich suggested that this will likely be true in the short-term, but not in the long-term, citing Brunswick CEO Dusty McCoy’s belief that the boating industry may be able to gradually rebound to as high as 300,000 units per year over the next five years or more. “One of our industry’s biggest concerns is that new taxes and regulations could choke recovery and cause a double dip recession later next year,” he concluded.

10.22.09: Marine Insurance Workshop Set for MD

ABYC and the Mid-Atlantic Mariners Club (MAMC) today announced a one day Marine Insurance Industry Educational Summit dedicated to earning up to 8 CEU’s, while gaining valuable professional knowledge and networking with colleagues within the marine industry. On Thursday, December 3, 2009, at the historic Calvert House in downtown Annapolis, Maryland, the day’s events will feature some of the top experts in the Marine Insurance Industry, as well as Marine Industry standards experts. Specifically, four credit hours will be dedicated to marine towing and salvage and four hours will feature ABYC Marine Standards and In-Water Electrical Shock issues, identification and prevention. At the conclusion of the day’s events eight CEU credits will be awarded to those participants holding a PC License in the States of CT, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD and VA. Future insurance industry educational summits are expected to include participation by additional States and be strategically located around the United States and Canada.

10.08.09: IBEX Organizers Forecast Strong Boatbuilder Show

A recent influx of new marine industry exhibitor registrations, in addition to positive shipment news released by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, could indicate the International Boatbuilders' Exhibition and Conference is poised for a strong opening Monday, organizers say.

The marine trade event opens Monday and runs through Wednesday at the Miami Beach Convention Center. IBEX is owned and produced by Professional BoatBuilder magazine and the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

"Growth in RV sales and the increase in registrations is a positive sign that IBEX will be a key event for boatbuilders who need to prepare for what could be a period of economic stability in 2010," said Carl Cramer, IBEX co-director and publisher of Professional BoatBuilder magazine, in a statement.

Preshow registrations are off only slightly from 2008 numbers, Cramer said, while boat show management has seen more than 65 new or returning exhibitors make a commitment in the last 90 days to exhibit at the 2009 event.

What's more, RVIA reported this week that July RV shipments to dealers were at their highest seasonally-adjusted levels since October 2008. The marine industry typically follows the RV industry by six months.

"Recent news out of the RV industry is an encouraging signal for the marine industry and further suggests we will see stronger retail sales and a ramp-up in production for recreational boats in 2010," NMMA president Thom Dammrich said in a statement.

9.21.09: Obama Seeks National Policy for Waterways

Obama Administration officials released the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force Interim Report for a 30-day public review and comment period.

The report provides proposals for a comprehensive national approach to ensure accountability for the health of the nation's oceans, coastal areas and Great Lakes.

"This interim report represents a wide spectrum of views and considerations, not just from within the federal government but from members of the public, local officials, stakeholders and experts from coast to coast," said Nancy Sutley, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

"It delivers on President Obama's request for recommendations that will move this country towards a more robust national policy for our oceans, coasts and the Great Lakes, and recognizes that we have a responsibility to protect the oceans and coasts for the benefit of current and future generations," she added.

The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force was created June 12 by Presidential Memorandum. The memorandum charged the task force with developing recommendations that include a national policy for our oceans, coasts and the Great Lakes, a framework for improved federal policy coordination, and an implementation strategy to meet the objectives of a national ocean policy within 90 days. Within 180 days, the task force is charged with developing a recommended framework for effective coastal and marine spatial planning.

9.18.09: For Boating Industry, Panel Says Improvement is Near

Speaking Thursday at the opening day of the Newport International Boat Show, industry experts say by this time next year the economy should stabilize and the marine industry should see some improvement.

"We are starting to see a slight uptick," Steve Anderson, president of J&J Marine of Somerset, Mass., said during a press conference at the show, which runs through Sunday. "Americans still want what they want and are willing to pay for it."

Anderson and others in the boat industry discussed methods marine businesses can use to stay afloat while waiting for that improvement.

Along with Anderson, conference panelists included Andy Tyska, president of Fleet Yacht Sales of Bristol, R.I., and Christopher W. Hood, co-founder of C.W. Hood Yachts in Marblehead, Mass. Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri was slated to attend, but was unable to because of scheduling conflicts, according to spokeswoman Amy Kempe.

"In forming my business, I surround myself with great people," said Hood. "I can work with them to build what we hope will be the next best product."

He said that in addition to having a reliable staff, keeping up solid relationships with former buyers is important for future sales.

"We never build a boat for someone, send them on their way, and then never see them again," said Hood. "That doesn't do our boat or our customer justice."

Tyska said a company should focus on discovering what it does best, rather than trying to do what everyone else is doing. Once that is established, it is the work of a good manager to get their work force engaged as a team.

"You have to get them out of the bubble and engage them to be better workers, to have a better business," he said.

Anderson said his key to good business in bad times is to "do what you say and say what you do."

Anderson said when the economic "tsunami" hit his business in August 2008, calls dropped from 120 a day to about 12. That has since picked up, because they have stuck to their philosophy of making promises they can keep, he added.

"Also, it is very important to have a good line of credit," said Anderson. "You find out the strength of your bank. You learn the first names of everyone in your corner and the willingness of the bank to work with you."

9.17.09: Brokerage Sales Steady for Midsize Sailboats

Sailboat brokerage sales in August held steady at 523 boats, which is similar to the prior three months, but 14 percent lower than the 605 boats that were sold in August 2008, as reported by broker members of YachtWorld.com.

From May to August, between 500 and 550 sailboats have been reported sold each month. Collectively, that's 20 percent fewer than in the same months in 2008.

Comparative valuations have fluctuated during the same period. Whereas market values were off about 45 percent from January through May, they showed improvement in June (down 8 percent), but have trended down since (down 21 percent in July and down 33 percent in August).

One bright spot for brokers in August was the sale of mid-size boats, 36-45 feet, with 166 boats selling in that size range compared to 179 the year before, according to YachtWorld.com. Valuations weren't much farther off at $17.1 million versus $20 million in 2008 (a decline of 14 percent).

Year-to-date, sailboat brokerage sales are down on average by 26 percent. Larger boats, 46-55 feet, have experienced the biggest year-over-year decline in units sold (down 33 percent) whereas small boats less than 26 feet are off 17 percent in units and 12 percent in valuation.

"Although we reported a bounce in big-boat sales in July, the jury is still out on that market over the longer term," said John Burnham, editorial director of YachtWorld.com, in the report.

In August, three boats over 55 feet were sold for a collective valuation of less than $700,000, while in 2008, three big boats were sold for close to $5.5 million.

The National Boat Owners Association is dedicated the development of the boating industry. With over 25 years of expierence, NBOA can help boaters with insurance, finance, boat towing, safety equipment, and even general boating knowledge. For more information, visit www.nboat.com

9.09.09: Mercury Marine Offered $50 Million to Stay Afloat in WI

More than $50 million in government loans and other aid was offered to Mercury Marine to maintain and expand its operations in Fond du Lac, Wis., according to reports.

The announcement follows the union's vote last Friday to accept the company's contract proposal, which would allow it to stay in Wisconsin, rather than move production to its plant in Stillwater, Okla. The approval means operations in Oklahoma will instead move to Wisconsin during the next 18 to 24 months, company officials have said.

Fond du Lac County officials intend to pay for incentives by raising the county's sales tax by one-half percentage point to 5.5 percent, Dow Jones reports. The Fond du Lac County Board and Fond du Lac City Council are scheduled to vote later this week on the tax increase.

The major components of the incentive package include $3 million from the city of Fond du Lac. The city will use some of the money to purchase land from Mercury for redevelopment and provide the rest to the company in loans and grants.

Mercury also will receive $50 million in low-interest loans from the county. That money is intended to defray Mercury's costs for developing new engines and relocating the company's Stillwater, Okla., plant to Fond du Lac.

8.28.09: Boat Sales Up Slightly in July

Unit sales of powerboats 15 feet in length and above were down about 33 percent during the 12-month period ended July 31, compared to the prior 12 months, according to Info-Link Technologies Inc.’s Bellwether Report, which has been updated through July.

Within the outboard boat segment, unit sales were down about 30 percent during this period, while the sterndrive/jet boat segment sales were down about 40 percent, the personal watercraft segment was down about 31 percent, the outboard sportfishing segment was down about 40 percent and the ski boat segment was down about 35 percent.

