Media Tracking
Report
05/15/2008
Article Index
Archive
National Marine
Manufacturers Association Coverage
This Summer, Travelers Won't Abandon Ship
[MSNBC (Online), 05/07/2008]
By Peter Greenberg
With marine fuel nearing $5 a gallon and regular gas heading in that
direction, you might be surprised to learn that when it comes to getting
out on the water, or getting out on the road, Americans will not be
denied....In fact, there will still be 300,000 new boats sold this year.
Of that number, 200,000 will be outboard models with a price tag of
under $40,000. "It's been a real surprise," says Thomas Dammrich,
president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, "but
we've seen no connection between the soaring fuel prices and boat sales,
especially in the small- and large-boat market." It's the middle that's
soft... "People will be using their boats this summer," says the NMMA's
Dammrich. "But they may be using their boats in a different way. They'll
probably spend just as much time on the water, but much of the time this
summer it may be while they're tied to a dock."...
Regulator Dealers Become First To All Earn Certification
[Soundings (Trade Only) (Online), 05/13/2008]
By Melanie Winters
Regulator Marine has become the industry's first boatbuilder to have 100
percent of its dealer network pass the NMMA's Dealer
Certification program. "I think it's significant, " said Thom Dammrich,
president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, in a
telephone interview. "It certainly demonstrates a commitment to
providing an excellence boating experience by encouraging and helping
all of their dealers get certified."...Dammrich says other boatbuilders
are aggressively promoting certification to their dealers as well, and
offering programs and incentives to encourage certification. As of
today, 389 dealers have completed the program, and Dammrich expects to
pass the 400 mark before the end of the month. “It’s here to stay,”
Dammrich said of the dealer certification program. “Dealers who have
been through certification swear by it. It has really enhanced their
business.”
Owners Are Still Using Their Boats But Cutting Down On Their Cruising
[Tennessean (Online), 05/14/2008]
By G. Chambers Williams III
... The boating season -- which reaches its height in summer -- is just
getting under way, and dealers say higher gasoline prices probably will
deter some owners from running the motors as much as they have in the
past...The same trend is being seen nationwide, where boat sales are off
now for the second year in a row, according to the National Marine
Manufacturers Association, which represents most of the nation's
pleasure-boat makers. "It's a challenging market right now, and that's
coming off of last year when sales were already down 7 percent,"
association President Thom Dammrich said. Sales of boats in the U.S.
totaled 396,000 last year, not including canoes and kayaks, he said.
"It's continuing to be soft, and we're expecting sales to be down
another 7 to 8 percent this year," he said. "Sales fluctuate with
changes in consumer confidence, and right now that confidence level is
low."...
Inflatable Boats' Uses And Sales Increase
[The Times (IN) (Online), 05/08/2008]
By Bill Paige
Boaters around the U.S. are learning what the Coast Guard, military and
boaters in other parts of the world have known for years: There are
benefits in using inflatable boats. Two types of inflatable boats make
up this category: inflatables and rigid-inflatable boats (RIBs).
Inflatables have soft bottoms, while RIBs utilize rigid hulls such as
fiberglass or aluminum. "Overall, the category is becoming more
popular," said Kelly Kaylor, assistant communications director with the
National Marine Manufacturers Association. "Inflatables are very
versatile boats (and) their versatility is the appeal. People can use
them for all sorts of things."Inflatable boat popularity can be seen in
sales numbers over the past year. According to the NMMA, there
was a 17 percent increase in units sold in 2007..."More amazing within
the segment is the RIB sales, which showed a 75 percent increase in
2007," Kaylor said. "RIBs accounted for seven out of every 10 inflatable
boats sold. They are definitely the most popular."...
Marine Manufacturers Join Fight For More Flexibility
[Asbury Park Press, 05/09/2008]
By John Geiser
The heavy hitter in the recreational marine industry, the National
Marine Manufacturers Association, has stepped up to the plate in
support of flexibility in rebuilding American fisheries. The NMMA
has thrown its muscle behind Rep, Frank Pallone Jr.'s, D-NJ, bill - H.R.
5425 - that would provide fisheries officials with the flexibility to
manage healthy stocks that are not following a man-made time
frame...Scott B. Gudes, vice president of government relations for
NMMA, said the association has long recognized the strong
relationship between recreational boating and fishing. "The recreational
boating industry has a strong interest in and proactively seeks policies
that conserve, protect and enhance important recreational fisheries
while maintaining public access to sport fishing," he pointed out...
EPA Finalizes Yacht Builder Emission Regulation
[Boating Industry (Online), 05/13/2008]
On Tuesday, May 6, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a
final rule in the Federal Register that is designed to reduce exhaust
emissions from diesel-powered recreational boats and simultaneously
helps the industry avoid a series of very detrimental after treatment
catalyst-based standards, the National Marine Manufacturers
Association reported in a statement yesterday..."The final,
published rule is a significant achievement for recreational yacht
manufacturers," said John McKnight, NMMA director of
Environmental Safety & Compliance...
Some Quick Action Needed On Clean Boating Act
[Bass Fan (Online), 05/12/2008]
...Recognizing that the exemption's time was growing short, Environment
and Public Works Committee chairperson Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.),
along with Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), introduced the Clean Boating Act
in March. It immediately garnered the backing of the National Marine
Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and nearly every other
boating- and fishing-oriented organization in the country. "The NMMA
really took the lead on this thing and all the rest of us have chimed in
whenever they've needed us to," said Horton. "Congress finally woke up
and realized that this needed to be fixed, and the bill is a pretty good
compromise...
