“The Guardian.” It was a 2006 hit movie about a high school swim champion who enters the Coast Guard’s “A” School, and highlighted the great job the Coast Guard does. Fittingly, now it’s also the name being given to a prototype maritime version of the Predator unmanned drone. (Read More…)

Boat sales appear to have gotten a boost from the winter boat shows. Good news, for sure. But, you gotta be in a coma not see why our unit sales still aren’t even close to what they should be. (Read More…)

Persistence! It doesn’t matter what state you’re in, beneficial legislation for the boating business can be accomplished if you won’t quit on it. (Read More…)

Walmart had a special going on fresh blueberries — just $2.50 a pint. So, Frank Mauer headed for his nearby Port Richey (Fla.) Supercenter. But, when he got there all the blueberries were gone. So, Mauer figured he’d just get the blueberries another time and asked for a rain check. That’s when things went south! (Read More…)

This is the third and final blog, for now, concerning the new Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force created by the White House (see Dealer Outlook from Feb. 18 and Feb. 23). (Read More…)

In last Thursday’s blog, I began examining the new Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force created by the White House and charged with developing a new national policy that “ensures protection, maintenance, and restoration of oceans, our coasts and the Great Lakes.” (Read More…)

Part 1: Remember the days when we guys would push the gas pedal to the floor and “burn rubber” when the light turned green? It would draw lots of attention, but we were often trying to get somewhere too fast. (Read More…)

Encouraging results continue to come in from major winter boat shows. The latest from opposite corners of the country — Miami and Seattle. (Read More…)

For some time we’ve believed our nation’s credit unions could be an untapped source of funds for small businesses like boat dealerships. Apparently they do, too. Although it hasn’t made headlines, credit unions are currently conducting a campaign to lift a cap that restricts their ability to lend to small businesses. (Read More…)

Bookstores are loaded with titles these days declaring the country and economy will never be the same. This great recession has changed us forever, authors proclaim — our “new normal” will be as frugal shoppers and savers. (Read More…)