Although all segments were down compared to the prior 12 months, each of them – except PWC, which was down slightly – were either just up or flat compared to month previous, with the sportfishing segment making the steepest gain.

The bellwether report is based on new U.S. boat registrations in geographically dispersed states representing roughly half of the U.S. boat market. With the exception of a couple of slight blips upward, powerboat sales in this category have been trending downward since early 2004 on a rolling 12 month year-over-year basis of comparison.

8.18.09: Travelers Offers Insurance Discount for Wireless Lanyard

To help encourage safe boating, Travelers, a leading provider of boat and yacht insurance, today announced a new discount on boat and yacht insurance premiums for boaters that use the Autotether wireless emergency stop lanyard. These devices are designed to reduce the chances of a runaway boat by turning off the motor should the boat’s operator go overboard.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, falls overboard are consistently a leading cause of boating fatalities, thousands of dollars of property damage and injuries to innocent victims each year. Incidents where the operator falls overboard and the boat is left without anyone to steer can be easily avoided when the proper safety devices are used by the vessel’s operator.

“Encouraging safe boating is a top priority at Travelers as falls overboard place everyone in the water at risk,” said Chantal Cyr, vice president of the Boat and Yacht Division at Travelers. “We expect that offering a boat and yacht insurance premium discount will encourage powerboat owners to consider using a wireless emergency stop lanyard to make boating safer for everyone on the water.”

Wearing an emergency stop lanyard is required by law in only six states - Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada and New Jersey. According to Autotether, a leading producer of a wireless emergency stop device, most operators surveyed do not wear the emergency stop lanyard and admitted to leaving the helm at one time or another when the vessel is under way. The main reason boaters cite for not wearing it is that the lanyard is restrictive and inconvenient around the helm as it is typically connected to the operator from the boat’s ignition.

“We’ve found that boaters do not want to be restricted to the helm and most emergency stop lanyards are inconvenient,” said Anthony Viggiano, president of Autotether. “The wireless device frees the boat operator while giving them and their crew the peace of mind in knowing the boat will stop if the operator goes overboard or an alarm will sound if a passenger accidentally slips out.”

Travelers is currently reviewing safety devices made by other manufacturers in the hopes of offering this discount in the future to boaters who own them.

“Properly using an emergency stop lanyard and all of the proper boating safety devices could easily be linked to saving lives,” said Cyr.

7.01.09: July 1st is National Boating Day!

Today marks National Boating Day, following the passage of resolutions in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

"The entire marine industry and recreational boaters nationwide look forward to celebrating National Boating Day," Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, said in a statement.

"Not only is recreational boating a beloved pastime, but marine businesses are important parts of their communities and our national economy, creating business opportunities and local jobs," he added. "Our thanks go to all of the members of Congress behind this resolution for their strong support of the boating industry."

With the nation's average gas price hovering around $2.50 per gallon, much lower than 2008 prices, boaters are expected to hit the water in larger numbers this summer, the NMMA reports.

6.18.09: Classic Boat Market Now Open for NBOA

NBOA Marine Insurance can now write antique boats, thanks to the boat and yacht experts from Travelers Insurance. They have created products specifically for antique and classic runabout owners.

"Insuring an antique and classic runabout is unlike covering any other type of boat or yacht," said Chantal Cyr, vice president of Travelers Boat and Yacht Division, in a statement. "Preserving the boat's history, especially in the repair process, is meaningful to antique boat owners. Travelers understands that point and can help safeguard this important value."

Travelers' antique and classic runabout program features an agreed value policy that is not based on the depreciated value of the vessel. In the event of a total loss, this coverage offers no depreciation and no deductible.

This program also waives depreciation that includes machinery, hull and interior including canvas and upholstery in the event of a partial loss.

"Classic boats are used differently and need unique and innovative insurance products that protect the vessel in its various roles as both a showpiece, and a boat that cruises the shoreline," added Cyr.

Please contact your NBOA Marine insurance specialist today to get your antique boat covered 1-800-248-3512.

5.18.09: Safe Boating Week Kicks Off for Boaters Nationwide

All across the country, people are getting ready for the boating season and that's why this week is designated as National Safe Boating Week, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The idea started as a small grassroots effort in 1957 and has grown to a nationwide program backed by presidential proclamation, and is also observed in Canada.

The theme for this year's observance is "Wear It," with the goal of getting people to wear life jackets. The U.S. Coast Guard notes that in nearly nine out of 10 boating deaths, those involved were not wearing life jackets.

National Safe Boating Week runs through Friday.

5.07.09: Economy, Ethenol Main Focus at Boating Congress

"The financial crisis that began last fall has been the greatest economic slump in 50 years," said David Slikkers, chairman of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) board of directors, in his opening remarks. "None of us are sure when the bottom will occur."

Jeffrey Wrase, Republican chief economist from Congress's Joint Economic Committee, addressed that uncertainty in his presentation this morning.

"We're starting to see some signs of moving toward stability ... and it looks like we could be headed toward a recovery by the end of the year," he said.

As proof, he cited some tentative signs that housing sales are hitting bottom and that home prices, while still down, have shown some positive signs. He also pointed to a slight increase in consumer confidence in the first quarter and said there have been some declines in initial claims for unemployment insurance in recent weeks.

Wrase said he expects gross domestic product to post a more modest decline in the second quarter - about 2 percent, compared to the 6.3 percent and 6.1 percent declines in the 2008 fourth quarter and 2009 first quarter, respectively.

On the issue of ethanol, Karl Simon, from the Environmental Protection Agency, said the NMMA's legislative conference couldn't be timelier, because the Obama Administration yesterday released the requirements for Renewable Fuel Standards 2.

"The requirements are very ambitious in terms of the volumes they want us to replace, and ethanol will certainly play a part in that," said Simon, director of the Compliance and Innovative Strategies Division of the EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality.

He also reminded attendees of the waiver request submitted by Growth Energy — an organization representing ethanol producers — that seeks an increase in ethanol blends from the current E10 to E15. The comment period for that waiver request ends May 21, but Simon said the EPA is considering an extension.

He assured attendees that it is the EPA's "sincere hope and desire" to work through some of the concerns of the marine industry and others opposed to midlevel ethanol blends, such as testing obligations for engines.

He also said that even if the waiver for midlevel blends is approved, that doesn't mean E15 will be mandated by the government.

"If the EPA grants the waiver, all that does is make the fuel legal," said Simon. "It doesn't require anyone to sell it."

In other business this morning, the NMMA presented legislative awards to members who have gone above and beyond the call in helping the industry with lobbying efforts.

Legislative Achievement Awards were presented to Jim Hardin of Grady-White and Robin Parker of Parker Boats for their successful efforts in fighting a North Carolina ban on the towing of boats with beams of more than 8 feet on weekends and holidays.

Corporate Citizenship Awards were presented to the following companies for their efforts in getting their senior executives and other employees to contribute to the NMMA's Political Action Committee: Sumerset Houseboats, Regulator Marine, Indmar Products and Faria Marine Instruments.

Finally, industry veteran J.J. Marie, who this year retired from Zodiac of North America and who has been active in numerous boards and legislative issues over the years, was presented with the NMMA's Lifetime Achievement Award.

4.14.09: RBFF Adds New Fishing Boat Information

New features, including an interactive "Boat Explorer" tool, glossary, navigation and trip-planning resources, are now available on the site.

"Take Me Fishing is about capturing the excitement and the memories associated with boating and fishing and we want to inspire visitors to take action and help preserve the legacy of the sport for future generations," said Frank Peterson, RBFF president and CEO, in a statement.

Visitors to the site can:

* learn about all types of fishing boats and see what they look like
* download charts and use the trip planner to set a course
* learn how to be safe on the water and how to protect waterways with proper boat maintenance
* use interactive visuals to learn about types of hulls and engines, different parts of a boat, and trailering and launching a boat

Takemefishing.org has received 2.4 million unique visitors in the last year, up 129 percent from the same time last year and 243 percent from 2007, according to RBFF.

3.05.09: Boat Buying Boosts in Sunshine State

Boat sales improved in the first two months of 2009 and some local dealers are feeling optimistic as traffic increases and prices fall.

At the January Charlotte County Boat Show, MarineMax of Cape Haze sold 15 boats, five times more than in 2008 and almost twice as many as 2007 when the dealer made eight sales at the show.

