Media Tracking
Report
09/04/2008
Article Index
Archive
National Marine
Manufacturers Association Coverage
Safety Seal
[Newsday (NY), 08/22/2008]
The recreational boating industry's trade association, National
Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), has taken the lead
behind a "seal of approval," ensuring a customer's new boat meets or
exceeds strict industry safety and construction guidelines rather than
just meeting basic regulations..."Safety and quality craftsmanship are
of the utmost importance for boaters and prospective buyers and NMMA
Certification is the only boat and yacht certification program in
the U.S.," says Robert Newsome, director of NMMA Engineering
Standards, who oversees the certification program. "We made great
strides last year, doubling NMMA Certificated domestic boat
brands to more than 30."..."At its core, dealership certification is
designed to help improve the quality of consumers' sales and service
experience and grow the overall industry," says Thom Dammrich, president
of Grow Boating Inc. and the NMMA...
Wide-Boat Bill Becomes A Law
[Washington Daily News (Online), 08/28/2008]
By Ted Strong
In less than an hour Wednesday morning, the N.C. General Assembly swept
away years of precedent, overriding Gov. Mike Easley's veto off a bill
that allows larger boats to be towed on the state's roads...Eventually,
the Washington, D.C.-based National Marine Manufacturers Association
got involved, hiring lobbyists Joe McClees and Henri McClees...The
boat manufacturers argued that allowing larger boats to be towed on
state roads will boost boat sales. "There will be positive economic
benefits to tourism and travel," said Jim Hardin of Grady-White Boats in
Greenville after the vote. Widths over 8.5 feet have long been common on
boats as short as 20 feet, said David Dickerson, the NMMA's
director of state government relations. "The boats that were affected by
this were the boats that families buy to get out on the water,"
Dickerson said...
The Big Squeeze On Anglers
[Ozarks Newsstands (Online), 08/25/2008]
By Craig Alderman
...Many states are now looking at permits for fishing tournaments, and
some are starting to ban out-of-state boats hitting their lakes...The
big dog in this fight is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
which is looking at removing the exemption for and taxing recreational
boats under the Clean Water Act, whose design was to govern large
ocean-going vessels. Certain discharges such as engine cooling water and
bilge water are considered incidental discharges under the law, and an
exemption was issued for recreational boaters so no tax was applied.
However, the EPA was sued by a group of "interested parties" that want
it removed, and that means a new tax on all recreational boats.
"(Recreational) boats do not equal commercial ships and should not be
regulated the same way" said Mat Dunn, spokesman for the National
Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)...
Boat Sales Run Into Heavy Wakes
[Herald-Sun (Online), 08/25/2008]
By Matt Goad
With boat sales down as much as 50 percent from a year ago, Gov. Mike
Easley's veto of a bill that would have eased restrictions on boat
towing on North Carolina roads could hardly have come at a worse time
for dealers. With gas and food prices climbing and the stock market
falling, dealers report that sales are down 40 to 50 percent all along
the Atlantic Coast...David Dickerson, director of state relations for
the National Marine Manufacturers Association, said the downturn
has been even more severe, the worst in 35 years, forcing layoffs across
the industry, from manufacturers to bait shops and gas stations that
rely on boating business. "This is one of the reasons this has reached
the level of concern that it has," Dickerson said. "The towing law is
just an incredible disincentive to go boating."...
Fountain Sales Going Well, Says President
[Lakeland Boating, 08/14/2008]
By Greg Katski
While the market for high-end boat manufacturers continues to founder,
Fountain Powerboats is steadily afloat, according to company president
David Knight...Overall, the industry is in a downturn, Knight said. "So,
we're really happy with the (fiscal year) 2008 results," he said. Knight
alluded to an article published recently by the National Marine
Manufacturers Association, which reported that companies belonging
to the association were reporting a 30-percent average drop in sales for
fiscal year 2008 when compared to the previous fiscal year. "A lot of
companies, including companies we compete with, are down 50 percent,"
Knight said...
Brunswick Corporation: Is The Bad News Over?
[Seeking Alpha (Online), 08/31/2008]
By Stephen Rosenman
Brunswick Corporation (BC), the maker of Boston Whalers and Hatteras
Yachts, has been the come back kid. Since July 14, when it hit a year
low of $9.66, it has risen remarkably to $13.79. Is the climb deserved
and will it continue? The company has been hurt this past year by a
declining market in the U.S. for its boats and engines...The company, in
partnership with GE (GE), provides significant financing to dealerships
and customers. Marine recreational vehicles has been a terrible business
to be in lately. In July, boat sales were down 20% over last year
according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. One
could expect dealerships to go under and Brunswick to pick up some of
the tab in lost financing...
