Tag Archives: February 2016

In order to effectively sell the boating lifestyle, marinas are increasingly turning their facilities into a hub of activity. The marina of today has evolved from a mere launch point to an all-day destination. We spoke with top marinas to discuss what areas of their business held the most potential for driving traffic and sales, and we created a roadmap ...

Pontoon boats drove the boating industry’s rebound in the wake of the downturn. But are they still leading the way? Since the 2008 economic downturn, pontoon boats have led the recovery of the recreational boating industry. At one point accounting for almost one in three new boats sold, the pontoon market has demonstrated unprecedented growth, with new players jumping into the ...

Economic rebound good for industry, but stronger U.S. dollar making exporting more difficult Nowhere has the rebirth of the U.S. economy been more evident than in the recreational boating industry. Once quiet factories now hum with activity as manufacturers churn out exciting new products. Dealer lots no longer house significant volumes of non-current inventory, and the noise level at winter ...

With unlimited moving parts, people and boats, running a successful service department can be a bit like playing Tetris. Find that right fit or everything starts stacking up; one mistake builds on another and the next thing you know you’ve got a disaster on your hands. (For all you Millennials out there, Tetris is how we used to pretend to ...

Outboard power to lead the way Boating Industry readers are optimistic about many market segments for 2016, but expect growth in outboards to dwarf any other category. That’s according to the latest Boating Industry survey, which polled readers of our print and digital editions in December about their outlook for 2016. Respondents include a roughly even mix of dealers, manufacturers, ...

The Boating Industry Top 100 dealers represent some of the best boat dealers in North America. In the Top 100 Spotlight, we share some of their best practices.  It furthers the mission of the Top 100 program: to not only recognize the best dealers, but to share their knowledge and experience with the entire industry. The best companies realize that ...

Late in 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency issued its latest ruling on how much ethanol must be blended into the nation’s fuel supply, finalizing the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume obligations. The decision was a mixed bag of sorts for the boating industry, as the levels were not set as high as mandated in the original ...

If you’re going to build something, it should be built to last. This has always been the approach for companies that design marinas. Marina development options that are long lasting with lower maintenance and sensitivity to the environment continue to drive innovation in the segment, which is of particular importance as recent storms like Hurricane Sandy have left a lasting ...

Every year, the Boating Industry Top 100 recognizes the best boat dealers in North America. And every year hundreds of companies start the application process, only to run out of time as business picks up in the spring with more sales, launches and more. We have a great group of companies on the Top 100 every year, and we’re proud ...