"People need to know there's still an industry out there doing OK," said Pete Havens, a sales consultant for MarineMax in Cape Haze, one of a chain of 80 dealers nationwide, 20 of them in Florida.

Since the peak of the economic boom, the boat market has changed from locals to out-of-town and out-of-state buyers, dealers said.

Before, the local market was an important source of revenue as contractors, Realtors, and builders experiencing record sales bought boats, Havens said.

Now the market is retirees.

"They've been working their whole lives to get by the water and own a boat," he said. "Just because the economy is bad, they haven't abandoned their goals."

Based in Dayton, Ohio, Jeff McCarroll and his wife Susan own a vacation home in Rotonda West and bought a Boston Whaler 345 Conquest a few weeks ago at MarineMax.

Although he is not yet retired, Jeff McCarroll said he can see himself spending half the year here in the future.

"We are boaters in Ohio," he said. "We enjoy the water and definitely the Gulf and coastal water is different from fresh water."

Sales are up, margins are down and buyers have tremendous leverage, according to Gary Ingman, the owner of Ingman Marine in Port Charlotte, Placida and Sarasota.

"They realize it's their time," Ingman said. "Buyers out there are very savvy and taking advantage of a situation that's allowing them to buy something."

As home prices fall locally, people from around the country are buying waterfront homes in increasing numbers, according to Karen Rolland, president of the Association of Realtors for Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and North Port.

They are potential customers for boat dealers.

"Our area has bottomed out and is now going upwards," Ingman said. "We've been in this a lot longer than the rest of the country."

Although sales are down compared to the economic peak, Charles White said he's seeing better numbers than last year, giving him reason to feel hopeful.

"It's a different market," said White, who is general manager of Marine Dynamics in Englewood. "These days it's all about the deal. People's attitudes are better. There's a lot more people shopping and looking to get into a boat."

Boat buyers and sellers can expect inventory to fall in 2009 and 2010 as boat makers limit production, according to Capt. Tom Healy, a salesman at MarineMax.

"Across the board, all the manufacturers are adjusting their inventory and when they do that it increases profit margin," Healy said. "There won't be as many cash incentives for buyers."

MarineMax is selling about 15 boats a month compared with 25 when the economy peaked. Slow months saw sales average about seven boats, Havens said.

"We already have five sales on the books (in March) and it's only the third day of the month," Havens said Tuesday.

2.17.09: Rec. Boat Services Await Stimulus Package

The U.S. House and Senate recently voted to modify the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The bill, which awaits President Obama’s signature this afternoon, removes longshore insurance requirements for recreational marine service and repair businesses. This relief will save small businesses on average of more than $100,000 annually, which will allow the businesses to insure their workers under the state workers’ compensation system and retain and create American jobs, according to the Marine Industries Association of South Florida.

"This is a significant accomplishment for the recreational marine industry," said MIASF president JJ McConnell, in a statement. "It will result in valuable economic relief for our industry, and MIASF is proud to have been in the forefront of the campaign to bring about this much needed change for our members."

MIASF says marine business operators should contact their insurance agents to determine how this legislative change affects your current policy. This exclusion does not apply if the company does not carry state workers’ compensation insurance.

1.19.09: First Boat Announces the Most Popular Boat Names of the Year

Top boat names of 2008 compiled from the leading network of nautical sites

Hartford, CT, January 19, 2009 - FirstBoat.com, the premier online destination for new boaters, today announced its list of the most popular boat names of the past year. The list, compiled by FirstBoat.com in collaboration with CustomBoatNames.com, BoatNameGear.com, and the Boat Name Blog, includes nautical puns, tributes to recent movies and TV shows, and anoverall celebration of the boating lifestyle.

Following are the top ten most popular boat names for 2008:

1. 1. Happy Ours
2. 2. Carpe Diem
3. 3. Aqua - Holic
4. 4. State of Mind
5. 5. Anchor Management
6. 6. The Office
7. 7. Feelin' Nauti
8. 8. Yes Dear
9. 9 Sundance
10. 10. Serenity Now

Several of the boat names on the list, such as "Happy Ours", "State of Mind"and "Carpe Diem", reflect how much enjoyment people derive from the boating lifestyle. In fact, the popularity of these particular boat names may suggest that boating, for some, offers a temporary respite from the unremitting news about a distressed economy and record-high fuel prices which were experienced during the peak of last year's boating season.

In general, most of the names on this year's list of top boat names illustrate that boaters are imaginative and passionate individuals who like to have fun.

About Nautical Sites

Nautical Sites is a new media company comprised of a growing network of websites for boating and yachting enthusiasts. Included among the many sites in the network are:
FirstBoat.com, founded in 1999, is the premier online destination for new boaters and is home of the original Boat Name Machine, featuring over 50,000 possible boat names; online at www.FirstBoat.com.

12.30.08: Back to Basics - Boat Insurance Explained

As we begin the New Year, and as the boat show season revs up, it is important to remember the basics of boat insurance and how your boat is covered. Whether you are an experienced captain or new to boating, you should always review your marine insurance policy to make sure you know the ins and outs of your coverage. In the spirit of new beginnings, let’s step back and define marine insurance and what certain coverages mean for the boater.

Marine insurance is meant to indemnify any financial loss due to damage to a ship and any accompanying properties, including the cargo, from port of departure to port of destination. Specialty marine insurance policies exist such as marine cargo insurance and marine business insurance, but for the recreational boater, most policies are written as individual watercraft insurance.

Individual watercraft insurance is aimed to target insurance of non-commercial usage watercraft. Similar to automobile insurance, individual watercraft insurance policies might not only cover property losses, but also offer individual protection and watercraft liability coverage.

The liability coverage may cover bodily injury to watercraft occupants, along with others who are involved in any accident. Further medical coverage is generally available in a separate policy rider. Uninsured boater coverage is available as well to cover any damage incurred from hit-and-run vessels, or from vessels which lack insurance coverage.

There is also the option of towing and salvage insurance. It can help with smaller incidents such as an engine failure, mechanical breakdowns, or even having fuel delivered to a stranded ship. Towing and salvage insurance can also help to offset the high costs associated with a vessel that has sustained much damage.

Agreed Value or Actual Cash Value forms are what are generally offered for hull coverage on a standard vessel. Because for insurance, it depends on the cash value policies to determine whether when the vessel ages if it will depreciate in value. NBOA Marine Insurance works only with the preferred Agreed Value coverage, which is a better option because whatever amount is on your policy is the amount we have “agreed” on paying. There is no depreciation on this coverage.

Similarly, boat insurance can cover any and all risks, or just risks and perils specified in the policy. No matter the policy type, it is very important to fully understand all of the stipulations which may render the policy null and void. For example, many policies specify navigational limits which render the policy void if exceeded. Depending on the area, accidentally exceeding navigational limits can be very easy on the water where boundaries are not well marked. Always be aware of your navigational limits, and be sure to contact your insurance representative before you leave.

Personal watercraft insurance is available for virtually all watercraft, from small pleasure boats and fishing boats, to large yachts and high-performance boats. Specialty coverage can include coverage for watercraft rentals, fishing excursions, and other charter boat trips. With a wide selection and options available, finding the right coverage for your craft and situation simply takes a phone call and NBOA can find the policy right for you. If you have any further questions about your policy, please do not hesitate to contact any of our experienced representatives at 800.248.3512.

12.23.08: New Year Brings New Resolution - Saving Money!

As the year comes to a close, it is New Year’s Resolution time for many. In today’s unstable economy, however, many people are resolving to trim not only their waistlines, but also their budgets. In a recent study by Progressive Insurance, more people are making the personal pledge to save money in the New Year than ever before. In fact, more people chose to “save money” over other usual favorites such as losing weight, quitting smoking, or finding a new job.

So how are people planning to keep that resolution? By doing typical things like cutting unnecessary costs and controlling household finances. More than 80 percent plan to eliminate nonessential items such as dining out, movies, and vacations, while nearly half (47 percent) will clip coupons.

"When trying to save money, people sometimes forget about things they might consider to be 'fixed' costs, like car and boat insurance. Few realize just how much they could save by shopping around and comparing things like marine insurance rates," said Rick Crawley, insurance expert for Progressive. "One in four people surveyed mistakenly believe that all car and boat insurers charge the same rates when, in fact, people who shopped for the best rate in the summer of 2007 reported saving over $350 on their annual premium."

