July 23, 2021
After three months of public hearings, amendments and strong opposition from the recreational boating community, the Kootenai County Commission in Kootenai County, Idaho, passed an ordinance prohibiting boaters from engaging in activities that create “excessive wakes” by a 2-1 vote, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association website. The ordinance defines “excessive wake” as “plowing …
July 21, 2021
Organizers of the Marine Fabricators Conference 2022, being held Jan. 13–15, 2022, at the Wild Dunes Resort, Isle of Palms, S.C., are seeking tips, how-to ideas and DIY techniques that benefit the marine fabrication industry. Qualified entries appear in Marine Fabricator magazine, and prizes for first, second and third place are presented at the Awards …
July 20, 2021
Discover Boating B2B has free marketing tools and resources available for fabricators to share on their websites and social channels to help drive consumer engagement. These include interactive boat buying tools such as a Boat Loan Calculator and Boat Finder, which can be embedded directly on a fabricator’s website. Other resources include an industry-wide “Get …
July 15, 2021
The Recreational Boating Industries Educational Foundation (RBIEF) more than doubled the amount of funds distributed this year compared to years past, as qualified applicants express keen interest in careers in the marine industry. The Foundation awarded $18,500 in scholarship funds to 10 students, according to boatingindustry.com. The RBIEF scholarship fund was developed in 1986 by …
July 14, 2021
Entries are being accepted for the 2021 IBEX Innovation Awards now through August 13. The awards program will take place during IBEX in Tampa, Fla., Sept. 28-30, and will honor manufacturers and suppliers who bring new, innovative products to market. The program is managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association and is judged by Boating …
July 13, 2021
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries recently announced the designation of the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The area on Lake Michigan in Wisconsin has been under consideration for national marine sanctuary status since 2014. The sanctuary will make up 962-square-miles in Lake Michigan on the Wisconsin side …
July 9, 2021
The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) announced an updated year-end exam for its new entry-level Marine Service Technician Certification. The revised certification designation and exam completes ABYC’s Marine Service Technology package, designed to help secondary and post-secondary schools easily implement standards-based marine service programs and further enhance student abilities to grow their careers in …
July 8, 2021
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) reports new boat sales remained strong through April, according to the latest New Powerboat Registrations Report. Data shows retail unit sales of new powerboats were up 32 percent on a rolling 12-month (R12M) year-over-year (YOY) basis through April, reflecting the surge in demand and sales over the past year. …
July 7, 2021
The Boat and Engine Exports and Imports section of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) 2020 U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract is now available on www.nmma.org. This report examines 24 years of historical data on the different categories of recreational boats and marine engines imported to and exported from the U.S. each year. Key insights …
July 6, 2021
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently announced that more than $4 million in grant funding will be awarded to 23 communities throughout the state to boost recreational boating, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association website. The funding is made possible through the DNR Parks and Recreation Division’s waterways grant program, which began in …
