Please select your home edition
Edition




National move to introduce a market expansion strategy - MarineBusinessWorld N America newsletter

by Peter Rendle 23 Jul 08:00 PDT
Boating © National Marine Manufacturers Association

In a pivotal move to confront declining new boat sales and unify the recreational marine industry around a shared growth strategy, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) have launched the Market Expansion Advisory Group.

Hand-picked for their deep marketing expertise across OEMs and dealerships and with an NMMA board liaison, the Advisory Group will answer two critical questions: 1) How should we define success for Discover Boating? 2) How do we achieve that success?

On July 1, Senate Bill 1162 officially took effect after being signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in late May. This landmark legislation marks the first proactive state infrastructure expansion bill drafted and led by the NMMA, representing a major step forward in improving public boating access throughout Florida.

The National Marine Representatives Association (NMRA) has awarded three scholarships of $1,000 each to students pursuing education in the marine trades beginning this fall. NMRA has actively contributed to the future of the marine industry by awarding marine trades education scholarships annually since 2008. The recipients attend the Marine Trades Institute (formerly the Great Lakes Boat Building School) and the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding.

SEA.AI, the global leader in AI-powered vision systems for maritime safety, continues its rapid international expansion with the addition of key partners. With more than 150 dealers now onboard, SEA.AI is fast becoming the go-to safety solution for skippers, shipyards, and security and electronics professionals around the world. Their growing network now includes CED Marine and Quality Wiring in the United States and the internationally active Piloda Group, based in Italy.

Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), announced the latest expansion of its award-winning Verado® outboard lineup with the introduction of the all-new V10 425hp outboard and a performance enhanced version of the V10 350hp outboard. Both models set new benchmarks for performance in the high-horsepower outboard segment, delivering exceptional power, acceleration, and fuel efficiency while continuing Mercury's legacy for smoothness and quiet operation.

Lowrance®, a world-leader in fishing electronics, announced the release of software update 25.2, which is packed with innovative trolling motor features, significant enhancements to ActiveTarget® 2, and expanded third-party integrations. "This software release reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering smarter, more intuitive tools that help anglers' fish more effectively and efficiently," said Jeremiah Clark, VP & General Manager, Fishing Systems at Navico Group.

The Sea Tow Foundation is now accepting sponsors for the 2025 National Boating Safety Awards, an annual program that honors outstanding for-profit companies in the recreational boating industry for their commitment to safety. Established in 2019, the program recognizes manufacturers, retailers, service providers, media platforms, and more for their commitment.

Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@worldmarine.media

Related Articles

Metstrade set to be largest ever
A summary of news relevant to businesses across Oceania Visitor registration is now open for Metstrade (18-20 November), the most influential event in the leisure marine industry. Posted on 4 Sep
Metstrade to accommodate over 1600 exhibitors
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
Safer Boating initiative launched by the BIA
A summary of news relevant to businesses across Oceania The BIA, with support from Transport for NSW, have announced the soft launch of the new Responsible Boat Owner (RBO) campaign, a national initiative focused on promoting a culture of safer boating. Posted on 28 Aug
IBEX announces 2025 Education Conference line-up
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
Participation numbers announced at Sydney show
A summary of news relevant to businesses across Oceania The Boating Industry Association launched the National Recreational Boating Statement at the new-format Sydney Boat Show, Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, to an audience of government, stakeholder and industry representatives. Posted on 22 Aug
Marine Industry headwinds continue for now
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
A new boat show and new boats feature this week
A summary of news relevant to businesses across Oceania The wait is over! The 2025 Sydney Boat Show opened its doors at 10am yesterday, welcoming visitors to four days of boating, fishing and marine lifestyle inspiration at Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park. Posted on 14 Aug
Fishing takes center stage this week
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
This week's news covers a diversity of business
A summary of news relevant to businesses across Oceania Marinas26 is off to a strong start with over 110 delegates registered for next year. It's shaping up to be a fantastic event where marina professionals can reconnect, learn, and get inspired. Posted on 7 Aug
Marine industry production index stats released
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