There are other ways to save money that also have "green" benefits, which men lead women in, according to the survey: they're more likely to take public transportation (14 percent versus 8 percent), carpool (14 percent versus 11 percent), or drive a more fuel-efficient car (16 percent versus 9 percent).

But no matter how they're getting around, car and boat insurance is a necessary expense for many and an easy place to start saving. In addition to shopping around, here are some tips to help people manage their insurance costs in the New Year:

Make sure your policy is up to date. If you've moved, gotten married, or bought a home, check with your insurance company — you may be eligible for lower rates.

Raise your deductibles. According to the Insurance Information Institute, raising your deductibles to $500 could reduce your Collision and Comprehensive costs by 15 to 30 percent.

Research before you buy. Before you buy a new boat, research what it will cost to insure. Generally, smaller boats with lower horsepower are less expensive to cover.

Check coverages. Owners of older or inexpensive boats could consider dropping Comprehensive and Collision coverages. Doing that can save hundreds of dollars each year.

Check for available discounts. You might also be eligible for discounts if you pay in full, complete a boating course, install safety equipment such as an auto halon, list another boats on your policy, and more.

For more information on saving on your boat insurance, and for a free marine insurance quote, contact NBOA Marine Insurance at 1-800-248-3512, or visit www.nboat.com and fill out your free marine insurance quote form.

12.17.08: In Down Economy, NMMA Updates Boat Show Policy

In an effort to help boat show exhibitors move some of their previous years’ inventory during the challenging economic climate, the National Marine Manufacturers Association Executive Committee today approved a recommendation made by the NMMA Shows Committee to temporarily relax the non-current show policy for the 2009 winter boat show season, the association reported in a statement.

The policy change makes it possible for exhibitors to display up to 50 percent of their previous model year products at any 2009 NMMA winter boat show, an increase from the traditional allotment of 20 percent. The change is intended to help boat dealerships sell off their existing 2008 inventory, according to the association.

“All 2009 NMMA winter boat shows will allow up to a 50-50 mix of 2009 models and clean, unused 2008 model boats to be displayed at this winter’s boat shows,” said NMMA Executive Vice President Ben Wold. “The NMMA Shows Committee, Executive Committee and staff understand the economic realities currently facing the boating industry and believe this one-time policy change will give dealers a prime opportunity to sell more product at boat shows over the next few months.”

NMMA is encouraging boat shows exhibitors to speak with their local show staff should they have any questions regarding the change. For more information, visit www.nmma.org.

NBOA Marine Insurance will continue to support the winter boat show season, and will be attending several boat shows in the months ahead. Check back regularly to see what boat shows NBOA Marine Insurance will be attending and receive a free gift at the show! Next up, the New England Boat Show at the Convention Center in Boston, MA. See you there!

12.02.08: Hybrid Boats Get Discount on Boat Insurance

Travelers Insurance Company has delivered another discount to the boating industry. Already offering a 10 percent discount for purely electric boats, they have now created a new Hybrid Boat discount for Hybrid Boats and Yacht Insurance.

As more state-of-the-art technology is developed in the marine industry, coupled with the increased desire to be more environmentally friendly, the new hybrid boat premium discount is another way to stay in-synch with changing demands.

What is a Hybrid Boat?

Travelers defines a hybrid boat as one that is specifically designed to reduce green house gas emissions and conserve fossil fuels, as compared to an internal combustion engine boat.

A hybrid boat also utilizes an integrated propulsion system that incorporates in its original design, both an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor.

About the Hybrid Boat Discount:

The new hybrid boat insurance discount recognizes and rewards hybrid boat owners by offering up to a 10 percent discount off their boat insurance premium for hull and liability coverages.

•The discount applies to hybrid boat and yachts

•Available for both new and existing Travelers boat and yacht insurance customers.

•A discount of up to 10% applies only to certain coverages. The discount may not be available in all states and is subject to individual eligibility.

12.01.08: MRAA Honors Clean Boating Act Heros

The Marine Retailers Association of America recently honored U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Reps. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio) with its annual Legislative Awards.

The awards were presented during the MRAA’s annual convention last month in Las Vegas.

The MRAA says the three legislators were instrumental in the passage of the Clean Boating Act of 2008, which exempts recreational boats from discharge permits required by the Clean Water Act. A September 2006 U.S. District Court ruling had nullified a long-standing exemption for recreational boats and would have required the Environmental Protection Agency to institute permitting requirements for boaters.

“MRAA is proud to honor these three members of Congress for their outstanding support of marine retailing and for their hard work to pass S.2766, The Clean Boating Act of 2008”, MRAA president Phil Keeter said in a statement.

11.21.08: NMMA lobbies Congress on Struggling Marine Industry

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has supplied Congress with several suggestions on how the government can help struggling marine businesses through the economic slump.

Letters outlining the recommendations were sent to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, House and Senate leadership, and appropriate House and Senate committees.

For more information, visit www.nmma.org

10.13.08: Amendment 6 Keeps Boating Business Afloat

As the presidential election race finally comes to a close, Floridians in the marine industry are celebrating another important victory: the preservation of working businesses along Florida’s waterfront.

In a state where boating is a way of life, advocates of the amendment argued that marine business owners are under pressure to convert their marinas, boatyards, drystacks, commercial fishing and other marine-related facilities to other more profitable uses, in part because of high waterfront taxes, which reflect the value of condominiums and other high-end properties in the neighborhood.

The amendment requires county assessors to set the value of working waterfront for tax purposes at its current use, instead of at its highest and best use. It passed with the support of 70.5 percent of Florida voters, with just a few returns not in. It was the highest margin of voter support of any of the six constitutional amendments on the ballot - the vote was 4,058,582 for the amendment, 2,663,346 against it.

A draft measure is expected to be on the table in a couple weeks.

8.12.08: President Bush Signs Clean Boating Act, relieves Boating Industry

President Bush recently signed into law The Clean Boating Act of 2008, protecting more than 17 million recreational boats throughout the U.S. from unprecedented federal regulations. The Act exempts certain discharges incidental to the normal operation of a recreational vessel from regulation under the Clean Water Act.

"This is welcome news for all recreational marine manufacturers across the country," said Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, in a statement. "NMMA raised the alarm on this misguided court decision nearly two years ago, and we are thrilled that Congress and the President have prevented the bureaucratic nightmare that was set to become law."

Introduced by Sens. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Reps. Steve LaTourette, R-Ohio, and Candice Miller, R-Mich, The Clean Boating Act of 2008 permanently and fully restores a regulation that excludes recreational boaters and anglers from the Clean Water Act federal and state permitting system designed for land-based industrial facilities like sewage treatment plants.

Without legislative relief, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was set to implement new permitting regulations for boaters by Oct. 1, 2008.

Congressional action was prompted by a U.S. district court decision in September 2006, under which recreational boats would have fallen under Clean Water Act permit requirements effective Sept. 30, 2008. The federal permit would have dictated maintenance and operation procedures and potentially subjected boaters to citizen lawsuits as well as a penalty system designed for industrial polluters.

At the same time it passed The Clean Boating Act of 2008, Congress also passed legislation to provide a moratorium on permitting for commercial vessel discharges until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency completes a review of certain incidental discharges.

"Passage of this legislation is a testament to what is possible when our community joins forces and speaks with one voice before key decision-makers," said Scott Gudes, NMMA vice president for government relations.

6.25.08: Time Running Out for Clean Boating Act

The Clean Boating Act, aimed to exempt America’s 13 million recreational boaters from a permit system, is running out of time. Introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-California) and Bill Nelson (D-Florida) and Representatives Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio) and Candice Miller (R-Michigan), the Act has already been approved in committee and has companion legislation in the Senate, but Congress has yet to let boaters off the hook. If they fail to do so before the Fourth of July holiday or its August summer recess, the recreational boating industry will move scarily close to the September 30 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deadline.

The issue came to fruition when a lawsuit aimed at preventing invasive species in the ballast water of some 91,000 commercial vessels from being dumped in U.S. waters was filed. When Judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled on the ballast water in 2006, recreational boats were included in her ruling, which ultimately means the general boating public will be held accountable for the same restrictions as commercial vessels. The EPA was handed a Sept. 30 deadline to establish the necessary rules, regulations, and penalties.

