NMMA awards record number of CSI honors

CHICAGO – A record number of boatbuilders and engine manufacturers have received 2007 Marine Industry CSI Awards from the National Marine Manufacturers Association, NMMA reported in a release yesterday.

A total of 64 boat and engine manufacturers—a new record-high—were recognized for excellence in customer satisfaction, as part of NMMA’s Customer Satisfaction Index program.

“Recipients of the 2007 CSI Award have worked hard to monitor and react to the ever-changing needs of their customers,” said Thom Dammrich, NMMA president. “The manufacturers recognized today are truly leading this industry in terms of meeting its customers’ expectations and improving the overall boating experience.”

The following companies were honored this past year for their efforts to increase customer satisfaction levels in the boating industry:

ALBEMARLE BOATS
Inboard Fishing Express Boats

AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP.
Outboard Engines

BENETEAU USA
Sailboats

BENNINGTON MARINE
Pontoon Boats

BOSTON WHALER
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

CABO YACHTS
Inboard Flybridge Sedans & Convertible Boats

CAMPION MARINE INC.
Sterndrive Bowrider Boats

CARVER YACHTS
Inboard Motor Yachts & Trawlers

CENTURY BOATS
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

CHAMPION BOATS
Fiberglass Bass Boats

CHRIS-CRAFT
Sterndrive Bowrider Boats
Sterndrive Cuddy Express Boats

COBALT BOATS
Sterndrive Bowrider Boats
Sterndrive Cuddy Express Boats

COBIA BOATS
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

CORRECT CRAFT
Inboard Watersport Boats

CRUISERS YACHTS
Inboard Express Cruiser Boats
Inboard Motoryachts & Trawlers
Sterndrive Cuddy Express Boats

EBBTIDE BOATS
Deck Boats
Sterndrive Bowrider Boats

EDGEWATER BOATS
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

FISHER BOATS
Aluminum Outboard Boats

FOUR WINNS
Deck Boats
Inboard Express Cruiser Boats
Sterndrive Bowrider Boats
Sterndrive Cuddy Express Boats

G3 BOATS
Aluminum Outboard Boats

GLACIER BAY BOATS
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

GLASTRON
Deck Boats
Fiberglass Outboard Boats
Sterndrive Bowrider Boats

GRADY-WHITE BOATS INC.
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

GRAND BANKS
Inboard Express Cruiser Boats

HARBERCRAFT BOATS
Aluminum Outboard Boats

HARRIS FLOTEBOTE
Pontoon Boats

HONDA MARINE
Outboard Engines

HURRICANE
Deck Boats

HYDRA-SPORT
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

INDMAR PRODUCTS
Inboard Engines

ISLAND PACKET YACHTS
Sailboats

KAYOT
Deck Boats

LARSON
Sterndrive Bowrider Boats
Sterndrive Cuddy Express Boats

MANITOU PONTOON BOATS
Pontoon Boats

MASTERCRAFT
Inboard Watersport Boats

MAVERICK BOATS
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

MCKEE CRAFT BOATS
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

MOOMBA BOATS
Inboard Watersport Boats

PALM BEACH MARINECRAFT
Pontoon Boats

PARTI KRAFT
Pontoon Boats

PATHFINDER
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

PRO-LINE BOATS INC.
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

PURSUIT BOATS
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

RAMPAGE SPORT FISHING YACHTS
Inboard Fishing Express Boats

REGAL MARINE
Deck Boats
Sterndrive Bowrider Boats
Sterndrive Cuddy Express Boats

REGULATOR MARINE
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

SAILFISH BOATS
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

SEA RAY BOATS
Deck Boats
Fiberglass Outboard Boats
Inboard Express Cruiser Boats
Inboard Flybridge Sedans & Convertible Boats
Sterndrive Bowrider Boats
Sterndrive Cuddy Express Boats

SEASWIRL BOATS
Sterndrive Bowrider Boats
Sterndrive Cuddy Express Boats

SEDONA MARINE
Pontoon Boats

SKEETER PRODUCTS INC.
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

STARCRAFT MARINE
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

STINGRAY BOATS
Sterndrive Bowrider Boats

STRATOS BOATS
Fiberglass Bass Boats

SUPRA BOATS
Inboard Watersport Boats

SWEETWATER
Pontoon Boats

SWEETWATER TUSCANY
Pontoon Boats

TIARA YACHTS
Inboard Express Cruiser Boats
Inboard Fishing Express Boats

TIGE BOATS
Inboard Watersport Boats

TRIUMPH BOATS
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

VOLVO PENTA OF THE AMERICAS
Sterndrive Engines

WELLCRAFT MARINE
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

WORLD CAT
Fiberglass Outboard Boats

YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION USA
Outboard Engines

Award recipients will be formally acknowledged during the annual Industry Awards Breakfast at the 2007 International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference, taking place Oct. 10-12 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

The Marine Industry CSI Awards program honors participating companies actively measuring customer satisfaction to pursue continuous improvement. Award recipients achieved and maintained an independently-measured standard of excellence of 90 percent or higher in customer satisfaction over the past year, based on information provided by consumers purchasing a new boat or engine during the period between April 2006 and March 2007. Participating manufacturers must survey all new boat buyers during this period. To allow low volume manufacturers the opportunity to participate in the awards program, a minimum of 25 consumer responses are required to quality.

“It’s exciting to know more than 70,000 boat buyers took time this past year to share their thoughts regarding satisfaction with the boats and engines they purchased,” says Terry Leitz, NMMA director of CSI Programs. “No other program in the marine industry compares in terms of the depth of consumer input and richness of feedback provided.”

• For more of the latest news, click here.