Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed towed watersports legislation that included strengthening safety and access opportunities for wakesurfing and wakeboarding. The new law followed bordering states, South Carolina and Tennessee, in proactively keeping boaters and towed water sports enthusiasts safe on the water. Introduced by Representative Victor Anderson and sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore John [...]

Construction on the Tampa Convention Center (TCC) will be completed in time for the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) 2023, to be held October 3 – 5, 2023, in Tampa, Florida. The renovation project is the largest ever for the TCC and will result in an expanded third floor exhibit hall and additional fourth [...]

The International Marine Electronics Alliance (IMEA), a 501 (c)(3) supporting organization of the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA), is expanding its scholarship program to encourage and support students interested in a career in marine electronics. The goal is to alleviate the marine electronics industry worker shortage through education of students to become technical installers of [...]

The newest Talking Textiles podcast from the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) features marine industry veterans discussing the topic “Balancing the Marine Canvas Business and Life.” The episode is hosted by Kyle Van Damme, co-owner of Marine Tops Unlimited Inc. in Omro, Wis. Van Damme interviews Chandler and Charlene Clark, owners of Signature CanvasMakers in Hampton, [...]

The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) annual Standards Week will be Jan. 7-11, 2024, in Annapolis, Md. ABYC Standards Week is a marine industry gathering with daily Project Technical Committees (PTCs) meetings scheduled to discuss updates to Supplement 64 of the Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft, set for publication in July [...]

The Sea Tow Foundation’s Life Jacket Loaner Program is the largest of its kind in the world, operating more than 1,300 stands throughout the country at boat ramps, marinas, parks and other locations where boaters have easy access to borrow the life jackets. The Foundation’s primary objective is to prevent drowning by providing life jackets, [...]

The Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) is presenting a management excellence webinar May 24, 2023, from 1–2 pm EDT. The webinar is free for ATA members and $39 for nonmembers. Webinar speaker Madeleine MacRae, founder of MM MacRae Coaching & Consulting and Homepro Toolbox, will discuss how nobody is born with management skills and even the [...]

Photo: Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC Glen Raven recently introduced an updated operating structure that creates even greater focus on each of the key fabric markets it serves. The company has combined its fabric brands, including Sunbrella®, GlenGuard®, Dickson®, Sur Last® and others, under a new Glen Raven Material Solutions Group. Within the group, the [...]

The 2023 American Boating Congress (ABC) included three days of policy conversations, panel discussions, marine industry updates, conversations with members of Congress and a day spent on Capitol Hill advocating on behalf of the recreational marine industry. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and its industry partners, sponsors and co-hosts welcomed more than 250 recreational [...]

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced $20.8 million in grant awards to 27 small shipyards in 20 states through the Small Shipyard Grant Program. The funds will help shipyards modernize, increase productivity and expand local job opportunities while competing in the global marketplace.  Since 2008, MARAD’s Small Shipyard Grant Program has awarded [...]