If the Clean Boating Act fades away, the EPA must formulate new rules for water discharged by commercial vessels and all recreational boats, ranging from paddle-powered canoes and kayaks to charters, power boats, and sailboats under 79 feet in length. Every recreational boater in the country will have to obtain a federal or state permit in order to operate their boat, which translates into yearly fees, bureaucratic red tape, confusing and potentially state-by-state regulations, potential citizen suits and $32,000 per day penalties for non-compliance. These permits would apply to deck run-off, bilge water, engine cooling water, and any other water-based, operational discharge from a recreational boat.

Currently, the EPA appealed Illston's ruling to the 9th District Court of Appeals and a ruling has yet to be made.

What you Can Do: All boaters concerned with the approaching deadline should contact their U.S. Senators and tell them to co-sponsor S.2766, the Clean Boating Act of 2008. You can quickly and easily send a letter to your Senators by visiting: www.boatblue.org.

6.06.08: Marine Insurance Company Launches Anticipated Website

Sarasota, FL., June 6, 2008 – National Boat Owners Association (NBOA Marine Insurance) announces the launch of their innovative website which will streamline the quote request process and provide boat owners with competitive, quick-response rates. As one of the largest specialized insurance agencies in the country, NBOA Marine Insurance operates on the principal that all boat owners should have access to distinguished insurance professionals and products. The new website is a natural extension of their 20+ year philosophy.

NBOA aims to educate boat owners by providing industry insight, custom towing programs, and specialized insurance services. Website features include an interactive quote request form, up to date industry and boat owner information, monthly e-newsletter publications, and an online Ship’s Store offering discounted safety equipment and specialty boating items.

“There are other insurance companies that offer similar online quoting services,” says Patrick Farrell, NBOA media director, “but since we cater to the entire boating lifestyle, we had to be sure the new website properly reflected all of our services.”

The new website is the agency’s initial endeavor in creating a fulfilling, interactive online experience for boat owners.

3.31.08: Sea Ray Owners Club Partner With National Boat Owners Association Marine Insurance

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., March 31, 2008 – Sea Ray Boats, the world's largest manufacturer of superior quality pleasure boats in business since 1959, has announced their “Platinum Partnership” with the National Boat Owners Association, also known as NBOA. It is only natural that Sea Ray partner with NBOA, an organization with a history of being one of the largest U.S. agencies to specialize in marine insurance. NBOA takes great pride in providing their customers with unparalleled rates.

“Both companies specialize in accommodating all aspects of the ultimate boating lifestyle and doing so with only the highest standards,” said Rob Noyes, vice president of marketing for Sea Ray.

In order to deliver an impeccable customer experience to all Sea Ray Owners Club™ members, NBOA and Sea Ray have partnered to provide the “Platinum” insurance package including exclusive rates, free towing coverage, discounts on boating safety products and more. The customary towing program, for example, is a favorable feature of the new partnership, offering members $1,000 in additional on-water coverage, as well as $150 on-road towing assistance, guaranteeing members complete coverage.

“NBOA has worked closely with Sea Ray since 1996,” said Jeffrey Berndt, vice president of sales for NBOA. “This “Platinum Partnership” is a reflection of our history together and our commitment to continue to provide outstanding rates and benefits to Sea Ray owners nationwide.”

For further information on Sea Ray's “Platinum Partnership” with NBOA, visit www.searay.com or www.nboat.com. For a free insurance quote, please visit www.nboat.com/insurance/searay.shtml.

ABOUT SEA RAY
Founded in 1959, Sea Ray is the world's largest manufacturer of superior quality pleasure boats. Sea Ray is headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., and operates as part of the Boat Group division of the Brunswick Corporation. With more than 40 models ranging from 17 to 60 feet, Sea Ray makes a boat for every lifestyle – each built with a unique commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and excellence throughout. Additional information about Sea Ray is available at www.searay.com.

The Fun Facts About Finance

It sounds too good to be true: by financing your boat purchase through marine lending specialists you can usually afford a newer, larger, more powerful boat, a better trailer, and even all the gear that it takes to make boating safer and more fun. So why don’t more boat owners approach boat loan experts when they are planning on financing or re-financing? Maybe it’s because they just don’t know any better?

Boat buyers have more choices when dealing with marine lending specialists. The main aspect that sets regular financiers apart from the specialized marine lenders is the fact that they are specialized. Marine lenders understand boats and their buyers; they recognize the value of a well-maintained boat, so terms will generally be more attractive than those offered by local banks or credit unions. Some of the benefits that go along with financing your boat are lower down payments, fast credit decisions, longer financing terms, and even lower monthly payments.

For more information on financing or re-financing your boat, contact NBOA’s marine lending specialists – the Financial Underwriters Network (F.U.N. Inc.) Their experienced staff will be happy to help!

www.fun-loan.com

 

ABOUT NBOA MARINE INSURANCE
Established in 1984, the National Boat Owners Association (NBOA) is one of the largest marine insurance agencies in the country, collaborating with several A-rated carriers to provide superior rates to its customers. NBOA accommodates all aspects of the boating lifestyle, offering towing memberships with excellent benefits, as well as safety products and specialty items from its online Ship's Store. For more information, please visit www.nboat.com.

For Additional Information, contact:
Iceseas Hanson, Marketing Manager
NBOA Marine Insurance
4404 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34234
941.360,6777 / (F) 941.360.6888

7.01.09: July 1st is National Boating Day!

Today marks National Boating Day, following the passage of resolutions in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

"The entire marine industry and recreational boaters nationwide look forward to celebrating National Boating Day," Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, said in a statement.

"Not only is recreational boating a beloved pastime, but marine businesses are important parts of their communities and our national economy, creating business opportunities and local jobs," he added. "Our thanks go to all of the members of Congress behind this resolution for their strong support of the boating industry."

With the nation's average gas price hovering around $2.50 per gallon, much lower than 2008 prices, boaters are expected to hit the water in larger numbers this summer, the NMMA reports.

6.18.09: Classic Boat Market Now Open for NBOA

NBOA Marine Insurance can now write antique boats, thanks to the boat and yacht experts from Travelers Insurance. They have created products specifically for antique and classic runabout owners.

"Insuring an antique and classic runabout is unlike covering any other type of boat or yacht," said Chantal Cyr, vice president of Travelers Boat and Yacht Division, in a statement. "Preserving the boat's history, especially in the repair process, is meaningful to antique boat owners. Travelers understands that point and can help safeguard this important value."

Travelers' antique and classic runabout program features an agreed value policy that is not based on the depreciated value of the vessel. In the event of a total loss, this coverage offers no depreciation and no deductible.

This program also waives depreciation that includes machinery, hull and interior including canvas and upholstery in the event of a partial loss.

"Classic boats are used differently and need unique and innovative insurance products that protect the vessel in its various roles as both a showpiece, and a boat that cruises the shoreline," added Cyr.

Please contact your NBOA Marine insurance specialist today to get your antique boat covered 1-800-248-3512.

5.18.09: Safe Boating Week Kicks Off for Boaters Nationwide

All across the country, people are getting ready for the boating season and that's why this week is designated as National Safe Boating Week, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The idea started as a small grassroots effort in 1957 and has grown to a nationwide program backed by presidential proclamation, and is also observed in Canada.

The theme for this year's observance is "Wear It," with the goal of getting people to wear life jackets. The U.S. Coast Guard notes that in nearly nine out of 10 boating deaths, those involved were not wearing life jackets.

National Safe Boating Week runs through Friday.

5.7.09: Economy, Ethenol Main Focus at Boating Congress

"The financial crisis that began last fall has been the greatest economic slump in 50 years," said David Slikkers, chairman of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) board of directors, in his opening remarks. "None of us are sure when the bottom will occur."

Jeffrey Wrase, Republican chief economist from Congress's Joint Economic Committee, addressed that uncertainty in his presentation this morning.

"We're starting to see some signs of moving toward stability ... and it looks like we could be headed toward a recovery by the end of the year," he said.

As proof, he cited some tentative signs that housing sales are hitting bottom and that home prices, while still down, have shown some positive signs. He also pointed to a slight increase in consumer confidence in the first quarter and said there have been some declines in initial claims for unemployment insurance in recent weeks.

