The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) increased small business size standards affecting businesses in 46 industries in North American Classification System (NAICS) sector 42, wholesale trade, and in one industry in sector 44-45, retail trade. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on Jan. 25 and will be effective Feb. 26. SBA reviewed [...]

The Progressive Insurance San Francisco Boat Show announced this week that the 2016 show has been cancelled. The event was initially postponed to April because of anticipated El Niño weather. Dave Geoffroy, director of the San Francisco Boat Show, said the logistics of moving the show presented more challenges for exhibitors than anticipated. Organizers said [...]

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), together with the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) and the Asociación Náutica de Colombia (ANC), announced today they will produce the International Nautical Congress of Colombia, April 27-29, 2016, in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, to promote the country’s growing recreational boating industry. Attendees of the Congress will [...]

The annual Miami International Boat Show has received a Class 1 Special Events Permit from the Miami-Dade County Board and its Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER). The 13-member board approved the environmental permit on an 8-1 vote, three days after approval from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Both permits focus on [...]

Serge Ferrari introduced its new indoor and outdoor furniture upholstery membrane, Stamskin® One, at Paris Design Week in September. Stamskin One is an elastomer-coated polyester jersey with soft and luxurious feel, similar to worn leather. Its durability makes it ideal for demanding environments like yachts, restaurants, poolside seating, busy waiting areas and massage tables. Stamskin [...]

New Jersey governor Chris Christie signed a bill in December that reduces the state’s tax on boat sales to seven percent and caps the total tax at $20,000. Those in opposition of the bill said the tax break helps the wealthy at the expense of everyone else in New Jersey. The Press of Atlantic City [...]

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) estimates new powerboat unit sales will be up six to eight percent in 2016. The rise in sales could reach pre-recession levels in several boat segments this year. The powerboat category is comprised of outboard boats, wake sport boats, inboard cruisers, sterndrive boats and jet boats as well as [...]

Wooster, Ohio-based Seaman Corp. announced in a Dec. 10 press release the promotion of John Crum from president and chief operating officer to president and CEO effective Dec. 9, 2015. After 35 years as president and CEO, the last five as CEO and chairman of the company’s board of directors, Richard Seaman is retiring as [...]

Also includes funding for SFRBTF With overwhelming bipartisan support last Thursday, the U.S. House and Senate approved a five-year transportation bill, which was signed into law by President Obama the next day. The $305 billion “FAST Act” (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation) provides—for the first time in a decade—systematic extended funding for U.S. roads, bridges, and [...]

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) sent out an "Action Alert" asking exhibitors, attendees and other stakeholders to contact members of the Miami-Dade County Commission and Congress to voice their support for the Miami International Boat Show. Miami-Dade County opted to delay a vote on a key permit for the show until December 15. "Our [...]