The sailing industry in the limelight this week
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America NMMA's latest Monthly Recreational Boating Industry Data Summary showed retail and wholesale activity remained under pressure as elevated interest rates and cautious consumer sentiment continued to influence purchasing behavior.
Posted on 18 Feb Cautious optimism from marine industry leaders
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America The National Marine Manufacturers Association's Q4 Marine Leadership Barometer, fielded in December 2025, shows executive sentiment strengthened among marine manufacturer members in the U.S. and Canada.
Posted on 11 Feb The early boat show scene reports strong sales
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America The Discover Boating New York Boat Show, in partnership with Progressive, and the Discover Boating Minneapolis Boat Show, in partnership with Progressive, took place last weekend amid challenging external conditions.
Posted on 4 Feb The award season is in full swing
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America The NMMA and Boating Writers International (BWI) announced the winners of the 2026 Minneapolis Innovation Awards, recognizing groundbreaking new consumer marine products, during the Discover Boating Minneapolis Boat Show.
Posted on 28 Jan A Splash of Colour at boot Düsseldorf 2026
by Mark Jardine
I was very much looking for things which brighten up a cold and wet January At boot this year I was very much looking for things which brighten up a cold and wet January.
Posted on 27 Jan Atlanta and New England kick off the Boat Shows
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America The Discover Boating Atlanta and New England boat shows, in partnership with Progressive, kicked off the New Year attracting tens of thousands of buyers and boating enthusiasts shopping for new boats, accessories and the latest marine innovations.
Posted on 21 Jan Industry stats reflect economic financial pressure
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America NMMA's latest Monthly Recreational Boating Industry Data Summary, covering data through October 2025, showed economic pressures persisted as elevated borrowing costs and mixed household outlooks continued to influence marine market activity.
Posted on 14 Jan The industry looks at the past and what lies ahead
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America NMMA has released its fiscal year 2025 Year in Review, outlining the Association's impact across advocacy, Discover Boating initiatives, industry data and insights, certification, and membership engagement.
Posted on 7 Jan Consumer confidence continues to decline
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America U.S. consumer confidence weakened for a fifth consecutive month in December, reflecting growing unease about business conditions, jobs and household income, according to the latest report from The Conference Board.
Posted on 1 Jan Mixed 2026 signals according to industry analysis
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America NMMA's latest Monthly Recreational Boating Industry Data Summary, covering data through September 2025, shows economic pressures persisted as elevated borrowing costs and mixed household outlooks continued to influence marine market activity.
Posted on 17 Dec 2025 Sailing takes center stage this week
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America Sail America's Industry Conference registration is now open! Sign up for the 12th edition of SAIC. The two-day event, specifically geared toward sailing industry professionals, will take place at the Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina, RI on March 25-26.
Posted on 10 Dec 2025 Cautious optimism reflects industry sentiment
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America As the recreational boating industry enters the final quarter of 2025, NMMA's Q3 Marine Leadership Barometer shows slightly improved sentiment among top executives from NMMA marine manufacturer members in the U.S. and Canada.
Posted on 3 Dec 2025 Metstrade welcomes 1000s of industry professionals
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America Metstrade (18-20 November) closed last week after welcoming thousands of leading leisure marine professionals from across the world to the biggest edition of the show to date.
Posted on 26 Nov 2025 Recreational fishing also feels effect of tariffs
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America The White House published separate "Joint Statements on Frameworks for Agreements on Reciprocal Trade" on November 13, with Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Each outlines the key elements of the different Frameworks.
Posted on 19 Nov 2025 Support for Sportsfishing Equipment Exporter
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) provides critical support to U.S. sportfishing equipment manufacturers, and to a lesser extent, benefit American fishing companies utilizing a global supply chain.
Posted on 12 Nov 2025 Reduction in Federal Funds rate
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America As expected, the Fed cut its target for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points this week, a welcomed move for the recreational boating industry. The reduction will modestly lower financing costs.
Posted on 5 Nov 2025 Politics still influencing the marine industry
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America The U.S. government shutdown, now in its fourth week, is beginning to strain the economy as economists warn that the longer it continues, the more lasting the effects could be.
