On a rolling 12-month basis, U.S. outboard engine wholesale shipments were up 6 percent YOY through April for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) control group of manufacturers, representing 95 percent of the market. Gains were led by four-strokes and higher-powered engines. Total retail sales based on warranty card registrations for the same period were [...]

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) recently released its report assessing the likely impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement that the U.S. has entered into with Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). The USITC's report, “Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement: [...]

Wearing a life jacket is the simplest life-saving strategy for safe boating. Boating safety advocates across the U.S. and Canada have teamed up to promote safe and responsible boating, including consistent life jacket wear every time boaters are on the water, during National Safe Boating Week, May 21-27. National Safe Boating Week is the launch [...]

The Connecticut legislature has voted to revise the definition for waterskiing to include wake surfing. The measure now is before Governor Dannel Malloy for his signature. State regulations currently apply only when the towed person is tethered to the boat. SB 136 also prohibits a person from towing a skier, which would include wake surfers, [...]

The Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF) is now accepting entries for its 2016 Innovation Award. Each year, the IFF honors projects created by those who pace the industry of tomorrow. IFF encourages companies to submit their projects so they can inspire others in the specialty fabrics industry and act as catalysts for the next great innovations. [...]

ABC 2016 concluded last week with a general session that brought members of the U.S. Congress, regulatory officials, political gurus, economic professionals and industry experts together to address the recreational boating industry on policy and news. A lively discussion regarding the upcoming presidential election between keynote speakers Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala was a highlight, [...]

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) recently introduced S. 2848, a bill that reauthorizes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). WRDA expires at the end of this year. WRDA is a key program for the recreational boating industry that authorizes and funds the [...]

Boat builders can see innovative materials, processes and technologies in the Future Materials exhibit at the International Boatbuilders' Exhibition & Conference (IBEX) in October. IBEX will be October 4–6, 2016, at the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Fla. Curated by editors from “Professional BoatBuilder” and “CompositesWorld” magazines, this collection has been gathered from a variety of [...]

The 2016 American Boating Congress (ABC) program materials and policy briefs are now available to download. ABC 2016 will be at the Renaissance Washington, D.C., Downtown Hotel May 9–11. The downloadable materials include a conference agenda, speaker biographies, policy briefs, regulatory and legislative information, and talking points for Capitol Hill conversations. Attendees can download the [...]

The National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) is seeking applications for 2017 applicants, according the Federal Register. NBSAC advises the U.S. Coast Guard on recreational boating safety regulations and other major boating safety matters. They will consider applications for the following positions which will be vacant on December 31, 2016: two state official representatives for [...]