Wrase said he expects gross domestic product to post a more modest decline in the second quarter - about 2 percent, compared to the 6.3 percent and 6.1 percent declines in the 2008 fourth quarter and 2009 first quarter, respectively.

On the issue of ethanol, Karl Simon, from the Environmental Protection Agency, said the NMMA's legislative conference couldn't be timelier, because the Obama Administration yesterday released the requirements for Renewable Fuel Standards 2.

"The requirements are very ambitious in terms of the volumes they want us to replace, and ethanol will certainly play a part in that," said Simon, director of the Compliance and Innovative Strategies Division of the EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality.

He also reminded attendees of the waiver request submitted by Growth Energy - an organization representing ethanol producers - that seeks an increase in ethanol blends from the current E10 to E15. The comment period for that waiver request ends May 21, but Simon said the EPA is considering an extension.

He assured attendees that it is the EPA's "sincere hope and desire" to work through some of the concerns of the marine industry and others opposed to midlevel ethanol blends, such as testing obligations for engines.

He also said that even if the waiver for midlevel blends is approved, that doesn't mean E15 will be mandated by the government.

"If the EPA grants the waiver, all that does is make the fuel legal," said Simon. "It doesn't require anyone to sell it."

In other business this morning, the NMMA presented legislative awards to members who have gone above and beyond the call in helping the industry with lobbying efforts.

Legislative Achievement Awards were presented to Jim Hardin of Grady-White and Robin Parker of Parker Boats for their successful efforts in fighting a North Carolina ban on the towing of boats with beams of more than 8 feet on weekends and holidays.

Corporate Citizenship Awards were presented to the following companies for their efforts in getting their senior executives and other employees to contribute to the NMMA's Political Action Committee: Sumerset Houseboats, Regulator Marine, Indmar Products and Faria Marine Instruments.

Finally, industry veteran J.J. Marie, who this year retired from Zodiac of North America and who has been active in numerous boards and legislative issues over the years, was presented with the NMMA's Lifetime Achievement Award.

4.14.09: RBFF Adds New Fishing Boat Information

New features, including an interactive "Boat Explorer" tool, glossary, navigation and trip-planning resources, are now available on the site.

"Take Me Fishing is about capturing the excitement and the memories associated with boating and fishing and we want to inspire visitors to take action and help preserve the legacy of the sport for future generations," said Frank Peterson, RBFF president and CEO, in a statement.

Visitors to the site can:

• learn about all types of fishing boats and see what they look like
• download charts and use the trip planner to set a course
• learn how to be safe on the water and how to protect waterways with proper boat maintenance
• use interactive visuals to learn about types of hulls and engines, different parts of a boat, and trailering and launching a boat

Takemefishing.org has received 2.4 million unique visitors in the last year, up 129 percent from the same time last year and 243 percent from 2007, according to RBFF.

3.5.09: Boat Buying Boosts in Sunshine State

Boat sales improved in the first two months of 2009 and some local dealers are feeling optimistic as traffic increases and prices fall.

At the January Charlotte County Boat Show, MarineMax of Cape Haze sold 15 boats, five times more than in 2008 and almost twice as many as 2007 when the dealer made eight sales at the show.

"People need to know there's still an industry out there doing OK," said Pete Havens, a sales consultant for MarineMax in Cape Haze, one of a chain of 80 dealers nationwide, 20 of them in Florida.

Since the peak of the economic boom, the boat market has changed from locals to out-of-town and out-of-state buyers, dealers said.

Before, the local market was an important source of revenue as contractors, Realtors, and builders experiencing record sales bought boats, Havens said.

Now the market is retirees.

"They've been working their whole lives to get by the water and own a boat," he said. "Just because the economy is bad, they haven't abandoned their goals."

Based in Dayton, Ohio, Jeff McCarroll and his wife Susan own a vacation home in Rotonda West and bought a Boston Whaler 345 Conquest a few weeks ago at MarineMax.

Although he is not yet retired, Jeff McCarroll said he can see himself spending half the year here in the future.

"We are boaters in Ohio," he said. "We enjoy the water and definitely the Gulf and coastal water is different from fresh water."

Sales are up, margins are down and buyers have tremendous leverage, according to Gary Ingman, the owner of Ingman Marine in Port Charlotte, Placida and Sarasota.

"They realize it's their time," Ingman said. "Buyers out there are very savvy and taking advantage of a situation that's allowing them to buy something."

As home prices fall locally, people from around the country are buying waterfront homes in increasing numbers, according to Karen Rolland, president of the Association of Realtors for Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and North Port.

They are potential customers for boat dealers.

"Our area has bottomed out and is now going upwards," Ingman said. "We've been in this a lot longer than the rest of the country."

Although sales are down compared to the economic peak, Charles White said he's seeing better numbers than last year, giving him reason to feel hopeful.

"It's a different market," said White, who is general manager of Marine Dynamics in Englewood. "These days it's all about the deal. People's attitudes are better. There's a lot more people shopping and looking to get into a boat."

Boat buyers and sellers can expect inventory to fall in 2009 and 2010 as boat makers limit production, according to Capt. Tom Healy, a salesman at MarineMax.

"Across the board, all the manufacturers are adjusting their inventory and when they do that it increases profit margin," Healy said. "There won't be as many cash incentives for buyers."

MarineMax is selling about 15 boats a month compared with 25 when the economy peaked. Slow months saw sales average about seven boats, Havens said.

"We already have five sales on the books (in March) and it's only the third day of the month," Havens said Tuesday.

2.17.09: Rec. Boat Services Await Stimulus Package

The U.S. House and Senate recently voted to modify the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The bill, which awaits President Obama's signature this afternoon, removes longshore insurance requirements for recreational marine service and repair businesses. This relief will save small businesses on average of more than $100,000 annually, which will allow the businesses to insure their workers under the state workers' compensation system and retain and create American jobs, according to the Marine Industries Association of South Florida.

"This is a significant accomplishment for the recreational marine industry," said MIASF president JJ McConnell, in a statement. "It will result in valuable economic relief for our industry, and MIASF is proud to have been in the forefront of the campaign to bring about this much needed change for our members."

MIASF says marine business operators should contact their insurance agents to determine how this legislative change affects your current policy. This exclusion does not apply if the company does not carry state workers' compensation insurance.

1.19.09: First Boat Announces the Most Popular Boat Names of the Year

Top boat names of 2008 compiled from the leading network of nautical sites

Hartford, CT, January 19, 2009 - FirstBoat.com, the premier online destination for new boaters, today announced its list of the most popular boat names of the past year. The list, compiled by FirstBoat.com in collaboration with CustomBoatNames.com, BoatNameGear.com, and the Boat Name Blog, includes nautical puns, tributes to recent movies and TV shows, and anoverall celebration of the boating lifestyle.

Following are the top ten most popular boat names for 2008:

1. 1. Happy Ours
2. 2. Carpe Diem
3. 3. Aqua - Holic
4. 4. State of Mind
5. 5. Anchor Management
6. 6. The Office
7. 7. Feelin' Nauti
8. 8. Yes Dear
9. 9 Sundance
10. 10. Serenity Now

Several of the boat names on the list, such as "Happy Ours", "State of Mind"and "Carpe Diem", reflect how much enjoyment people derive from the boating lifestyle. In fact, the popularity of these particular boat names may suggest that boating, for some, offers a temporary respite from the unremitting news about a distressed economy and record-high fuel prices which were experienced during the peak of last year's boating season.

In general, most of the names on this year's list of top boat names illustrate that boaters are imaginative and passionate individuals who like to have fun.

About Nautical Sites

Nautical Sites is a new media company comprised of a growing network of websites for boating and yachting enthusiasts. Included among the many sites in the network are:
FirstBoat.com, founded in 1999, is the premier online destination for new boaters and is home of the original Boat Name Machine, featuring over 50,000 possible boat names; online at www.FirstBoat.com.

12.30.08: Back to Basics - Boat Insurance Explained

As we begin the New Year, and as the boat show season revs up, it is important to remember the basics of boat insurance and how your boat is covered. Whether you are an experienced captain or new to boating, you should always review your marine insurance policy to make sure you know the ins and outs of your coverage. In the spirit of new beginnings, let's step back and define marine insurance and what certain coverages mean for the boater.