Posted on 29 Oct 2025 State of industry address from NMMA CEO
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America Last week at the International BoatBuilders' Exhibition & Conference in Tampa, NMMA President and CEO Frank Hugelmeyer opened the Industry Breakfast with a state of the industry address to a sold-out crowd of more than 950 marine industry professionals.
Posted on 22 Oct 2025 A Day at the Allen Factory!
by Mark Jardine
New and innovative products, cutting-edge manufacturing techniques The Allen factory, based in Southminster, Essex in the UK, makes many of the deck hardware and fittings that we use in our sailing, be that on dinghies or keelboats.
Posted on 16 Oct 2025 A diverse list of industry news items this week
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America The U.S. Department of Commerce this week posted the list of Section 232 inclusion requests submitted by domestic producers. The requestors are asking the Department to subject approximately 700 HTS Codes as derivative articles of steel and aluminum.
Posted on 15 Oct 2025 Tariffs continue to affect the industry
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America President Trump issued new Section 232 tariffs on imports of timber, lumber and other wood products. The Department of Commerce has announced new Section 232 investigations into several different imports that could affect marine manufacturers.
Posted on 8 Oct 2025 Industry announcements across the board
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America Intrepid Powerboats has announced the addition of Wally Castro Marine as its newest authorized dealer, representing Intrepid across Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Posted on 1 Oct 2025 Industry reps underscore national boating reach
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America On September 18, members of Congress, staff, and policy leaders gathered for an exclusive briefing hosted by the Congressional Boating Caucus, which offered a deep dive into the impact and priorities of the recreational marine industry.
Posted on 24 Sep 2025 Economic environment affecting U.S. boat sales
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America NMMA's latest Monthly Recreational Boating Industry Data Summary, covering data through June 2025, shows continued pressure on retail sales as economic uncertainty and elevated borrowing costs weigh on consumer demand.
Posted on 17 Sep 2025 NMMA Industry reports now available for download
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America The latest report on cruiser, water sport, fishing boat and trailer sales trends, part of NMMA's 2024 U.S. Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, is now available for member download.
Posted on 10 Sep 2025 Metstrade to accommodate over 1600 exhibitors
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America Visitor registration is now open for Metstrade (18-20 November), the most influential event in the leisure marine industry, and will be the biggest show to date, with expanded halls, enhanced zones, and over 1,600 exhibitors.
Posted on 3 Sep 2025 IBEX announces 2025 Education Conference line-up
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America The International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) has announced its 2025 Education Conference line-up, featuring an expanded schedule of seminars, workshops, and Main Stage sessions for marine industry professionals.
Posted on 27 Aug 2025 Marine Industry headwinds continue for now
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America U.S. inflation picked up in July, with the Consumer Price Index rising to 2.7% year-over-year, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, climbed 3.1%.
Posted on 20 Aug 2025 Fishing takes center stage this week
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America The post-pandemic surge of participation in fishing continues to get record numbers of participants on the water, but data from the RBFF's 2025 Special Report on Fishing finds churn continues to pose a significant challenge.
Posted on 13 Aug 2025 Marine industry production index stats released
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America NMMA, in partnership with ITR Economics, has released the latest update to the U.S. Boat-Building Production Index, offering a refined outlook on the trajectory of boat production through 2027.
Posted on 6 Aug 2025 Trade agreement reached between the USA and Europe
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America In a significant development for American marine manufacturers, the United States and the European Union have reached a trade agreement that spares U.S.-made recreational boats and marine engines from a new round of retaliatory tariffs.
Posted on 30 Jul 2025 Move to introduce a market expansion strategy
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America In a pivotal move to confront declining new boat sales and unify the recreational marine industry around a shared growth strategy, the NMMA and the MRAA have launched the Market Expansion Advisory Group.
Posted on 23 Jul 2025 Tariff news still taking the headlines
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America Last Week, President Trump announced additional plans to impose new tariff rates on imports from several countries, including Brazil and the Philippines.
Posted on 16 Jul 2025 Legislation passed supporting US industry growth
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America On Friday, President Trump signed what he referred to as "one big beautiful bill": legislation that preserves key provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act (TCJA). These provisions will continue to support growth.
