Weekly 5: Twin Vee Catamarans gets new owner

The BI Weekly 5 is a collection of tips, news and data affecting the boating industry this week. Be sure to look for the BI Weekly 5 every Tuesday on BoatingIndustry.com.

1. Twin Vee Catamarans gets new owner

ValueRich, a Florida-based investment firm, will be investing in Twin Vee Catamarans and assume management positions at the boat builder, with the eventual plan of taking full ownership, the company announced.

Twin Vee was founded in 1994, and the new investment will allow the builder to increase its dealer network and distribution, the company said.

2. Flagler Beach reaches agreement in Sea Ray rezoning dispute

The city of Flagler Beach, Fla., has agreed to drop its challenge to Sea Ray’s plans to add a parking lot to its Flagler County facility, The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported.

The city had appealed the decision by the county to rezone the land allowing for the Sea Ray expansion. City residents had been concerned about increased emissions from the facility, which is not located in the city but is adjacent to it.

Sea Ray officials said they have no plans to expand operations at the location, but need to expand the parking lot for its current employees.

3. Yelp review costs woman $1,000

A Staten Island woman who left a negative review for a home improvement contractor has been ordered by a judge to pay $1,000, Remodeling magazine reported.

The comments crossed the line from free speech to libel, the judge ruled.

4. Florida lawmakers consider boating age restrictions

Officials in Florida are considering boating age limits and other new rules in reaction to the disappearance and presumed death of two teenagers this summer, the Sun Sentinel reported.

Lawmakers are looking at several options including age restrictions, tougher boating under the influence laws and increased education requirements, the paper said.

5. Consumer sentiment drops in September

Consumers are feeling less optimistic than they were in August, but better than they did a year ago, according to the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index.

The index dropped from 91.9 in August to 87.2 in September. That’s still more than 2 points ahead of last September’s 84.6