Features

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 ...

National Fishing and Boating Week, sponsored by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation is now underway, highlighting the importance of recreational boating and fishing. During National Fishing and Boating Week, most states offer free fishing days. These are days where anglers are allowed to fish on public bodies of water without a fishing license. Check out the upcoming free fishing ...

Boating Industry is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Movers & Shakers. The Movers & Shakers program recognizes leaders who haven’t been afraid to take chances, to rethink the way they do business, to embrace the challenges facing the marine industry head on. Nominees can be from and company, group or organization that does business in the boating industry, as ...

The U.S. marine industry is facing a 1-2-3 punch from worldwide tariffs on steel and aluminum, anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Chinese aluminum sheets and Section 301 tariffs on nearly 350 marine products. That was the main takeaway at the Trade State of Play: Tariffs, Negotiations & Off-Ramps breakout session at last week’s American Boating Congress. “The administration’s stance on ...

Each year over 140 million Americans take to the water on a boat. Making sure they get back to the dock safely is the idea behind National Safe Boating Week May 18 – 24. Boating safety advocates across the U.S., including the marine industry, work together with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to improve awareness of basic boating safety best ...

Brunswick Corporation announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Freedom Boat Club (FBC). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Freedom Boat Club, founded in 1989, is the largest boat club operator and the premier marine franchisor in the nation. FBC and its franchisees service over 20,000 members, providing them with access to a fleet of nearly ...

The Foundation for Recreational Boating Safety, Education and Environmental Awareness announced that Bill Yeargin, President and CEO of Correct Craft is the recipient of the 2019 Hammond Marine Industry Leadership Award for his extraordinary service and commitment to advocacy on behalf of the recreational boating industry. Bill will be honored at the American Boating Congress (ABC) in Washington, D.C. during ...