The marketing power of a strong brand identity will boost sales and profits. By William J. Lynott Think of one of your favorite name brands. Whether it’s a professional product for use in your business or a favorite product for your personal use, chances are you chose it because you’re comfortable with it; you have [...]

Updates to a boat’s interior design and upholstery provide boat owners the opportunity to easily express their individuality through their boat’s appearance. Options for creative expression have never been greater thanks to new colors, textures and patterns produced in high-performance fabrics. Fabric trends Traditional nautical colors are updated in this salon through the creative [...]

On May 4, the Tûranor PlanetSolar sailed into Monaco, finishing its 19-month journey around the world and becoming the first boat to make the trek powered only by solar energy. The vessel’s durable, lightweight structure features 537 square meters of solar panels, making the PlanetSolar the largest solar ship in the world. The vessel was [...]

Unlike painted boat stands, ROK® Boat Stands from Brownell Trailers are rustproof and corrosion resistant. The stands feature fully hot dipped galvanized bases and cast steel hot dipped galvanized handles. Stackable with other major brands, ROK stands are built with five degrees more pitch, adjustable screw tops and solid steel roll threaded rods. Stands are [...]

Vicar International introduces Coats Star Ultra Dee thread to complement its existing Aqualon thread line. The size 92 polyester thread is available in 36 colors in 4-ounce cones. Suitable for numerous marine applications, the thread features a bonded finish and is resistant to UV rays, micro-organisms and mildew. Sample cards are available. SOURCE Vicar International

OMNOVA Solutions introduces five new designs to the Nautolex upholstery line for exterior and interior marine applications. Facet combines a 3-D grid design and is available in nine colors. Free Spirit features a subtle, metallic glitter and comes in 14 bold and neutral shades. Pebbletex’s raised stipple texture mimics the look and feel of pebbles. [...]

To help serve boat owners and refurbishment businesses, OMNOVA Solutions is offering an aftermarket distributor program for its Nautolex performance marine products. Customers will have easy access to products thanks to a national network of 16 distributors located in major boating hubs. Products include 10 Nautolex coated fabric designs in a variety of constructions, leather [...]

The March Info-Link Technologies Bellwether Report revealed that year-over-year sales for 15-foot or greater powerboats were up 5 percent. Sales for outboard and sportfishing boats improved nearly 10 percent compared to March 2011. The 15-foot and greater outboard boat market increased about 9 percent. Sales for sterndrive, personal watercraft and ski boats improved slightly since [...]

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s U.S. Foreign and Commercial Service joined together to create the New Market Exporter Initiative (NMEI). The initiative assists manufacturers as they expand their export sales of manufactured goods. Through the NMEI, NMMA’s members receive help developing contacts for business in foreign markets including [...]

Retail sales for recreational boats, accessories and marine services in the U.S. increased 6 percent to $32.3 billion in 2011, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Annual Statistical Report. This marks the first increase in retail sales for the recreational boating industry since 2006. Leading the recovery was aluminum powerboats (primarily fishing and [...]