Weekly 5: New England Boat Show attendance down from record 2016
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 week on BoatingIndustry.com.
1. New England Boat Show attendance down from record 2016
A reported 46,461 people attended this year’s New England Boat Show, down 8 percent from the record 2016 attendance of 50,706, NMMA reported.
Show organizers said heavy snow during the first four days of the show hurt attendance, but that the final two days of the show, which ended February 19, had record attendance. This year’s attendance was also higher than the three-year average of 44,611, NMMA said.
2. MarineMax stock hits 52-week high
MarineMax’s strong results continue to impress investors, with stock price hitting a 52-week high of $23.50 last week, it’s highest level since June 2015. The company’s stock closed at $22.80 Monday.
3. Antiques dealer to sell historic Donald Campbell papers
A British antiques dealer will sell papers he discovered related to Donald Campbell’s efforts to break land and water speed records.
Campbell, who set eight land and water speed records, died in 1967 while attempting to set a new water speed record in his boat, Bluebird. Paul Drewett of Hemswell Antique Centres discovered the papers when he bought a 7-foot model boat, a red concept version of Bluebird, at a London auction several years ago.
4. Arizona to raise some boating fees
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is proposing fee increases for some of its boating registration services, the Havasu News-Herald reported.
According to the paper, watercraft transfer fees will increase from $4 to $13, duplicate registration fees will increase from $2 to $8 and registration for watercraft dealers will increase from $2.50 to $20. Abandoned and unreleased watercraft applications (for which there had been no fee) will now cost $100.
5. NMMA supports Wisconsin-Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary
The NMMA recently submitted comments supporting the proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary, the association says.
The proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary will protect the region’s maritime history and 37 known shipwrecks that are within the proposed area. NMMA said it believes that this marine sanctuary will foster recreational boating and tourism for the area.
