October 2017

  • Published On: October 31, 2017

    The National Marine Manufacturers Association’s (NMMA) 2016 U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, which contains thousands of data points and insights on the boating industry, is now available for download or order. Highlights include: Annual retail sales of new boats, engines and marine accessories in the U.S. totaled $17.9 billion in 2016, up 8.1 percent from [...]

  • Published On: October 26, 2017

    More than a hundred IFAI members took part in the daily prize drawings in the HUB at EXPO 2017. One business card was pulled out of the jar each day of the show and the winner received a $50 VISA gift card. On the last day, the lucky winner received a full registration to EXPO [...]

  • Published On: October 26, 2017

    Roy Schweinfurth, former IFAI board member and president, died October 8th. He served on the IFAI Board of Directors from 1977 to 1989, and as IFAI president (a position now called chairman) from 1985 to 1987. He was involved with the IFAI Awning Division, now called the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association. His obituary appeared in [...]

  • Published On: October 25, 2017

    Boat sales grew by slightly less than 4 percent in September, according to the latest Info-Link Bellwether report. That’s down slightly from August numbers, when sales were up 4 percent. The report tracks sales of powerboats across the country based on new U.S. boat registrations on a rolling 12-month basis. The boat sales growth rate [...]

  • Published On: October 23, 2017

    Registration is now open for the International Marina & Boatyard Conference (IMBC). The IMBC is a major marina and boatyard conference geared specifically toward marina and boatyard owners; operators and managers; as well as dock masters; harbormasters; boat builders and repairers; and industry consultants. The conference is produced by the Association of Marina Industries (AMI) [...]

  • Published On: October 17, 2017

    In 2016, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) undertook its first comprehensive survey and assessment of the health and competitiveness of the U.S. textile, apparel, and footwear industry since 2003.  The BIS team is now prepared to share preliminary findings of this critically important study that will be unveiled later this [...]

  • Published On: October 17, 2017

    Mark Hood, owner of Hood Canvas LLC in Merrimac, Mass., believes a key to keeping customers happy is being honest about how much time a job will take. “It’s so important not give people misleading lead times,” he says. In those parts of the country where boats get put away in the winter, [...]

  • Published On: October 16, 2017

    Spanish speakers seeking information about recreational boating have a new online resource– es.discoverboating.com. According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the Hispanic population in the U.S. continues to expand, reaching a record 58.6 million in 2017 and accounting for more than half of total U.S. population growth last year. The new microsite, launched by Discover Boating, [...]

  • Published On: October 10, 2017

    Glen Raven Inc. has launched a $2 million solar farm at its Anderson, S.C.-based manufacturing plant. The 1-million-square-foot facility previously received natural gas and nuclear power from Duke Energy. But now the company’s 3,076-panel solar farm will power 100 percent of the facility’s lights. “We have culturally always had a great interest and responsibility to [...]

  • Published On: October 9, 2017

    Allen Gant Jr. has retired as CEO of textile manufacturer Glen Raven Inc., with C.G. “Leib” Oehmig IV, a 28-year veteran of Glen Raven, stepping in as his successor. Gant will remain chairman of the company’s operating board. Gant joined Glen Raven in 1971 and was named CEO in 1996. Gant announced in 2013 that [...]