The image of the young kid driving the well-worn little tub named Whisper was just what I was looking for. (Read More…)

Tired of feeling as if your voice isn’t being heard? Want to get out ahead of issues for a change? Get in front of folks who can actually make a difference? (Read More…)

“Son,” the note read, “whatever you do, don’t ever marry a stripper.” (Read More…)

At every boat show I attend I keep my radar tuned for at least one piece of wisdom or advice or an observation that I didn’t have before the event. The big, sprawling Miami shows that ended Monday were no different, although I’ve come to realize that the bigger the show, the harder it is to actually see and hear through all the rush and push and clamor. (Read More…)

After several days of shoveling, blowing and plowing snow we are winging south out of storm-blasted New England to the Miami shows, where the preshow mood was cautiously optimistic, to use an overused phrase. Things are feeling better. (Read More…)

With the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing last Friday above 14,000 for the first time in more than five years, I thought this would be a good time to revisit the notion of the “wealth effect,” especially seeing how the Miami shows and the nine-day New England Boat Show start next week. (Read More…)

The industry was about to catch fire in the 1950s — the war was over, the economy was growing, Americans were enjoying expanded leisure time and more discretionary income, wood was bowing to fiberglass. By the ’60s it was zoom-zoom for pleasure boats as the expanding middle class solidly embraced boating. (Read More…)

Today’s dispatch covers some new ground as well as some familiar ground but from what I hope is a fresh, slightly different perspective. (Read More…)

Large numbers can be difficult to put into perspective. For example, we all know that the fleet of recreational boats is aging, but it might surprise you to see just how many older boats are out in the field, versus new ones. (Read More…)

Some of the best prospects for boat sales today and tomorrow are the grown children of the current crop of boaters. And if you wait just a little bit, the grandchildren may be looking for boats, too. (Read More…)