Some good news for GPS manufacturers, boaters and millions of other users of the satellite-based navigation system that you may have missed, given that it broke on the eve of the Miami boat shows. The Federal Communications Commission last week said it would block a plan to build a new national wireless broadband network because it interferes with GPS devices. (Read More…)

President Bush and forty state governors have declared the month of June great outdoors month and this week is great outdoors week.  A very fitting time to spend the last two days in Washington, DC, attending meetings of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and the American Recreation Coalition (ARC).  I serve as the Chairman of both organizations. (Read More…)

During these difficult economic times it’s easy to focus on the negatives rather than the positives.  Though total industry sales of products and services was down 5 percent in 2007, we estimate the industry sold $37.5 billion of boating products and services last year.  (Read More…)

With the arrival of Memorial Day, media coverage of boating accelerates dramatically.  We monitor this coverage nationwide and work to create positive coverage of boating and the boating lifestyle nationally as well. (Read More…)

It was a gorgeous weekend; not a cloud in the sky with temperatures reaching 80 degrees. What perfect days for boating.

What made that weekend even more special is the excitement that was generated at The Marine Industry Association of Central Florida’s first annual Discover Boating Demo Days on Saturday, March 29th and Sunday, March 30th. (Read More…)

At the Miami International Boat Show earlier this month, NMMA president Thom Dammrich shared an interesting fact during his State of the Industry address. He noted that the majority of boat owners make less than $100,000 a year, so boating is not just for the rich. (Read More…)

In 2005, the National Marine Manufacturers Association conducted a survey that concluded  boating is one of the top three stress relieving activities. Gently lapping waves and briny breezes wash away the troubles of the day. (Read More…)

Making resolutions for the New Year is a good thing even when we don’t always do what we say we’re going to do. Most important, it says we want to be better people. That is, we haven’t given up on ourselves. (Read More…)

A French industry executive once posed this question during a symposium I attended in conjunction with a boat show. She wondered if Americans’ lack of leisure time was a big stumbling block to boating in the United States. (Read More…)