Boat dealers exempt from new FTC auto regulations
January 3rd, 2024
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released the final version of its Auto Rule, renamed the Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Rule, exempting marine retailers and other non-automotive dealers. The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) and its coalition partners requested that recreational boat dealers be exempted from the requirements of the rule. In its […]
California Boating Congress set for Sacramento
December 21st, 2023
California’s marine and boating industries are set to meet in Sacramento on March 12-13, 2024, to impact state legislators and regulators on issues facing marinas, boating, waterways and recreation. The 8th annual event brings together industry groups to hear from statewide leaders, policymakers, legislators, and more to gain a keen understanding on legislation and regulatory […]
MRAA Dealer Week Conference & Expo exceeds attendance records
December 20th, 2023
More than 1,500 marine industry professionals attended the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) 2023 Dealer Week Conference and Expo, held Dec. 4-7, in Tampa, Fla., establishing records for total registration, dealership attendance, number of exhibitors and expo hall floor space coverage. Dealership attendance set a new high-water mark at 721 dealership personnel, while […]
MarineMax launches Florida marine tech apprenticeship program
December 14th, 2023
MarineMax, one of the largest marine boat retailers in the U.S., recently established a Marine Service Technician Apprenticeship Program for the State of Florida. The three-year program consists of hands-on mentor-led and online self-led training at an assigned Florida location. It can be shortened to 1.5 years with approved experience. The Marine Service Technician Apprenticeship […]
2022 U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract report now available
December 13th, 2023
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract is a source of comprehensive industry data for recreational boating intelligence. The data presented in the newest report spans 2008-2022, and can help the marine industry better understand industry growth and shifts in market behavior by analyzing the data and presenting information including these […]
Canadian government streamlines waterway access process
December 12th, 2023
In October, the Canadian federal government announced a streamlined process to enact restrictions on the use of recreational boats on its waterways. Under this new process, the Minister of Transport has the authority to issue interim restriction orders upon receiving a request from other levels of government, including municipalities. The federal government is temporarily using […]
2022 Canadian Pre-Owned Markets Sales Trends report now available
December 7th, 2023
The latest sales trends report for the pre-owned market, part of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) 2022 Canadian Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, is now available for download. Following two years of historically high growth, pre-owned boat unit sales decreased by 20.4% as compared to 2021. The top three provinces for pre-owned recreational boat unit […]
MRAA, ABYC launch Service Management Certification program
December 6th, 2023
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) and the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) have announced the all-new Service Management Certification program, which they partnered to develop. The program includes an 11-course online training program with downloadable workbook, a printed study guide and a proctored exam. It was created under the guidance of […]
BoatUS/NWSA seek nominations for Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award
November 30th, 2023
The National Women’s Sailing Association (NWSA) and Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) are seeking nominations for the 2024 BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award. Since 1999, the national award has sought to recognize an individual with a record of achievement in inspiring, educating and enriching the lives of women through sailing. Past […]
METSTRADE reports record attendance for 2023
November 29th, 2023
METSTRADE 2023 wrapped at RAI Amsterdam on Nov. 17 with record attendance across the three-day show. The show presented 1,540 exhibitors, 240 of them new to the show, from 53 countries across 11 halls at RAI Amsterdam. Busy stands, features and corridors hosted 28,900 visits from 18,630 unique visitors spanning 130 nationalities. The METSTRADE show […]