Marine insurance is meant to indemnify any financial loss due to damage to a ship and any accompanying properties, including the cargo, from port of departure to port of destination. Specialty marine insurance policies exist such as marine cargo insurance and marine business insurance, but for the recreational boater, most policies are written as individual watercraft insurance.

Individual watercraft insurance is aimed to target insurance of non-commercial usage watercraft. Similar to automobile insurance, individual watercraft insurance policies might not only cover property losses, but also offer individual protection and watercraft liability coverage.

The liability coverage may cover bodily injury to watercraft occupants, along with others who are involved in any accident. Further medical coverage is generally available in a separate policy rider. Uninsured boater coverage is available as well to cover any damage incurred from hit-and-run vessels, or from vessels which lack insurance coverage.

There is also the option of towing and salvage insurance. It can help with smaller incidents such as an engine failure, mechanical breakdowns, or even having fuel delivered to a stranded ship. Towing and salvage insurance can also help to offset the high costs associated with a vessel that has sustained much damage.

Agreed Value or Actual Cash Value forms are what are generally offered for hull coverage on a standard vessel. Because for insurance, it depends on the cash value policies to determine whether when the vessel ages if it will depreciate in value. NBOA Marine Insurance works only with the preferred Agreed Value coverage, which is a better option because whatever amount is on your policy is the amount we have "agreed" on paying. There is no depreciation on this coverage.

Similarly, boat insurance can cover any and all risks, or just risks and perils specified in the policy. No matter the policy type, it is very important to fully understand all of the stipulations which may render the policy null and void. For example, many policies specify navigational limits which render the policy void if exceeded. Depending on the area, accidentally exceeding navigational limits can be very easy on the water where boundaries are not well marked. Always be aware of your navigational limits, and be sure to contact your insurance representative before you leave.

Personal watercraft insurance is available for virtually all watercraft, from small pleasure boats and fishing boats, to large yachts and high-performance boats. Specialty coverage can include coverage for watercraft rentals, fishing excursions, and other charter boat trips. With a wide selection and options available, finding the right coverage for your craft and situation simply takes a phone call and NBOA can find the policy right for you. If you have any further questions about your policy, please do not hesitate to contact any of our experienced representatives at 800.248.3512.

12.23.08: New Year Brings New Resolution - Saving Money!

As the year comes to a close, it is New Year's Resolution time for many. In today's unstable economy, however, many people are resolving to trim not only their waistlines, but also their budgets. In a recent study by Progressive Insurance, more people are making the personal pledge to save money in the New Year than ever before. In fact, more people chose to "save money" over other usual favorites such as losing weight, quitting smoking, or finding a new job.

So how are people planning to keep that resolution? By doing typical things like cutting unnecessary costs and controlling household finances. More than 80 percent plan to eliminate nonessential items such as dining out, movies, and vacations, while nearly half (47 percent) will clip coupons.

"When trying to save money, people sometimes forget about things they might consider to be 'fixed' costs, like car and boat insurance. Few realize just how much they could save by shopping around and comparing things like marine insurance rates," said Rick Crawley, insurance expert for Progressive. "One in four people surveyed mistakenly believe that all car and boat insurers charge the same rates when, in fact, people who shopped for the best rate in the summer of 2007 reported saving over $350 on their annual premium."

There are other ways to save money that also have "green" benefits, which men lead women in, according to the survey: they're more likely to take public transportation (14 percent versus 8 percent), carpool (14 percent versus 11 percent), or drive a more fuel-efficient car (16 percent versus 9 percent).

But no matter how they're getting around, car and boat insurance is a necessary expense for many and an easy place to start saving. In addition to shopping around, here are some tips to help people manage their insurance costs in the New Year:

Make sure your policy is up to date. If you've moved, gotten married, or bought a home, check with your insurance company — you may be eligible for lower rates.

Raise your deductibles. According to the Insurance Information Institute, raising your deductibles to $500 could reduce your Collision and Comprehensive costs by 15 to 30 percent.

Research before you buy. Before you buy a new boat, research what it will cost to insure. Generally, smaller boats with lower horsepower are less expensive to cover.

Check coverages. Owners of older or inexpensive boats could consider dropping Comprehensive and Collision coverages. Doing that can save hundreds of dollars each year.

Check for available discounts. You might also be eligible for discounts if you pay in full, complete a boating course, install safety equipment such as an auto halon, list another boats on your policy, and more.

For more information on saving on your boat insurance, and for a free marine insurance quote, contact NBOA Marine Insurance at 1-800-248-3512, or visit www.nboat.com and fill out your free marine insurance quote form.

12.17.08: In Down Economy, NMMA Updates Boat Show Policy

In an effort to help boat show exhibitors move some of their previous years' inventory during the challenging economic climate, the National Marine Manufacturers Association Executive Committee today approved a recommendation made by the NMMA Shows Committee to temporarily relax the non-current show policy for the 2009 winter boat show season, the association reported in a statement.

The policy change makes it possible for exhibitors to display up to 50 percent of their previous model year products at any 2009 NMMA winter boat show, an increase from the traditional allotment of 20 percent. The change is intended to help boat dealerships sell off their existing 2008 inventory, according to the association.

"All 2009 NMMA winter boat shows will allow up to a 50-50 mix of 2009 models and clean, unused 2008 model boats to be displayed at this winter's boat shows," said NMMA Executive Vice President Ben Wold. "The NMMA Shows Committee, Executive Committee and staff understand the economic realities currently facing the boating industry and believe this one-time policy change will give dealers a prime opportunity to sell more product at boat shows over the next few months."

NMMA is encouraging boat shows exhibitors to speak with their local show staff should they have any questions regarding the change. For more information, visit www.nmma.org.

NBOA Marine Insurance will continue to support the winter boat show season, and will be attending several boat shows in the months ahead. Check back regularly to see what boat shows NBOA Marine Insurance will be attending and receive a free gift at the show! Next up, the New England Boat Show at the Convention Center in Boston, MA. See you there!

12.02.08: Hybrid Boats Get Discount on Boat Insurance

Travelers Insurance Company has delivered another discount to the boating industry. Already offering a 10 percent discount for purely electric boats, they have now created a new Hybrid Boat discount for Hybrid Boats and Yacht Insurance.

As more state-of-the-art technology is developed in the marine industry, coupled with the increased desire to be more environmentally friendly, the new hybrid boat premium discount is another way to stay in-synch with changing demands.

What is a Hybrid Boat?

Travelers defines a hybrid boat as one that is specifically designed to reduce green house gas emissions and conserve fossil fuels, as compared to an internal combustion engine boat.

A hybrid boat also utilizes an integrated propulsion system that incorporates in its original design, both an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor.

About the Hybrid Boat Discount:

The new hybrid boat insurance discount recognizes and rewards hybrid boat owners by offering up to a 10 percent discount off their boat insurance premium for hull and liability coverages.

oThe discount applies to hybrid boat and yachts

oAvailable for both new and existing Travelers boat and yacht insurance customers.

oA discount of up to 10% applies only to certain coverages. The discount may not be available in all states and is subject to individual eligibility.

12.01.08: MRAA Honors Clean Boating Act Heros

The Marine Retailers Association of America recently honored U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Reps. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio) with its annual Legislative Awards.

The awards were presented during the MRAA's annual convention last month in Las Vegas.

The MRAA says the three legislators were instrumental in the passage of the Clean Boating Act of 2008, which exempts recreational boats from discharge permits required by the Clean Water Act. A September 2006 U.S. District Court ruling had nullified a long-standing exemption for recreational boats and would have required the Environmental Protection Agency to institute permitting requirements for boaters.

"MRAA is proud to honor these three members of Congress for their outstanding support of marine retailing and for their hard work to pass S.2766, The Clean Boating Act of 2008", MRAA president Phil Keeter said in a statement.

11.21.08: NMMA lobbies Congress on Struggling Marine Industry

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has supplied Congress with several suggestions on how the government can help struggling marine businesses through the economic slump.

Letters outlining the recommendations were sent to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, House and Senate leadership, and appropriate House and Senate committees.

For more information, visit www.nmma.org

10.13.08: Amendment 6 Keeps Boating Business Afloat

As the presidential election race finally comes to a close, Floridians in the marine industry are celebrating another important victory: the preservation of working businesses along Florida's waterfront.

In a state where boating is a way of life, advocates of the amendment argued that marine business owners are under pressure to convert their marinas, boatyards, drystacks, commercial fishing and other marine-related facilities to other more profitable uses, in part because of high waterfront taxes, which reflect the value of condominiums and other high-end properties in the neighborhood.

