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