Posted on 9 Jul 2025 Letter aims to reduce harm to U.S. Manufacturing
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America NMMA joined 29 leading industry associations in a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick advocating for revisions to the Department of Commerce's implementation of Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum and related derivative products.
Posted on 2 Jul 2025 Despite world politics industry remains resolute
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America As part of NMMA's continued advocacy efforts following the 2025 American Boating Congress (ABC), a group of NMMA leaders visited Capitol Hill last week to meet with Congressman Mike Collins (GA-10).
Posted on 25 Jun 2025 Major industry event updates in the USA and Europe
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America The International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference (IBEX), North America's premier technical trade event for the recreational marine industry announced today that registration for visitors is now open for this year's Show.
Posted on 18 Jun 2025 Maritimo M50 Flybridge & S60 Sedan Video
by Mark Jardine
We speak to Maritimo's Neil McCabe & Phil Candler We talked to Neil McCabe, Maritimo's Design Office Manager, and Phil Candler, Maritimo's General Manager Operations, to find out more about the M50 Flybridge and S60 Sedan during the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.
Posted on 17 Jun 2025 Room for industry optimism for the rest of 2025
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America Despite varying economic factors across all states, the latest data from NMMA's Monthly Recreational Boating Industry Data Summary report offers a tempered view of the recreational boating market.
Posted on 11 Jun 2025 More confusion as tariff decisions overruled
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America On May 30, President Donald Trump announced that Section 232 tariffs on imported steel and aluminum will double from 25% to 50%, effective Wednesday, June 4. The announcement was made during a speech at U.S. Steel's Mon Valley Works-Irvin Plant.
Posted on 4 Jun 2025 Event updates, new products and more
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America The 2025 American Boating Congress (ABC) concluded last week in the nation's capital, bringing together marine industry leaders and policymakers for high-level discussions on the future of recreational boating and marine manufacturing.
Posted on 28 May 2025 Trade war continues but progress being made
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America Following talks over the weekend in Geneva, Switzerland, the U.S. and China agreed to a 90-day pause on the ongoing trade war between both countries.
Posted on 14 May 2025 American Sportfishing Association urges action
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America ASA President Glenn Hughes sent a letter to Trump Administration expressing support for its efforts to address global trade imbalances and strengthen U.S. competitiveness, while urging swift action to provide greater certainty and relief for ASA members.
Posted on 7 May 2025 Tariff rates under further consideration
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America According to an April 23 Wall Street Journal report, President Trump is considering reducing the tariff rate on Chinese imports to 50-65%.
Posted on 30 Apr 2025 "Steady as she goes" is the industry message
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America As the recreational boating industry faces shifting economic tides, understanding the sentiments of its leaders has never been more critical.
Posted on 23 Apr 2025 Economic pressure affects boat sales
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America As economic headwinds continue to shape consumer sentiment, the latest Monthly Recreational Boating Industry Data Summary report analyzes January 2025 data, offering a look at trends and how 2025 kicked-off ahead of the tariff and trade tensions.
Posted on 16 Apr 2025 More news on tariff introduction dates
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America On April 2, President Trump announced a new set of trade actions, including a 10% baseline tariff on all imported goods, effective April 5. Additional tariffs, including some that range up to 34% on Chinese imports, for example, will take effect April 9.
Posted on 9 Apr 2025 Tariffs and technology the main subjects this week
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America President Trump has labelled April 2nd as "Liberation Day" - a day in which his administration is planning to impose a round of fresh tariffs particularly focused on easing trade imbalances with nations that export more goods to the U.S. than they import.
Posted on 2 Apr 2025 Steel and Aluminum tariff certification clarified
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America Last week, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued the required certification indicating that the appropriate systems are in place to account for steel and aluminum in derivative products.
Posted on 26 Mar 2025 Tariff legislation continues to make the headlines
by Peter Rendle
A summary of news relevant to marine businesses across North America Effective March 13 the Government of Canada has imposed 25 percent tariffs on $29.8 billion in products imported from the U.S. including fishing rods, hooks, nets, lines, and other tackle.
Posted on 20 Mar 2025