Even though navigation device maker Garmin’s overall revenue was down in the third quarter, its marine segment posted revenue growth of three percent. Its outdoor and fitness segment also increased, while its auto and aviation segments decreased. Garmin also recently formed a new OEM relationship with Regal Boats, which will place Garmin electronics as standard [...]

Saltwater anglers took 85 million fishing trips in 2008, a number that’s down from 2007, when 93 million fishing trips were taken. Anglers caught an estimated 464 million fish last year, down from 475 million in 2007. This data was collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

New boat sales were down 36.5 percent and total dealership sales were down 25.5 percent at the end of August 2009. The average dealer reported year-to-date new boat sales of $2,732,903 and average total dealership sales of $5,704,576 for the first eight months of 2009. Those numbers are compared to $4,304,229 and $7,656,982, respectively. Spending [...]

Recreational boat registration is down 1.4 percent. In 2007, 13 million boats were registered by the United States Coast Guard, but in 2008, that number decreased to 12.8 million boats. It was also estimated that there were 270,000 model year 2008 registered powerboats last year, and 400,000 other powerboats were retired from the recreational boating [...]

Marine distributors predict their sales to be up in 2010, according to a survey by the National Marine Distributors Association. Sales volumes of marine accessories were reported down by 76 percent of the respondents in 2009, while 14 percent said sales were up and 10 percent said sales stayed the same. When asked to predict [...]

A new legislation called the “Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Act of 2009” makes sure that new fuels introduced into the marketplace are compatible with boat engines. Because the Clean Air Act prohibits mid-level ethanol blends, the ethanol industry is seeking a waiver to sell E15 as a general purpose fuel. The bill requires an advisory board [...]

The Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS) will combine with the International Boatbuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) in fall 2010, to make the industry’s largest trade event. This new collaboration will increase efficiency for exhibitors and attendees, and the fall timeline makes it better for introducing new products to dealers. The 2010 combined MAATS and [...]

KVH Industries and On-Waves have installed seven secure “earth stations” around the globe to bring cell phone service to those at sea. In the past, cell phones typically have lost reception 15 miles offshore because of land-based cell tower ranges. A person can now purchase a dedicated SIM card and use their own cell phone [...]

Memory foam topper kits are now available to dealers from marine distributor Keller Marine & RV. The conversion kits, which include mildew-resistant memory foam, template paper and cutting tools, can be added to existing boat mattresses. The memory foam topper kits are manufactured by Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company.

Due to lack of attendance, the New Orleans Boat and Sportshow has been postponed until next year. The National Marine Manufacturers Association said that the postponement will allow time to address dealer demands as the boating industry pulls out of the recession. The New Orleans Boat and Sportshow will take place Jan. 5–9, 2011, at [...]