Tag Archives: COVID-19 and boating

The NMMA says current inventory levels are still tracking 20%-60% below normal for the domestic recreational boating industry. 2020 was both a historic year for retail boat sales and a disruptive year for boat builders working to meet the heightened demand and replenish record low inventories amid challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to NMMA’s latest Monthly Shipment Report, wholesale shipments of new ...

By Bill Yeargin Dear President Biden, You have a tough job and get a lot of advice. I hope you don’t mind me sharing some thoughts: COVID-19 – I know this is your Administration’s top priority, but I want to encourage you to do all you can to get the vaccines distributed. We are all ready to get back to ...

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), representing North American recreational boat, engine, and marine accessory manufacturers, announced today significant modifications to its boat and sport show schedule in the first quarter of 2021. Following a thorough market-by-market analysis regarding the feasibility of producing safe and successful winter events, NMMA is canceling nine shows in the first quarter of 2021 and planning to ...

Last week, a dozen U.S. Senators sent a letter to the chamber’s leadership urging them to include support for outdoor recreation and public land infrastructure jobs in the next COVID-19 relief package, drawing praise from NMMA. In the letter, the Senators note that more investment is needed in order to bring back jobs lost as outdoor recreation has decreased during the COVID-19 ...

As COVID-19 gripped the country and world in the first half of 2020, the U.S. Congress hit pause on most of its previously scheduled work to focus almost entirely on the global pandemic. Now, with stay-at-home orders continuing to be lifted and sectors of the economy resuming operations, lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are shifting some of their attention to measures ...

As states across the country continue to reopen their economies, many states have outlined phased plans for businesses to protect the health of workers and citizens. In response, NMMA is releasing a new state tracking document, which serves as a quick guide to these reopening plans, benchmarks and task forces. This new resource will be updated regularly and will include ...

By David Gee A colleague who works as the editor at a sister publication recently went boat shopping to replace an aging pontoon at the family lake cabin. Since we are all hungry for news about “what it’s like out there” I thought I would share some of the anecdotes from his experience at the first dealer he went to. ...

NMMA has created a new resource to help the recreational boating industry implement proper social distancing, health and safety measures in manufacturing facilities. According to NMMA, marine manufacturing plants possess the unique capability to restructure their floor plans in order to reduce potential COVID-19 exposures. As states allow for manufacturing operations to return, NMMA believes these key safety measures will ...

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont recently announced marinas, boatyards and marine manufacturers will be allowed to open for personal use as long as strict social distancing and sanitization protocols are followed. Chartered watercraft services or rentals will not be allowed, and restaurant activity at these sites must be limited ...

By Bill Yeargin These are extremely stressful times for business leaders. We are all wondering what we should be doing during this period of uncertainty. There is no playbook to read; we are writing it. With the many challenges leaders are currently experiencing, it may seem too early to be thinking about reopening your closed (or soon to be closed ...