Features

By David Gee The 11th Annual Boating Industry Movers & Shakers awards recognize innovative leaders and trailblazers in the recreational boating industry who embrace the challenge of change. Their leadership has been especially critical during this extraordinary past year-and-a-half when it seems as if the only constant in our lives – and the industry – has been change. Our 2021 ...

By Adam Quandt Each year, Boating Industry’s Movers & Shakers program brings a stack of quality nominations to the editors’ desks. While we’ve already highlighted this year’s Mover & Shaker of the Year and finalists, there are certainly more industry leaders worthy of recognition for 2021. The six following industry members exemplify what it means to be a leader — ...

By David Gee When the staff at Boating Industry and parent company EPG Media sat down in 2019 to reimagine what a recreational boating industry conference could be, we really did start with a clean sheet of paper. What arose from those strategic planning sessions was ELEVATE SUMMIT; a place where top marine industry visionaries and emerging leaders convene over ...

By Adam Quandt With only a handful of exceptions, the past year has seen one postponement or cancellation after another when it comes to boat shows. However, with an explosion in boating popularity and the world slowly reopening, the recreational marine industry is gearing up to bring boat shows back in full force. But before we look to the future ...

By Wanda Kenton Smith Some might say it was fate that brought service expert Valerie Ziebron to carve out a career in the boating business nearly 20 years ago. Valerie had just finished teaching an automotive workshop as a service and parts trainer for her client Chrysler when a boating industry outsider stopped by and said he and his crew ...

By Adam Quandt On the heels of not only redefining its performance segment, but also launching new features across multiple platforms with its 2021 model year machines, Sea-Doo did everything but rest on its laurels barreling into MY 2022. “This year has been such a wild ride for Sea-Doo and that wave we’re riding hasn’t even crested yet,” Sea-Doo and ...

By David Gee and Adam Quandt Global pandemic. Do you remember when you first heard those words? When dealerships closed their doors and production lines shut down did memories of ’07 and ’08 come flooding back like a bad dream? Did you wonder where this was all headed? Well, we may still be wondering that today, but at least the ...

By Sarah Devlin Content Director, American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) Following up on “Workforce Development: What’s Available” (July issue of Boating Industry), we explore how the industry can support workforce development. This is the final in a three-part series, based on a survey this magazine conducted in the spring of 2021. Neil Collins was an auto mechanic in Maine ...

By Adam Quandt While running wooden sail boats in St. Barts in the early 2000s, late Siren Marine founder and visionary Dan Harper knew there had to be a way to ensure that his boats were in good condition while away from the docks. At the heart of Harper’s thinking was knowing that most major problems with boats start small ...

By Wanda Kenton Smith David Parker’s love for boating began in childhood while enjoying family recreational outings. He fondly recalls cruising up the St. Johns River from Sanford, Fla. aboard his dad’s trusty twin engine, wooden Chris-Craft cruiser, and dropping anchor for weekend camping adventures. He also remembers fun family excursions along the Kissimmee Boat-A-Cade, and annual boat treks via ...