Features

The newest and most innovative products across the recreational boating industry for 2022 Celebrating its ninth year, the Boating Industry Top Products program continues to bring you 50 of the marine industry’s newest and most innovative products and services to recently hit the market, ranging from boat models to building components and everything in between. In order to be eligible ...

By Jamie Stafford It seems that this has been the decade of novel challenges. Supply chain shortages continue to plague the global economy as we all grow weary of new strains of Covid-19. Unfortunately, supply chain issues are not the only shortages on hand. The marine industry is no stranger to workforce insufficiency, but now more than ever, this critical ...

By Adam Quandt Once looked at as simple, slow lake cruisers or all-out party barges, pontoons have increased in popularity and versatility since their entrance into the market in the 1950s, and the pontoons of tomorrow show no signs of slowing those trends. “I would say Godfrey – having been one of the first builders to launch an aluminum pontoon ...

By Adam Quandt A conversation with the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s president Dave Chanda and senior vice president of marketing and communications Stephanie West Vatalaro. During this year’s Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, Boating Industry had the opportunity to sit down with president Dave Chanda and senior vice president, marketing and communications Stephanie West Vatalaro from the Recreational ...

By Wanda Kenton Smith During a summer college stint 25 years ago, Randall Lyons unwittingly launched his marine industry career as a head cleaner at the Nantucket Boat Basin, one of the most famous marinas in the world. He returned to work the next two seasons and was promoted to “head cleaner supervisor,” where he was actively engaged in managing ...

Boating Industry is now accepting nominations for its 2022 Women Making Waves industry recognition program. The nomination process will close on May 18, 2022. The 2022 Women Making Waves will be featured in the June/July issue of Boating Industry, as well as honored at the Boating Industry ELEVATE SUMMIT, November 14-16, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Women Making Waves is Boating Industry’s ...

As Boating Industry’s annual recognition program of strong young leaders in the marine industry moves into its sixth year, it continues to shine a spotlight on a unique group of individuals leading the pack. Selected from just under 200 nominations from across the industry, this year’s group features young professionals blazing trails of success from all segments of the marine ...

By Jamie Stafford For the last two years, the American Boating Congress (ABC) has looked a little different, playing out over the virtual space created by zoom windows and shared screens. Now, May 11-13, 2022, it returns to the familiarity of an in-person event – with a few new changes. The American Boating Congress is the premier advocacy summit for ...

By Wanda Kenton Smith In 2001, Kim Sweers was at the top of her game as vice president of a data company that built large global networks. When the dot.com bubble burst, however, she shifted gears and launched a new career heading operations at FB Marine Group in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which was owned by her boyfriend, Randy Sweers. Having ...

By David Gee Do you make – and sell – boats, or family memory-making machines? Are you focused on turning glass into cash, or do you see your role as something loftier, such as playing a part in improving people’s mental health, or reducing stress in demonstrable ways? When I was at the recent Miami International Boat Show I ran ...