“The best defense is a good offense” is an adage that has been applied to many fields of endeavor.  Generally, the idea is that proactivity instead of a passive attitude will preoccupy the opposition and ultimately hinder its ability to mount an opposing counterattack. Some martial arts emphasize attack over defense. Wing Chun, for example, is a style of kung ...

Three women in the marine industry were recently honored with STEP Ahead Awards. The STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead initiative began in 2012 to celebrate women in the manufacturing industry who are making a difference through advocacy, mentorship, engagement, promotion, and leadership. The STEP Ahead Awards highlight the achievements of real women in manufacturing on a national stage. ...

Representatives from Apprenticeship Minnesota at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry recently helped a suburban Twin Cities dealer design a new outboard motor technician program that will train six new engine apprentices. The new program for outboard technicians at Bloomington-based Dan’s Southside Marine was announced March 23 prior to the start of the Progressive Insurance Northwest Sportshow, at the ...

Boat sales grew by almost 4 percent in February, according to the most recent Info-Link Bellwether report. The Bellwether report tracks sales of powerboats across the country based on new U.S. boat registrations on a rolling 12-month basis. Bellwether states are geographically dispersed states representing roughly half of the U.S. boat market (varies by market segment and time of year). ...

Sometimes when one door closes, another one opens. And so it is with Jerry Barron, son of now deceased southern California boat building icon, Nick Barron of Hallett Boats. After more than four decades in the boating industry, Jerry Barron has taken the leap into boat manufacturing for himself under the banner, Barron Boats. “I’ve spent the entirety of my ...

Fifth annual survey explores tactics for 2018 Digital marketing continues the preferred platform for most companies in the boating industry. For the fifth year in a row, we surveyed the readers of our print and digital products about how they market their businesses. We surveyed dealers, service providers, manufacturers, and others in January about how they marketed in 2017 and ...

From humble beginnings in 1995 selling boats in a vacant lot on the side of Highway 280 in Alabama, multi Top 100 award-winning Skier’s Marine has blazed a trail to four locations in two states, with a fifth location under construction in a third state. Skier’s Marine headquarters sits just off of Highway 280 in Sterrett, Ala. and covers three ...

As the Beach Boys predicted in 1963, everybody’s gone surfin’. But not at the beach – today’s surfers are mostly found playing behind boats. With affordable surf boats and high-end tow boats appealing to a wider range of buyers than ever, the watersports category has never been stronger. Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys must be feeling more than a ...

Technological advances offer new levels of electric power With a growing spotlight on the environment, and the rapidly changing world of technology, electric power and propulsion are not taken as lightly as they once were in the marine industry.  Through the constant push on technology’s limits, electric motors are no longer simply small motors only capable of reaching unflattering speeds ...

Engine manufactures provide update on market segment Repowering represents a growing and evolving market segment. Eventually, in terms of operating hours, a simple engine tune-up will no longer restore lost power. That’s when the serious repowering discussions often begin. Repowering decisions are based on many factors, including cost, horsepower needs, fuel efficiency, emissions and more.  For many boat owners, repowering ...