Skier’s Choice, the official towboat of the World Wakeboard Association, chose WeatherMax 80 from Safety Components for mooring covers for their entire line of Supra and Moomba towboats. Fabricated by Great Lakes Boat Top Co. in Vonore, Tenn., covers made of WeatherMax 80 combine strength and beauty to shield Supra and Moomba boats from the [...]

The performance fabric brand Sunbrella underwent a brand identity update, including a new logo, to acknowledge its 50-year heritage, while focusing on innovation and enhanced styling for today’s consumers. Sunbrella’s yellow, red and blue umbrella has morphed into a stylized, deep orange umbrella. The type face has been updated with a cleaner, more contemporary look. [...]

On Nov. 4, Florida voters passed a constitutional amendment that provides fair taxation to waterfront businesses. Amendment 6 received more than the 60 percent of votes required to make it state law. Prior to Amendment 6, Florida’s waterfronts were taxed at their “highest and best use,” meaning that businesses were taxed for the potential use [...]

Taylor Made Products has acquired the rights to the Boat Misters product line. The new Comfort Zone Boat Misting System attaches to the boat’s bimini or T-top and emits a cooling mist. The mid-pressure pump delivers 150 psi of misting power at the rate of about one gallon of water per hour, while only drawing [...]

SodaBlast Systems appointed nine new contractors in the United States for its eco-friendly boat hull cleaning systems, raising the total to more than 180 worldwide. The SodaBlasting process uses a non-destructive stream of air-driven baking soda to strip the paint and open the blister. The affected area is feathered by split-second, swirled “micro-blasting,” which finishes [...]

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is offering grant funds up to $4,000 each for community non-profit groups to develop projects that address environmental problems on local waterways. Since 1997, the BoatUS Foundation Clean Water Grant program has awarded over $300,000 to improve the marine environment, funding 149 projects in 35 states. [...]

As a result of the current economic downturn, the board of the National Marine Manufacturers Association unanimously approved a temporary redirection of Grow Boating assessments to support immediate sales-driving efforts at the manufacturer and dealer level. The redirection will begin with assessments incurred on or after Oct. 1, 2008, and continue through June 30, 2009. [...]

Sunbrella sling, awning and marine fabrics from Glen Raven Custom Fabrics have received the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute’s (GEI) Children & Schools certification as low-emitting products, assuring architects, specifiers, building owners and homeowners that these fabrics contribute to healthy indoor air. The GREENGUARD Certification Program, an industry independent, third-party testing program, subjected Glen Raven sling, marine [...]

On July 29, President Bush signed into law H.R. 5949/S.2766, the Clean Boating Act of 2008, protecting the more than 17 million recreational boats throughout the U.S. from unprecedented and unnecessary federal regulations. Congress passed the Clean Boating Act on July 22, 2008. The signing of the bill permanently and fully restores a longstanding, commonsense [...]

Six marine aftermarket products were honored for innovative achievement by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Boating Writers International (BWI) at the Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS) in Las Vegas. The Innovation Awards, organized by NMMA and judged by BWI, recognize those products that best meet the following criteria: innovative distinction from other [...]