Media Tracking
Report
04/03/2008
Article Index
Archive
National Marine
Manufacturers Association Coverage
Dammrich: We'll Ride Out 'Rough Patch'
[Soundings (Trade Only), 03/01/2008]
By Jo Ann W. Goddard
The Miami International Boat Show kicked off Feb. 14 with an encouraging
speech by Thorn Dammrich, president of the National Marine
Manufacturers Association, who acknowledged the industry is going
through a "rough patch" but sees better times ahead. Taking an
optimistic approach, Dammrich said the industry's Grow Boating
Initiative is beginning to pay dividends, and will play a major role
in the recovery he is convinced is coming...Industry leaders a couple
years ago determined that making the buying and owning experience more
pleasant for the consumer was a key factor in driving sales. Improving
the boater's experience was one of the key strategies in Grow Boating,
the industry initiative to increase participation in boating and boost
sales. Another strategy of the initiative is to promote the boating
lifestyle with the Discover Boating campaign. The ad campaign is
intended to boost awareness. "It's working," says Dammrich. "Even if
this doesn't translate into sales."...
Boaters hear spring calling
[Greenwich Time (Online), 03/30/2008]
By Harriet Weinstein
It would be the defining moment of the approaching boating season if it
happens: gasoline prices hitting $4 a gallon or more at the
pump...Although many boaters don't get their boats into the water until
mid-May, some already are alarmed at the price of gas...Recreational
boating is a major consumer goods industry generating $39.5 billion in
sales and services during 2006, an increase of 6 percent from 2005, said
Thom Dammrich, National Marine Manufacturers Association. "Higher
fuel prices present a marginal increase in the operating cost of your
boat," he said. Dammrich said that for owners of $500,000 boats that use
100 gallons of fuel in a weekend, a 50-cent increase in gasoline would
mean a weekend on the water would cost $50 more. Owners of boats that
use 20 gallons of gas would end up spending $10 more, he said...
Rising supply prices keep boats
docked
[Press of Atlantic City (Online), 03/30/2008]
By Donna Weaver
Faced with a sinking economy and the rising cost of fuel, boats and
slips, many boaters are thinking twice about hitting the high seas, even
Tom Strickland, who just purchased a boat from Causeway Marine in
Stafford Township...Industry-wide, sales of new boats have been slipping
virtually every month since mid-2004, when the nation's consumer
confidence began to dip...In 2007, traditional powerboat wholesale
shipments, including outboard, stern drive and inboard boats, declined
13 percent in terms of unit volume and 8 percent in terms of wholesale
dollars, according to the December Monthly Shipment Report released by
the NMMA. In a news release from the NMMA, President Thom
Dammrich said it is disappointing to see double-digit declines for unit
sales in 2007 but that it was not unexpected and is a clear reflection
of the current U.S. economy...
Ballast-Water Permits For Joe Boater
[Soundings, 04/01/2008]
The Recreational Boating Act was introduced last year and is designed to
protect boaters from new commercial ballast-water regulations..."Without
congressional approval of the Recreational Boating Act, the court's
existing decision means that everyday boaters will have to apply for the
same expensive permits as oceangoing commercial vessels," says Thorn
Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association,
in a statement. Oceangoing commercial vessels are blamed for some 10,000
invasive species introduced into U.S. waters. The court-mandated
deadline is September, requiring the EPA to have the permitting
requirements in place. The NMMA, in partnership with Boat US and
other outdoor-recreation partners, has created a grassroots Web site at
www.boatblue.org to mobilize the boating community on the issue.
Proposed Rule On Boating Goes Overboard, Say Local Boaters
[The Island Packet (Online), 03/31/2008]
By Liz Mitchell
Have the federal courts gone overboard? And will recreational boaters
suffer? Boaters have been asking those questions since a U.S. District
Court ordered the Environmental Protection Agency in 2005 to create a
new permitting system by September 2008. That system would require
boaters -- commercial and recreational, anglers and charter boats -- to
obtain pollutant discharge permits that are now only required for large
commercial or ocean-going ships..."The fear is the permitting system
will go into place," said Matthew Dunn, a spokesman for the National
Marine Manufacturers Association, which opposes the regulations. "If
it does, that means you now have a massive bureaucracy, that individual
day boaters have to get a commercial-type permit just to operate their
boat for discharges that have never been considered pollutants." ...