Discover Boating Coverage
From The Diamond To The Deep
[Signal (CA), 08/15/2008]
By Jim Morris
Growing up in Dayton, Ohio, Baseball Hall of Fame star Mike Schmidt
didn't have a boat, save for a battery-powered toy he used to put in the
swimming pool when visiting his grandparents in Florida. Today, 20
years after retiring from baseball, he has a passion" for boats and
enjoys cruising up and down the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from his
Jupiter; Fla., home... Although Schmidt admits that golf is his favorite
activity, boating and fishing aren't far behind. The National Marine
Manufacturers Association found out about Schmidt's love of boating
and asked him to be its celebrity spokesman. He promotes its Web site (discoverboating.com)
and says he has owned more than 30 boats. "They even have sort of a
tongue-in-cheek promotion called a Spousal Conversion Kit, a list of
reasons wives or husbands should go along with buying a boat. "I know I
have had to convince my wife about a new boat several times," Schmidt
said with a laugh...
Did You Know?
[Mayfield Messenger (KY), 08/22/2008]
Multigenerational travel is not only a growing trend, it's hitting
closer to home and taking to the water. With 90 percent of Americans
living within an hour's drive of a navigable body of water, boating
excursions are becoming an ideal multigenerational travel option. To
learn more, visit www.DiscoverBoating.com.
Boat Show Coverage
Mid-Atlantic Report
[Southern Boating, 09/01/2008]
By Christopher Knauss
...The state's largest in-water boating exhibition, the fourth annual
Virginia In-Water Boat Expo and Sailfest, returns to the
downtown Norfolk waterfront September 12-14. The three-day event will
showcase hundreds of the latest luxury and cruising yachts, sport
fishermen, bass boats, performance boats, personal watercraft,
sailboats, engines, and marine accessories. The expo will also feature
live music and a Discover Boating pavilion where experts will be
on-site to provide information for novice and experienced boating
enthusiasts...
Surf-Fishing Season Now In Full Swing
[New York Post (Online), 08/31/2008]
By Ken Moran
...The Atlantic City In-Water Power Boat Show --
offering more than 700 new boats from sport and motor yachts, sports
fishing yachts to performance boats of sizes from 16-70 feet in length
-- will be at the Farley State Marina adjacent to Trump Marina Hotel
Casino, Thursday through Sunday...
600 Watercraft Parked Under One Roof
[St. Petersburg Times,
08/29/2008]
The Tampa Bay Boatshow will be Sept. 5-7 at the Tampa Convention
Center. The show features all types of boats, personal watercrafts,
wakeboards, electronics and fishing gear. In all, there will be more
than 600 boats on display. There will also be appearances by John and
Andy Hillstrand, co-captains of the Time Bandit from the Discovery
Channel show Deadliest Catch...
Get Out
[New Jersey Monthly, 09/01/2008]
By Jessica Kitchin
Summertime may be on the wane, but that doesn't mean New
Jerseyans have to put their toys away just yet. The 2008 Liberty Boat
Show hits Liberty State Park -- with the Manhattan skyline backdrop
-- just as the last warm breezes shift to become crisp autumn winds.
Hundreds of motorboats and sailboats, ranging from 8 to 65 feet in
length, will line the docks at the Liberty Landing Marina, displaying
cutting-edge navigation equipment and on-board electronics. Boating
seminars and live entertainment are also on the agenda...
Boat-Load Of Fun
[Northside Neighbor (GA), 08/20/2008]
The 47th annual Atlanta Boat Show drops anchor at
the Georgia World Congress Center Jan. 14, 2009. Guests can enjoy give
days of non-stop fishing and boating activities, including seminars,
kids' activities and prize giveaways at Georgia's largest boat show...
55th Annual Kansas City Sport Show
[Boating Life (Online), 08/24/2008]
Whether you're an avid outdoorsman or are just looking
for a way to escape winter for the day, the 54th Kansas City
Sportshow is YOUR show! This annual 5-day event turns Bartle Hall
into a one-stop marketplace for outdoor fun -- the best place to see and
buy everything you need for your outdoor adventures! See and board
hundreds of boats and explore the latest model RVs. Find gear and
accessories for every outdoor activity imaginable, from boating, fishing
and hunting to RVing, camping and more...