Smoker Craft, Inc. announced today that it has sold its in-house marine furniture manufacturing operation to Elkhart, Ind.-based Lippert Components, Inc. The agreement includes a long-term, non-exclusive supply agreement that will see LCI provide Smoker Craft with upholstery and seating products. It is anticipated that the furniture business will continue to operate from its current location at Smoker Craft’s New ...

The Marine Retailers Association participation at the 2018 Nautique Boats Sales Training in Orlando, Fla., continued to attract new dealers into the Marine Industry Certified Dealership program. Today, there are nearly 50 percent of Nautique’s dealers enrolled in Certification.  “We understand the importance of investing in tools that will foster growth and development across our dealer networks,” said Nautique Boats ...

Cobalt Boats marked another strong year with a two-day event that celebrated its dealer network at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center near Dallas in Grapevine, Texas. The mid-October event also provided a showcase for dealers to test-drive boats at the nearby Silver Lake Marina and preview the new 2019 Model A36BR. Dealer Meeting Highlights The general meeting gave ...

Two of Boating Industry’s most popular and well-read editorial features will return early in 2019. Our editorial staff is now accepting nominations for our 40 Under 40 cover story and Women Making Waves special section that will publish in the March/April print and online issues of Boating Industry. Please note that this is a change in schedule from previous years ...

Preliminary data for September 2018 released by the National Marine Manufacturers Association shows registrations for new powerboats were up 4.6 percent on a rolling 12-month year-over-year basis (R12M YOY).  This new data has been updated and is currently reflected in NMMA’s New Powerboat Registrations Report. Tow boats led growth (up 10.1 percent), followed by pontoon boats and personal watercraft (both up ...

Brittany Hizer has been named president of Crestliner Boats, reporting to Dirk Hyde, president of Brunswick’s Aluminum Fish Group. Otesgo, Minn.-based Crestliner is one of 14 brands which comprise the Boat Group of Brunswick Corp. Hizer most recently served as global director for Life Fitness Digital Ventures, which is also associated with Brunswick Corp. She was responsible for championing the ...

JL Audio recently announced it has entered into a contract with Seawide Distribution as its sole distributor for Clarion Marine audio products in the United States for the 2019 calendar year. This news builds on JL Audio’s recent announcement of entering into an exclusive, long-term agreement to license the Clarion brand and oversee marketing and sales of its line of ...

Barletta Pontoon Boats, located in Bristol, Ind., and Irwin Marine, with multiple locations in New Hampshire, will work together to bring the dream of boat ownership to people in the upper northeast corner of the United States. Irwin Marine, one of New Hampshire’s most respected names in boating, is a third generation, family owned and operated marine business. Founded in ...

Universal Products, Inc. was recently honored as the recipient of a 2018 “Supplier of the Year” Award from Nautique Boats. This year marks the first year for Nautique to formally recognize and award supplier performance. UPI, which is based in Goddard, Kan., excelled in evaluation totals in several areas, including quality, service, lead-time delivery, cost and product development. “We are ...

The National Marine Manufacturers Association Last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its final draft plan on preventing aquatic invasive species (AIS), including Asian carp, from reaching Lake Michigan. Throughout the report’s development, the National Marine Manufacturers Association and its coalition partners worked closely with the Corps to ensure the study and proposed solutions addressed the recreational boating ...