U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) recently introduced S. 2848, a bill that reauthorizes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). WRDA expires at the end of this year. WRDA is a key program for the recreational boating industry that authorizes and funds the [...]

Boat builders can see innovative materials, processes and technologies in the Future Materials exhibit at the International Boatbuilders' Exhibition & Conference (IBEX) in October. IBEX will be October 4–6, 2016, at the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Fla. Curated by editors from “Professional BoatBuilder” and “CompositesWorld” magazines, this collection has been gathered from a variety of [...]

The 2016 American Boating Congress (ABC) program materials and policy briefs are now available to download. ABC 2016 will be at the Renaissance Washington, D.C., Downtown Hotel May 9–11. The downloadable materials include a conference agenda, speaker biographies, policy briefs, regulatory and legislative information, and talking points for Capitol Hill conversations. Attendees can download the [...]

The National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) is seeking applications for 2017 applicants, according the Federal Register. NBSAC advises the U.S. Coast Guard on recreational boating safety regulations and other major boating safety matters. They will consider applications for the following positions which will be vacant on December 31, 2016: two state official representatives for [...]

Phifer Inc. has expanded its line of indoor and outdoor furniture fabrics to include an additional 30 cushion and sling fabrics. This new collection features styles in bold, rich and fresh tones as well as soothing neutrals that mix and match for a host of color-coordinated options. GeoBella® cushion and pillow fabrics are made of [...]

Concerned you'll lose customers if you ask competitors for help? Not to worry. For many people, asking for help is an acquired skill. Faith Roberts, owner of Banner Canvas, Ham Lake, Minn., knows this first hand. Her customer wanted a wakeboard tower covered. No problem, said Roberts. Then reality set in. “I kept telling myself [...]

Every marine fabrication business faces an increasing amount of red tape in the form of rules, regulations, fees and taxes. At the same time enforcement on every level is becoming more aggressive and issue-focused—with even more costly results. Experienced fabricators know that tax mistakes are sometimes inevitable. Fortunately, a combination of unique tax write-offs and [...]

Positive outlook projected for marine businesses. Six years after the world economy emerged from the Great Recession of 2009, a return to a strong global expansion remains elusive. The downside risks to the world economy appeared more noticeable than ever in 2015. Economic growth has improved in the advanced economies—the United States, Japan and Europe. [...]

If you are a regular reader of Marine Fabricator, you have probably noticed that Jim Tarbox’s photo is missing from this page—either that or he has drastically changed his look. Jim hasn’t changed his look, but he has stepped down as editor of this publication, and I’m taking over his duties. I will be the [...]

Eliminate mold, mildew, leaf stain, tree sap, bird droppings, grease, oil and tough dirt from every fabric surface with Iosso’s Mold & Mildew Stain Remover. Apply the solution to soiled areas to quickly remove stains from tents, awnings, signs, yurts, boat covers, boat seats, carpets and more. Safe on solution-dyed acrylics, such as Sunbrella®, vinyl [...]