Boxer To The Rescue
[San Diego Union Tribune (Online), 03/24/2008]
By Dana Wilkie
With just five months until federal regulators socked it to the owners
of small recreational boats, California's junior senator stepped in with
a remedy. Barbara Boxer, the Democrat who now heads the Senate
Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced a bill this month
designed to exempt these boat owners from having to buy potentially
costly permits to cover the discharges from their vessels. The
National Marine Manufacturers Association - the group that stood to
lose considerable business if folks were scared off the waters by new
permit fees - couldn't be happier. "This issue has been a cloud hanging
over our industry," said Scott Gudes, vice president of government
relations for the 1,700-member association, which runs the annual San
Diego Boat Show and represents about 30 boating groups...
Candidates Favor Cafe Hikes
[Soundings (Trade Only), 03/01/2008]
By Lois Caliri
...It will take several years before anyone sees the ramifications of the
higher Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards on recreational
boating, Innis said...Surprisingly, the leading Republican and
Democratic candidates agree the standards need to be increased...Now,
while the increase in fuel efficiency standards was the focal point in
the federal Energy Act signed by President Bush in December, the call
for the use of increased biofuel also has some in the marine industry
squirming...The Energy Act was a mixed bag for marine manufacturers, and
the industry was proud to have had success in adding some important
language to protect marine engine makers and consumers, said Matthew
Dunn of the National Marine Manufacturers Association. The
NMMA-supported provision directs the EPA to conduct a rigorous
review of ethanol and other biofuels, and requires a public comment
period...
Trailer Regulatory Round-up Set
[Trailer Body Builders (Online), 03/27/2008]
For the second straight year, the Trailer Manufacturers Association (TMA),
an affiliate of the National Marine Manufacturers Association,
and the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) are
co-hosting the Trailer Regulatory Round-up during the 2008 American
Boating Congress on April 29. Participants will have the chance to
represent the industry while learning the latest news from federal
regulators and discussing concerns by meeting with members of
Congress...
Boat Show Coverage
Big Apple Boat Show Rings In The New Year
[Soundings (Online), 03/29/2008]
By Elizabeth Ellis
As attendance numbers continue to disappoint, the show promoter is
lobbying for a change in dates for 2009. Despite promotions, great
selection and a huge facility, the 103rd New York National Boat Show's
success was still hampered by the holiday season..."The attendance was
down from last year, but we got good reports from the floor about
sales," says Michael Duffy, show manager. "There were about 61,464,
which is about three percent off from last year."...The National
Marine Manufacturer's Association (NMMA), which organized the
show, recently partnered with Crocs shoes, featuring a booth that
allowed attendees to "test drive" their products..."It is a unique
promotion and does play off the popularity of the brand right now, and
we got a lot of positive feedback about that," says Duffy...
Sellers Tease Buyers With Whopper Of A Deal
[Palm Beach Post (Online), 03/27/2008]
By Lori Becker
...As the Palm Beach Boat Show opens today for its 23rd running,
incentives will be plentiful as dealers try to lure jittery consumers
with discounted prices, free electronics and extended warranties. "We're
all just trying to make it attractive to the buyer," said Julie Lentine,
vice president of Lentine Marine in Stuart, whose specials include six
months of storage at PGA Marina for boaters who buy vessels at the
show...The Palm Beach Boat Show - generally a sales bonanza for
local dealers - is Florida's third-largest, behind Fort Lauderdale's and
Miami's, with more than 1 million square feet of exhibit space in
downtown West Palm Beach...
Events Calendar
[Shakopee Valley News, 03/20/2008]
By Chris Landry
...The Northwest Sportshow is the place to see the largest
display of travel booths featuring fishing, hunting, family vacations
and adventure travel destinations from across the U.S. and Canada.
Marine products featured include new model year power boats, fishing
boats, pontoon boats, motors, marine electronics, trailers, lifts, docks
and personal watercraft...