Rex Pegg Fabrics, a wholesale upholstery supplier headquartered in Tacoma, Wash., has acquired Phoenix Trim & Supply located in Phoenix, Ariz. Phoenix Trim has served the surrounding area for the last 75 years and will retain its name while operating as a division of Rex Pegg. The acquisition creates an opportunity for the combined companies [...]

Due in part to supply chain disruptions leading to historically low market-specific boat inventory, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has postponed the 2022 Progressive® Insurance Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Nashville, and St. Louis boat shows to 2023. NMMA’s 2022 boat show and event schedule is as follows: Progressive® Insurance Minneapolis Boat Show®, January 20-23, 2022St. [...]

The U.S. Senate confirmed President Biden’s nomination of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Rear Admiral Nancy Hann to lead the NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) and NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps), one of the nation’s eight uniformed services, according to the NOAA website. “From flying into hurricanes to crewing remote [...]

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently released the final management plan, environmental assessment and rule for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The new management plan includes proposed strategies and action plans for conservation and management of the sanctuary’s resources over the coming decade. The regulatory changes, which include minor changes to the [...]

The application period to host a Sea Tow Foundation Life Jacket Loaner Station for the 2022 boating season is open through Feb. 1, 2022. The program started in 2008 and has made more than 83,000 life jackets available for boaters to borrow in 47 states and four territories. Presently, there are more than 800 Sea [...]

A free recording is now available of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) one-day conference dedicated to mitigating the risk in designing and building recreational boats. The USCG Risk Mitigation Series 1: Regulations and Electrification event attracted more than 400 participants when it was held virtually on Nov. [...]

The Pre-Owned Boat Market section of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) 2020 U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract is now available. This report includes retail unit sales data, retail market values, average price information and pre-owned boat sales trends from 2008-2020. Data from the report show pre-owned boat sales exceeded one million units in 2020 [...]

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released its 2020 report on outdoor recreation’s positive economic impact, which confirmed that boating and fishing remain the number one contributor to this sector of the U.S. economy. The new numbers show outdoor recreation generates $689 billion in economic output, supports 4.3 million American jobs, and comprises 3 percent [...]

The 2020 Canadian Economic Factoids report is now available as a part of the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s 2020 Canadian Boating Statistical Abstract. This report looks at Canadian economic indicators from 2007-2020 and identifies trends impacting the retail markets. Gross domestic product (GDP), disposable income, industry capacity utilization, manufacturing capacity utilization and unemployment rate are [...]

The Marine Retailer’s Association of the Americas (MRAA) Dealer Week Conference and Expo education lineup will address common pain points currently faced by dealers. Dealer Week will take place in Austin, Texas, Dec. 6-9, 2021, and online, Jan. 11-13, 2022. Attendees who sign up for the in-person event will receive complimentary access to Dealer Week [...]