Tag Archives: COVID-19 and the recreational boating industry

By Bill Yeargin After three decades in the boating industry, it takes a lot for me to be surprised. Good times, bad times, and pretty much everything in between has happened, but the past 18 months have been unlike anything our industry has experienced. We shut down 90% of our industry’s manufacturing plants in the spring of 2020 while wrestling ...

2020 was a record-breaking year in Canada for outboard engine retail sales as Canadians took to the water in unprecedented numbers, according to data from the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Canada. Outboard engine retail sales in 2020 reached a total of 44,000 units, up 17% over 2019, marking both the highest annual sales volume and largest annual growth rate ...

The International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) has released the latest edition of its Recreational Boating Industry Statistics Book, now available at no charge to NMMA members. The annual ICOMIA Statistics Book provides a wealth of industry intelligence, including key data and analysis from the NMMA and other marine industry associations from around the globe. In this unprecedented year, in ...

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 ...

Regal Boats, an award-winning 50-year-old family-owned luxury boat and yacht manufacturer located in Orlando, is growing and looking to fill new positions as soon as possible​. According to HR Director Kristin Smith, “Like others within the marine industry, we are truly pleased to be in the position of hiring right now, especially given the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on ...

NMMA’s Q2 2020 Marine CEO Sentiment Report, a quarterly survey to assess the state and needs of U.S. recreational boat, engine and marine accessory manufacturing businesses, shows marine CEO sentiment has improved considerably since the onset of the pandemic. “Marine CEO sentiment was much more optimistic in Q2, returning to levels pre-pandemic, bolstered by record new boat sales this summer,” said ...

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 ...

The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) announced they are optimistic the 2020 show will open as planned on Tuesday, September 29, 2020. Show organizers report they are closely monitoring Florida’s Three Phases of Re-Opening Guidelines and the state’s progress, as well as working with the Tampa Convention Center and Visit Tampa Bay to develop health and safety protocols to ...

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed executive order 2020-59, extending her “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order through May 15. However, the new order also removes some restrictions on outdoor activities like motorized boating – a top priority of the recreational boating community. Leading up to the decision, NMMA worked with members of Michigan’s congressional delegation, along with state level officials to advocate ...