Bénéteau Group has purchased the Rec Boat Holdings family of brands including Four Winns, Glastron, Wellcraft and Scarab. Cadillac, Mich.-based Rec Boat Holdings reports revenues of about $150 million, employs 475 people, and has a network of more than 200 dealers, Bénéteau said.

Bloomberg reports both the RV and recreational boating industries “appear to be heating up, suggesting confidence has improved” in both industries. National Marine Manufacturers Association President Thom Dammrich noted purchases of powerboats are “on pace to achieve or even exceed” their forecasted growth of 5 to 7 percent this year. However, Dammrich noted that although he [...]

Boat builders and marine industry professionals from around the world will have access to the industry’s premier education program offering everything from fundamental skills to cutting-edge advanced training at the 2014 International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX), taking place Sept. 29-Oct. 2 at the Tampa Convention Center. Among other topics, the schedule includes: Lessons from the [...]

STA-LOK self-fit terminals are the easiest and most efficient way to terminate 1 x 19, 7 x 7, 7 x 19 and Dyform wire ropes. Manufactured from rustproof, high strength 316 stainless steel, 100 percent stronger than the wire and will work under constant load and variable shock loading. Simple to install with basic hand [...]

303 Fabric Guard This formula restores fabrics’ lost water and stain repellency to factory-new levels. Protects against both water- and oil-based stains. Does not alter fabric color, feel, flammability or breathability, and keeps fabrics dry helping to impede mildew formation and comes recommended by Sunbrella. 303 Aerospace Protectant Provides superior protection against harmful UV rays [...]

Australia-based MagicEzy offers a trio of new nanotechnology-based boat repair products that feature a three-year repair guarantee. MagicEzy 9-Second Chip Fix is a nano filler that structurally fixes and colors chips, scratches, nicks and gouges in fiberglass boats in seconds—without harsh fumes or the need for mixing two-part formulas.  MagicEzy Hairline Fix is a nano [...]

Remember the Good Old Days? You offered a service; they signed up and sent the money. That was then. Today’s fabricators of marine products must be proactive in securing business. And if you’re seeking to procure accounts with the military and/or government sector, that business mantra spikes to a whole new level. This is not [...]

Uncommon, unique and outright strange requests are a regular for marine fabricators. Here are some favorites. Chris Griffin never thought she’d find herself in the restaurant business when she started B & C Custom Canvas of Hampton, Va., with her partner, Buck Tucker, nearly 10 years ago. But that’s exactly where she has found herself [...]

Liability insurance protects shop owners from being swamped by possible misfortunes. Predicting the future is like forecasting the weather. You think you know what’s going to happen—then it doesn’t. There has been a great deal written in the past few years concerning the legal liability of companies, usually in terms of a weather-related crisis or [...]