Discover Boating Coverage
Baby Boomers get Onboard With Boating
[Crain's Chicago Business (Online), 4/24/2008]
...With 80 million boomers retiring over the next two decades,
recreational boating industry experts from Discover Boating
predict the number of boomer boat owners to grow... “Boating is at the
heart of what boomers, like myself, love – an active hobby that provides
an opportunity to explore the world while bonding with family and
friends," said Thom Dammrich, president of Discover Boating and
the National Marine Manufacturers Association. "Boating resonates
with boomers because it's a lifestyle that speaks to their independent
spirit, desire for social experiences and travel, while being attainable
when it comes to affordability."...
Tips For Finding Best Prices, Selecting The Right Boat
[Forecaster (ME), 05/02/2008]
...With many Americans discovering why life is better on a boat, this
year's boat show season may be one of the busiest..."Boat shows offer
one-stop shopping for first time and experienced boat buyers and there
are a few key points to keep in mind when purchasing a boat," said Carl
Blackwell, spokesperson for Discover Boating. "Boating is more
accessible and affordable than some may think, especially when you
consider there are brand new boat, motor and trailer packages that can
be financed starting around $250 a month." With boats for every
lifestyle and budget on the market, first-time buyers should do their
homework prior to hitting the show floor...DiscoverBoating.com is
a great unbiased resource for tips and information on all boat
categories, as well as financing, insurance and a calendar of boat
shows. There's also a virtual expert where visitors can ask questions
about boating and related topics and can get an answer by close of the
next business day...
Mike Schmidt's Fishing Tourney Benefits Charity
[Palm Beach Post (Online), 05/07/2008]
By Willie Howard
...While fishing off Jupiter in late April with charter captain friend
Ron Doerr, Schmidt spoke of his love of boats and being on the water. He
ran a boat business that sold customized Ocean Master boats from
Seasport Marina and he still owns two boats - his 50-foot Sea Ray, Blue
Heaven, and a 29-foot Everglades with twin outboards. Schmidt also is a
spokesman for the National Marine Manufacturers Association's
Discover Boating campaign. Schmidt believes the boating lifestyle is
healthy for families. Boating's simple pleasures relax him. "To this
day, I love washing my boat," Schmidt said. "Give me a hose and a bucket
and a brush and a chamois and turn on the stereo."...
Website Makeover Announced
[Colorado River Weekender (Online),
05/02/2008]
...The centerpiece of the revitalized fishing campaign is the new
TakeMeFishing.org web site, which will be the key destination for those
who want to plan a trip, buy a fishing license, design their dream boat
or check out the latest equipment. Visitors will still find the web
site's 12,000 places to boat and fish. Several new interactive features
were added to keep visitors engaged. These features include: Boat
selection tool: Find the boat that's right for you, based on your
boating and fishing lifestyle. Compare boats, find links to
manufacturers and register for a free Get Started in Boating DVD, in
conjunction with Discover Boating...
Owning A Boat Doesn't Mean The Budget Goes Overboard
[The Call (RI), 04/28/2008]
Peak boating season has arrived, and 59 million people around the U.S.
will take to the water this year. Many assume boating is reserved only
for the affluent, but three out of four owners of the 18 million boats
on the water have an average household income under $100,000. For
families looking to chart their course to boat ownership, Discover
Boating, the national awareness program on behalf of the
recreational boating industry, has developed a comprehensive online
resource to answer any boating question and clarify those common
misconceptions. Try the new interactive budget planner on
DiscoverBoating.com, where it compares boating costs to other
popular family activities, including vacations, golf, RVing and sporting
events...
Boat Show Coverage
Attendance Down, Sales Up At Strictly Sail Pacific
[Soundings (Trade Only) (Online), 05/07/2008]
The Strictly Sail Pacific, which was held April 16-20 at Oakland
Jack London Square, drew more than 200 exhibitors and about 70 boats
from small trailerable dinghies to the Tayana 54, a bluewater cruiser
that made its world debut at the show. With more than 13,000 showgoers,
attendance was down by roughly 15 percent compared to 2007, but many
exhibitors echoed the sentiment that a smaller gate did not impact the
quality of the crowd. "This year's show drew quality potential buyers,
and it exceeded our expectations," said Dave Moore, owner of Cruising
Yachts, Inc. of Alameda , Calif. , in a statement...
Latitude Industries, Inc. Exceeds $600,000.00 In Powerboat Sales Since
January 1
[Excite.com (Online), 05/13/2008]
...Latitude Industries will be presenting their Latitude 28ss and
Latitude 35ss at the upcoming South Florida Boat Show, June
13th-16th, 2008, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Latitude CEO
Carolina Hernandez said, "We feel the South Florida show will
have a greater impact on the company's revenue than previous shows. The
hottest boat-buying season is now upon us and Latitude is busting onto
the scene full force. Having built 40 powerboats for the U.S. Homeland
Security has not only given us a platform to showcase our boats, it has
also established our credibility as one of the finest powerboat builders
in the world. Powerboat enthusiasts are sitting up and taking notice
that Latitude is a powerful force within the multi-billion dollar
powerboating industry. Based on current orders and the demand that we're
receiving from boat shows and favorable press like the Hot Boat Magazine
feature, we are conservatively setting a projection of achieving $6
million in revenue for 2008."...