The amendment requires county assessors to set the value of working waterfront for tax purposes at its current use, instead of at its highest and best use. It passed with the support of 70.5 percent of Florida voters, with just a few returns not in. It was the highest margin of voter support of any of the six constitutional amendments on the ballot - the vote was 4,058,582 for the amendment, 2,663,346 against it.

A draft measure is expected to be on the table in a couple weeks.

08.12.08: President Bush Signs Clean Boating Act, relieves Boating Industry

President Bush recently signed into law The Clean Boating Act of 2008, protecting more than 17 million recreational boats throughout the U.S. from unprecedented federal regulations. The Act exempts certain discharges incidental to the normal operation of a recreational vessel from regulation under the Clean Water Act.

"This is welcome news for all recreational marine manufacturers across the country," said Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, in a statement. "NMMA raised the alarm on this misguided court decision nearly two years ago, and we are thrilled that Congress and the President have prevented the bureaucratic nightmare that was set to become law." 

Introduced by Sens. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Reps. Steve LaTourette, R-Ohio, and Candice Miller, R-Mich, The Clean Boating Act of 2008 permanently and fully restores a regulation that excludes recreational boaters and anglers from the Clean Water Act federal and state permitting system designed for land-based industrial facilities like sewage treatment plants.

Without legislative relief, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was set to implement new permitting regulations for boaters by Oct. 1, 2008.

Congressional action was prompted by a U.S. district court decision in September 2006, under which recreational boats would have fallen under Clean Water Act permit requirements effective Sept. 30, 2008. The federal permit would have dictated maintenance and operation procedures and potentially subjected boaters to citizen lawsuits as well as a penalty system designed for industrial polluters.

At the same time it passed The Clean Boating Act of 2008, Congress also passed legislation to provide a moratorium on permitting for commercial vessel discharges until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency completes a review of certain incidental discharges.

"Passage of this legislation is a testament to what is possible when our community joins forces and speaks with one voice before key decision-makers," said Scott Gudes, NMMA vice president for government relations.

06.25.08: Time Running Out for Clean Boating Act

The Clean Boating Act, aimed to exempt America's 13 million recreational boaters from a permit system, is running out of time. Introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-California) and Bill Nelson (D-Florida) and Representatives Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio) and Candice Miller (R-Michigan), the Act has already been approved in committee and has companion legislation in the Senate, but Congress has yet to let boaters off the hook. If they fail to do so before the Fourth of July holiday or its August summer recess, the recreational boating industry will move scarily close to the September 30 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deadline.

The issue came to fruition when a lawsuit aimed at preventing invasive species in the ballast water of some 91,000 commercial vessels from being dumped in U.S. waters was filed. When Judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled on the ballast water in 2006, recreational boats were included in her ruling, which ultimately means the general boating public will be held accountable for the same restrictions as commercial vessels. The EPA was handed a Sept. 30 deadline to establish the necessary rules, regulations, and penalties.

If the Clean Boating Act fades away, the EPA must formulate new rules for water discharged by commercial vessels and all recreational boats, ranging from paddle-powered canoes and kayaks to charters, power boats, and sailboats under 79 feet in length. Every recreational boater in the country will have to obtain a federal or state permit in order to operate their boat, which translates into yearly fees, bureaucratic red tape, confusing and potentially state-by-state regulations, potential citizen suits and $32,000 per day penalties for non-compliance. These permits would apply to deck run-off, bilge water, engine cooling water, and any other water-based, operational discharge from a recreational boat.

Currently, the EPA appealed Illston's ruling to the 9th District Court of Appeals and a ruling has yet to be made.

What you Can Do: All boaters concerned with the approaching deadline should contact their U.S. Senators and tell them to co-sponsor S.2766, the Clean Boating Act of 2008. You can quickly and easily send a letter to your Senators by visiting: www.boatblue.org.

06.06.08: Marine Insurance Company Launches Anticipated Website

Sarasota, FL., June 6, 2008 - National Boat Owners Association (NBOA Marine Insurance) announces the launch of their innovative website which will streamline the quote request process and provide boat owners with competitive, quick-response rates. As one of the largest specialized insurance agencies in the country, NBOA Marine Insurance operates on the principal that all boat owners should have access to distinguished insurance professionals and products. The new website is a natural extension of their 20+ year philosophy.

NBOA aims to educate boat owners by providing industry insight, custom towing programs, and specialized insurance services. Website features include an interactive quote request form, up to date industry and boat owner information, monthly e-newsletter publications, and an online Ship's Store offering discounted safety equipment and specialty boating items.

"There are other insurance companies that offer similar online quoting services," says Patrick Farrell, NBOA media director, "but since we cater to the entire boating lifestyle, we had to be sure the new website properly reflected all of our services."

The new website is the agency's initial endeavor in creating a fulfilling, interactive online experience for boat owners.

03.31.08: Sea Ray Owners Club Partner With National Boat Owners Association Marine Insurance

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., March 31, 2008 - Sea Ray Boats, the world's largest manufacturer of superior quality pleasure boats in business since 1959, has announced their "Platinum Partnership" with the National Boat Owners Association, also known as NBOA. It is only natural that Sea Ray partner with NBOA, an organization with a history of being one of the largest U.S. agencies to specialize in marine insurance. NBOA takes great pride in providing their customers with unparalleled rates.

"Both companies specialize in accommodating all aspects of the ultimate boating lifestyle and doing so with only the highest standards," said Rob Noyes, vice president of marketing for Sea Ray.

In order to deliver an impeccable customer experience to all Sea Ray Owners ClubTM members, NBOA and Sea Ray have partnered to provide the "Platinum" insurance package including exclusive rates, free towing coverage, discounts on boating safety products and more. The customary towing program, for example, is a favorable feature of the new partnership, offering members $1,000 in additional on-water coverage, as well as $150 on-road towing assistance, guaranteeing members complete coverage.

"NBOA has worked closely with Sea Ray since 1996," said Jeffrey Berndt, vice president of sales for NBOA. "This "Platinum Partnership" is a reflection of our history together and our commitment to continue to provide outstanding rates and benefits to Sea Ray owners nationwide."

For further information on Sea Ray's "Platinum Partnership" with NBOA, visit www.searay.com or www.nboat.com. For a free insurance quote, please visit www.nboat.com/insurance/searay.shtml.

ABOUT SEA RAY
Founded in 1959, Sea Ray is the world's largest manufacturer of superior quality pleasure boats. Sea Ray is headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., and operates as part of the Boat Group division of the Brunswick Corporation. With more than 40 models ranging from 17 to 60 feet, Sea Ray makes a boat for every lifestyle - each built with a unique commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and excellence throughout. Additional information about Sea Ray is available at www.searay.com.

The Fun Facts About Finance

It sounds too good to be true: by financing your boat purchase through marine lending specialists you can usually afford a newer, larger, more powerful boat, a better trailer, and even all the gear that it takes to make boating safer and more fun. So why don't more boat owners approach boat loan experts when they are planning on financing or re-financing? Maybe it's because they just don't know any better?

Boat buyers have more choices when dealing with marine lending specialists. The main aspect that sets regular financiers apart from the specialized marine lenders is the fact that they are specialized. Marine lenders understand boats and their buyers; they recognize the value of a well-maintained boat, so terms will generally be more attractive than those offered by local banks or credit unions. Some of the benefits that go along with financing your boat are lower down payments, fast credit decisions, longer financing terms, and even lower monthly payments.

For more information on financing or re-financing your boat, contact NBOA's marine lending specialists - the Financial Underwriters Network (F.U.N. Inc.) Their experienced staff will be happy to help!

www.fun-loan.com

 

ABOUT NBOA MARINE INSURANCE
Established in 1984, the National Boat Owners Association (NBOA) is one of the largest marine insurance agencies in the country, collaborating with several A-rated carriers to provide superior rates to its customers. NBOA accommodates all aspects of the boating lifestyle, offering towing memberships with excellent benefits, as well as safety products and specialty items from its online Ship's Store. For more information, please visit www.nboat.com.

For Additional Information, contact:
Iceseas Hanson, Marketing Manager
NBOA Marine Insurance
4404 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34234
941.360,6777 / (F) 941.360.6888