Blog

Carl Blackwell, Senior VP of National Marine Manufacturers Association Looking ahead, its important for our industry to be focused on getting a younger, more diversified audience to get on the water and experience boating. Manufacturers should be sure that their websites are inviting and facilitate easy exploration of new brands and models. Since smartphones are… Read More

Fixing a Ding If your propeller has a moon-shaped bend in the edge of one blade, you can make the propeller usable until you can send it out for recon with these easy steps. What you’ll need: Two adjustable wrenches (aka crescent wrenches) What to do: Align the jaws of one wrench on the edge… Read More

Azimut Yachts has just announced that it plans to release 14 new models in all five Azimut collections throughout the coming three-year period. They recently unveiled their new Azimut 66, part of the flybridge collection, at the Düsseldorf Boat Show. The worldwide launch of the Azimut 66 kicks off Azimut’s new model release, three-year plan…. Read More

In 2005, Congress passed legislation that required oil refiners to blend ethanol into gasoline, which has been a huge benefit to Iowa corn farmers in terms of significantly raising their economy and businesses. So, not surprisingly ethanol undoubtedly remained a hot topic in the February 1st, Iowa caucus. Senator Ted Cruz, one of the Republican… Read More

Southern California faced a rare windstorm just a few weeks ago in the last days of January, with winds at a steady 30 to 40 mph and gusts of over 60 mph. Although the storm lacked in rainfall, the winds caused a significant amount of damage. San Diego Bay, in particular, had at least a… Read More

Both Sabre and Sea Ray have debuted new boat models at the Yachts Miami Beach show over the week of February 11th. Sabre Yachts introduced its newest and largest Sabre motoryacht to date, The Sabre 66 Dirigo. Sabre designer Kevin Burns stated that the new 66’ yacht is “the highest expression of Sabre yet”. Sea… Read More

Concerns of high tides were voiced at last month’s International Marina and Boatyard Conference in southern Florida as boatyard and marina operators were warned to prepare for the impacts of sea level rise. With predictions that the recent “king tides” will be the new normal by the turn of the new century, high tides could… Read More

The NMMA has reported that outboard engine retail sales have risen 8.7 percent in 2015, placing sales at a post-recession high. An increasing demand for high-powered engines is seen through the 23.2 percent increase in the average horsepower since 2004. In the coming months, the 2015 U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract will be released by… Read More

Beginning June 1st, 2016, the new model year for boat builders commences and will last 14 months, ending in July of 2017. Compared to past years, this rollout begins two months earlier and will last two months longer. The National Marine Manufacturers Association believes that this extended model year will “allow boat manufacturers flexibility to… Read More

Looking at sales statistics, boat builders and dealers sold 15,477 more boats in 2015 than in the previous year, keeping the boating industry in its fourth consecutive year with increased sales. Full-year sales rose 6.8 percent to 244,116 boats industry-wide and includes data from all 50 states. Statistical Surveys sales director Ryan Kloppe forecasts a… Read More