News

Genmar Holdings Inc. Chairman Irwin Jacobs believes pushing the start of the model year back to the fall would do more to expand interest in boating than efforts such as a national advertising campaign cooperatively financed by boat builders or some other segment of the industry (see related article on page 26). Genmar is the boating industry’s volume leader with ...

Should individual West Marine Inc. stores get bigger or smaller? The aftermarket accessories retailer wants to have it both ways. It opened a new “Superstore” in Fort Lauderdale during June, and it plans to open a total of 15 smaller “Express” stores this year. The 28,000-square-foot Fort Lauderdale Superstore is West Marine’s second. Its first Superstore, a 30,000-square-foot facility, opened ...

Self-Supporting Boat Covers Taylor Made Products has introduced the new BoatGuard self-supporting technology boat covers to expedite rainwater runoff, eliminating puddles. The covers, made of 100-percent marine grade pigment coated polyester, incorporate a design with flexible support poles integrated into the fabric to help retain a firm convex surface. The covers are fully supported over the entire length of the ...

Busy aisles meant smiles on the faces of most exhibitors at the third-annual Marine Aftermarket Accessories Show (MAATS), held July 9-11 at the Las Vegas Hilton. The event has continued to grow, with attendance up 18 percent over last year to about 2,150 people, buyer-supplier meetings up from 1,050 to 1,600, and a sold-out show floor that consisted of 443 ...

If Skip Braver has his way, there will be as many people wearing Cigarette Racing t-shirts as wear Harley Davidson t-shirts in a few years. But that’s doesn’t mean Cigarette is taking its boats to the masses. “A lot of the people that wear Harley Davidson t-shirts don’t own Harleys,” he explains. Braver, president and CEO of the power boat ...

Financial losses expanded at dealership chain Travis Boats & Motors Inc. early this year, but company executives believe its newly appointed chairman has the right plan for restoring its profitability. Travis, which now operates 34 dealership locations mostly in Gulf Coast states, lost $1.7 million during the second quarter of its fiscal year 2003, which ended on March 31. That ...

If you’re a boater who likes to spend the winter holidays in New York City, you’re in luck this year. You can celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, see a Broadway show, buy a new yacht at the New York Boat Show and then celebrate the New Year in Times Square. However, if you’re a New York show exhibitor, you may not ...

The “short list of finalists” in the competition to buy the Bombardier Recreational Products Division was expected to be compiled by “early June” and the winner might be announced as soon as “mid-summer,” according to Roch Lambert, vice president and general manager of the Canadian company’s Boats and Outboard Engines Division. Once the winning bidder is announced, most likely, it ...

Marinco 50-Amp Cordset Marinco Recreation Group has introduced what it calls several key improvements into its newly released 50-amp Cordset. Integrating all-vinyl molded plugs and connector ends for watertight connections and ergonomically designed handgrips for ease of use both contribute to making the Cordset more reliable, durable, and easier to use, according too Marinco. Offered in 50A/125V or 50A/250V configurations, ...