Powerboat registrations down slightly through July

September 26th, 2019

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) New Powerboat Registration Report has been updated with data through July. Preliminary data shows new powerboat registrations were down 0.4 percent through July on a rolling 12-month year-over-year basis (R12M YOY) and down 2.4 percent on a rolling 3-month year-over-year basis. “Much of the minor softness we’re seeing is […]

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Report shows outdoor recreation’s positive role on economy

September 24th, 2019

Newly released economic data on the national and state levels show outdoor recreation is a powerful driver of national and local economies, and it is growing faster than the U.S. economy as a whole. This is the second consecutive year that the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, […]

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Michigan to promote outdoor recreation industry

September 19th, 2019

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced this week that Brad Garmon will serve as the new director of Michigan’s Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry–an office established earlier this year to build public awareness about the economic, social, and public health benefits of outdoor recreation and provide a unified voice for the diverse businesses and organizations that […]

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STEP Ahead Awards call for nominations

September 17th, 2019

Nominations for The Manufacturing Institute’s 2020 STEP Ahead Awards close on Friday, Oct. 4. The STEP Ahead Awards honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in science, technology, engineering and production (STEP) careers. On April 30, 2020, in Washington, D.C., the Institute will recognize 100 women and 30 Emerging Leaders, a category to honor […]

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Boating safety statistics improved in 2018

September 12th, 2019

There were 633 boating fatalities nationwide in 2018, a 3.8 percent decrease from 2017, according to the recently released U.S. Coast Guard 2018 Recreational Boating Statistics Report. From 2017 to 2018, overall recreational boating injuries also decreased 4.5 percent (2,629 to 2,511), and the total number of accidents decreased 3.4 percent (4,291 to 4,145). Alcohol […]

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MFA Awards entry now open

September 10th, 2019

The deadline for submissions to the 2020 MFA Fabrication Excellence Awards is November 15, 2019. From design excellence to quality workmanship, the awards showcase projects that represent the breadth of the industry—from tops and covers to interior and exterior upholstery. Awards will be announced at the 2020 MFA Conference. To enter or for more information, […]

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New powerboat registrations up 1.1 percent through June

September 5th, 2019

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) New Powerboat Registration Report has been updated with data through June. Preliminary data from the report show new powerboat registrations were up 1.1 percent through June on a rolling 12-month year-over-year basis and down 1.3 percent on a rolling 3-month year-over-year basis. “While we're down 2 percent YTD YOY […]

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Tampa boat show postponed due to Hurricane Dorian

September 3rd, 2019

The 2019 Progressive Insurance Tampa Boat Show, originally scheduled for Sept. 6-8, has been postponed to Oct. 25-27 due to uncertainty surrounding Hurricane Dorian. The show will remain at the Tampa Convention Center for its new October dates. “While we are disappointed to postpone the event, our main concern is the safety of the boaters, […]

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Tools, tips and tricks

September 1st, 2019

These are submissions to the 2018 and 2019 Marine Fabricators Conference Tools, Tips and Tricks contest.  The 2020 contest submission deadline is Dec. 10 at marine.ifai.com/marine-fabricators-conference/tools-tips-and-tricks/. Tip 1  Prevent burning on stainless steel frames Here is a simple and clean solution for keeping window materials from touching and burning stainless steel frames. Attach a narrow […]

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Common mistakes cost more than you think

September 1st, 2019

There’s a high cost to being too busy to get work done. By Randy Westlund I  was consulting for the owners of a company recently. They’d worked hard last year. They did a record number of jobs. They even had to hire two installers and a welder to get it all done. But at the end […]

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