By Janice Kleinschmidt Shop owners who have built up businesses from the garage, patio or basement can be proud of their accomplishments. But by their very nature, entrepreneurs rarely stop dreaming. “I would like more shaded space outside for customers’ boats, because I have run out of space inside. We are looking at permits for [...]

By Janice Kleinschmidt There are beds in Canvas Designers’ Riviera Beach, Fla., showroom, but they’re not for dreaming (though Mike Erickson won’t deny they provide a place to crash after a long day). Instead, they are intended to highlight the shop’s offering of custom springs and foam mattresses for the boating industry. The company also [...]

The 2013 American Boating Congress Legislative Conference, slated for May 8-9 in Washington, D.C., is once again a true, all-industry event this year co-hosted by some 30 organizations. The hosts, who support ABC by contributing time and assisting in program development, include the American Boat Builders & Repairers Association, BoatUS, the Marine Retailers Association of [...]

OK, you’re afloat in the Bahamas. The enclosure protecting your pilot house blows out. You need a fix right away. Wind, waves, weather—it happens all the time, but replacement isn’t always easy. In many such cases, an enclosure must be fitted carefully to your specific boat. So, stuck there in the Bahamas, you contact the [...]

My-Villages, the company facilitating an online marine industry collaborative, announced in April that it has moved from its former Alexandria, Va., headquarters to the Jupiter–Stuart, Fla., area to be situated directly within the largest U.S. boating market and major marine industry hub. My-Villages aims to improve the boat ownership experience and transform how boats are [...]

Launched to promote the marina industry and its role in boating, National Marina Day has joined forces with Discover Boating to promote the entire marine industry and the boating lifestyle in one nationwide event. Welcome to the Water on National Marina Day is scheduled for June 8, 2013. Since the first event in 2001, National [...]

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) in March named Nicole Vasilaros director of regulatory and legal affairs to replace Cindy Squires, who is moving to the International Wood Products Association as executive director. Previously NMMA’s manager of state government relations and legislative counsel, Vasilaros has contributed to state lobbying efforts for the recreational boating industry. [...]

In February, U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) and Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) joined the U.S. recreational boating industry’s Congressional Boating Caucus as co-chairs. The pair join Republican counterparts Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.) and Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.). Recreational boats are uniquely American-made, with 83 percent of powerboats sold in the United States made domestically. The [...]

The National Marine Manufacturers Association recently commented on proposed U.S. Coast Guard updates to the Code of Federal Regulations. In consultation with the American Boat and Yacht Council, NMMA identified several standards that are currently outdated. Thousands of U.S. boat manufacturers and foreign importers are relying on outdated information and thereby misapplying critical safety standards. [...]

A recent forecast indicates a 2013 growth of 8 percent in the American boating industry. In light of an improving consumer outlook, more than half (51 percent) of survey participants said the best time to increase inventory levels is right now to be fully stocked for the spring selling season, according to results released by [...]