NMMA boat shows to feature Women at the Helm days

CHICAGO – Discover Boating is hosting “Women at the Helm” days at the New York National Boat Show, San Diego Boat Show, Chicago Boat, RV & Outdoors Show, and the Miami International Boat Show in an effort to empower more women to become boaters, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) reported in a statement yesterday.

Each show will customize “Women at the Helm” days for their market by offering giveaways, discounts and special seminars for women, according to the show producer.

“Women at the Helm” participants will also have the opportunity to attend “Women Making Waves” classes sponsored by Genmar.

“Women Making Waves” is a Genmar marketing and education program designed to ease fears and encourage enjoyment of the water, according to NMMA. The boat show version is designed to acquaint women with the basics of boating. Groups will receive hands-on learning including trailering, at the helm introduction, knot tying and cleats, and boaters education, all taught by female instructors.

“Women are the decision makers and decision breakers when it comes to buying a boat. We want to provide them with information so they feel more comfortable with the boat buying purchase,” said Laurie Fried, director of public relations for NMMA.

Marcia Kull, senior vice president of operations, who is heading up the “Women Making Waves” initiative for Genmar, commented, “We believe this will result in more boat sales and happier, more active boating families always looking to move up into a new, larger boat.”

“Women at the Helm” days is part of a larger program that includes a “Women at the Helm” section on www.discoverboating.com, dedicated to supplying information for women by women with features such as “Ask the Boating Moms,” “Woman of the Month” and “Galley Gourmets.”

A “Women at the Helm” section is also planned for The Lighthouse, a Discover Boating e-newsletter that is distributed on a monthly basis to 40,000 subscribers, according to NMMA.

The “Women at the Helm” days will take place at the New York National Boat Show on Friday, January 2, San Diego Boat Show on Sunday, January 11, Chicago Boat, RV & Outdoors Show on Friday, January 23, and the Miami International Boat Show on Tuesday, February 17.

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