Bainbridge International announced James Hudson as export sales manager for their sailcloth and technical fabrics division. Hudson has held various positions in the marine industry, including skipper for private and charter yachts, and after-sales manager for Ancasta, Sealine and Fairline. Hudson follows the recent departure of Kane Watkinson.

At the 2008 Miami Boat Show, nine marine manufacturers were honored for innovative achievement. The Innovation Awards were organized by the National Marine Manufacturers Association and judged by Boating Writers International. More than 50 products were entered into eight categories and judged on their innovative distinction from other products, the benefits to the marine industry [...]

Production of Chris-Craft’s Lancer 20 (formerly named “Speedster”) has moved from Sarasota, Fla., to Cleveland County, N.C. Production of Chris-Craft’s smallest and most popular boat began in its new Kings Mountain facility in March. Chris-Craft also plans to start an upholstery operation at the new facility. In the next two or three months the company [...]

The American Boating Congress (ABC) recently cited threats to recreational boating in the U.S., including national federal permitting of recreational boats, assaults on boating and fishing access, proposed tax reforms, and a stalling economy and spiking energy processes. According to Boating Industry magazine, the number of legislative and regulatory threats facing the boating industry is [...]

The biggest—and arguably the best—­MFA National Convention went down in “Margaritaville,” with more people, more products and more educational opportunities. The theme for the 2008 Marine Fabricators Association National Convention, Jan. 13-15,­ was “Margaritaville,” a term made popular by the Jimmy Buffet song of the same name. The Marriott Hutchinson Island Resort in Stuart, Fla., [...]

Sail magazine recognized the Island Packet 465 as one of its “Best Boats for 2008.” Island Packet also received the Editor’s Choice Award for Excellence in Accommodation Design. Judges noted that the IP465 had superior head room, a comfortable navigation station and excellent joinery. This is the second year Island Packet has been recognized with [...]

Jeffrey W. Kirk, president of The Astrup Co. and chief operations officer of the distribution division of Glen Raven, retired in February. Kirk served 32 years with The Astrup Co. First hired as an account representative in 1975, he worked his way up and was named president and secretary in 1999. Kirk, Industrial Fabrics Manager, [...]

Glen Raven Inc. unveiled the name for its new distribution division: Tri Vantage LLC. Last May Glen Raven acquired The Astrup Co. and John Boyle & Co., two of the nation’s largest distributors of products for the awning, marine, sign and casual furniture industries. “We have woven the strengths of three great companies together to [...]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised a rule to regulate area source emission standards for paint stripping and surface coating. The EPA agreed to limit its definition of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). The original rule would have regulated area sources that include boatyards, marinas and small boatbuilders with emissions of HAPs under 10 tons. [...]

According to Spader Cos., sales rose 3.5 percent for the average used boat dealer since last year. Spader attributes this rise to a 14.2 percent increase in pre-owned boat sales. New boat sales are up only 0.6 percent from 2006. New boat inventories at dealerships were up only 1.7 percent from last year, while pre-owned [...]