Entries for the 2023 IBEX Innovation Awards program are now being accepted. The awards program recognizes manufacturers and suppliers who bring new, innovative products and technology to market. The winners will be announced during IBEX 2023, taking place October 3-5 in Tampa, Fla. All entries must be submitted by August 23, 2023. Learn more at [...]

Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) members and staff rely on engaged advisory boards to help guide programming and initiatives. ATA's Divisions and Groups have announced the following open board positions and are currently looking for applications to fill these spots: •ATA Canada, 4 openings; 2 renewals •Fabric Structures Association (FSA), 3 openings; 2 renewals •Emerging Technologies [...]

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed the Environment Budget bill (MN H.F. 2310) into law on May 24. The legislation contains a boater safety education provision that promotes responsible and safe boating practices. The bill reinforces the state's commitment to promote safe and responsible boating practices and has long been supported by the recreational boating and [...]

The Sea Tow Foundation’s Boating Safety Advisory Council announced the call for entries for the 2023 National Boating Safety Awards. There is no cost to enter, and applications take less than 10 minutes to complete. The Awards recognize efforts to promote boating safety within the for-profit sector of the boating industry, and two new award [...]

New data released by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) found that the annual national economic impact of recreational boating increased 36% from $170B in 2018 to $230B in 2023. The industry’s contributions to the U.S. workforce grew as well with a 14% increase in jobs supported, from 691,000 in 2018 to more than 812,000 [...]

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed towed watersports legislation that included strengthening safety and access opportunities for wakesurfing and wakeboarding. The new law followed bordering states, South Carolina and Tennessee, in proactively keeping boaters and towed water sports enthusiasts safe on the water. Introduced by Representative Victor Anderson and sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore John [...]

Construction on the Tampa Convention Center (TCC) will be completed in time for the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) 2023, to be held October 3 – 5, 2023, in Tampa, Florida. The renovation project is the largest ever for the TCC and will result in an expanded third floor exhibit hall and additional fourth [...]

The International Marine Electronics Alliance (IMEA), a 501 (c)(3) supporting organization of the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA), is expanding its scholarship program to encourage and support students interested in a career in marine electronics. The goal is to alleviate the marine electronics industry worker shortage through education of students to become technical installers of [...]

The newest Talking Textiles podcast from the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) features marine industry veterans discussing the topic “Balancing the Marine Canvas Business and Life.” The episode is hosted by Kyle Van Damme, co-owner of Marine Tops Unlimited Inc. in Omro, Wis. Van Damme interviews Chandler and Charlene Clark, owners of Signature CanvasMakers in Hampton, [...]

The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) annual Standards Week will be Jan. 7-11, 2024, in Annapolis, Md. ABYC Standards Week is a marine industry gathering with daily Project Technical Committees (PTCs) meetings scheduled to discuss updates to Supplement 64 of the Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft, set for publication in July [...]