In This Issue

Boats, motors — and sales — continue to grow By David Gee There are lots of things you can do in, on, from and behind a boat; cruise, chill, eat, swim, surf, ski, and ride to name a few. The most popular one? It’s throwing out a line and a lure or some form of bait and reelin’ them in. ...

By Adam Quandt When it comes to fuels, at this point it’s clear that 15% ethanol (E15) is not going away. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Trump Administration have both pledged a commitment to the year-round sale of E15. With that, the marine industry continues to stress education as a form of defense toward misfuelling risks. “We ...

By David Gee I love this time of year. It’s my favorite in fact. The sweet spot of the boating season lies ahead, filled with endless possibilities and opportunities to make memories with friends and family and maybe even perfect strangers. As we all know, owning a boat is an easy way to make more friends! One of the greatest ...

By Adam Quandt Whether related by blood or not, Quality Boats is all about creating and maintaining a family within the four-location dealership. That family extends from all of its team members to its customers and everyone who falls in between. “We offer a family atmosphere,” said co-owner Dan Bair. “We are the longest-tenured family-owned and operated boat dealership in ...

By Matt Sellhorst There is a powerful tool available to boat dealers and OEMs today that could be a game changer for the serious adopters. It could also leave the slow to grasp left high and dry. That tool is artificial intelligence (AI) and it’s built-in free for your use in today’s digital marketing platforms. The technology revolution of big ...

By David Gee After joining Mercury Marine in 1998, Chris Drees has had a succession of roles and responsibilities, culminating in his recent promotion to president. Boating Industry’s David Gee recently had the chance to speak with Chris about his new job, career and love of the marine industry.  David: First of all Chris, congratulations on your ascension to president ...

By Jonathan Sweet Less than a quarter of small businesses make it to a second generation of ownership. Less than 10% survive beyond that. Why? In many cases, it’s because the owner or owners have made plans to make sure their business survives. According to a recent study from Wilmington Trust, 58% of businesses have no succession plan. Small businesses ...

By Adam Quandt Filling the workforce ranks has been an issue facing the recreational boating industry for quite some time and the problem is only growing larger. However, filling the open positions isn’t the only goal. The end goal is to fill those ranks with qualified employees who intend to stay in the industry. According to data from the National ...

Women Making Waves is Boating Industry’s effort to recognize the multitude of women in the industry who have made and continue to make great contributions to its success, propel its growth and lead their organizations and peers into the future. With over 100 nominations for this year’s Women Making Waves, choosing the highlighted women was no easy task. There is such ...

50 of the marine industry’s best new and innovative products For the sixth annual Boating Industry Top Products list, we’ve selected 50 of the best new or updated products and services for the marine industry, ranging from boats to engines to electronics and more.  To be eligible for consideration, products or services had to have been introduced or significantly updated ...