The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) sent a letter to President Obama asking him to clarify remarks he made in February that associated purchasing a boat with irresponsible spending.

While NMMA president Thom Dammrich acknowledged that the President likely did not mean any harm by his comments, he asked the President to join in celebrating the U.S. recreational boating industry and encouraged him to visit a boat manufacturing plant.

The U.S. recreational boating industry contributes nearly $30 billion in new sales and services to the economy each year and created more than 200,000 jobs in the United States, with an annual economic impact of $100 billion.