MN Governor signs new boater safety legislation into law

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed the Environment Budget bill (MN H.F. 2310) into law on May 24. The legislation contains a boater safety education provision that promotes responsible and safe boating practices. The bill reinforces the state’s commitment to promote safe and responsible boating practices and has long been supported by the recreational boating and […]

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Powerful Shift: Sterndrive to Outboard Conversions Surge!

Swapping a Sterndrive for an Outboard Older boats are getting a new life as outboard repowers soar.  When the sterndrive engine, aka inboard/outboard (I/O), gave out on Kevin Peterson’s Chaparral, he was faced with either buying a new boat or replacing the I/O engine. Neither option was appealing, but Peterson didn’t want to spend the […]

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Discover Boating continues digital video series

EPG Media LLC wants you to have a positive experience in connection with our products and services. We want you to know that we respect the privacy and security of our users. Our goal is to provide you with an experience that delivers the information, resources and services that are helpful to you. In order […]

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Georgia Governor signs legislation for boating safety and access

Recreational boating industry stakeholders including NMMA, WSIA, Yamaha, and others joined Georgia Governor Brian Kemp for an official signing ceremony of towed watersports legislation that included strengthening safety and access opportunities for wakesurfing and wakeboarding. The new law took effect upon the Governor’s signature and followed bordering states, South Carolina, and Tennessee, in proactively keeping […]

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Suzuki Marine Makes Run to the Capitol Using New EcoFuel

The 26-foot Sea Pro center console covered 940 miles on a new sustainable fuel offered by VP Racing. Courtesy Suzuki/Ron Ballanti Editor’s Note: Boating Contributing Editor, Capt. John Page Williams joined Team Suzuki for a leg of this trip, running right into Washington, DC. A naturalist, licensed captain and award-winning journalist, Williams is working on […]

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Boating – A big industry with a big impact

By Bill Yeargin Boating is important not only to those of us who enjoy being on the water but also to those who depend on it for their livelihood. Boating has a huge economic impact, a 230-billion-dollar annual impact. The boating industry includes 36,000 businesses – most of them small and family-operated – providing 813,000 […]

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NMMA reports boating’s economic impact soars

NMMA recently announced new data which found the annual economic impact of recreational boating increased 36%, from $170B in 2018 to $230B in 2023. The industry’s contributions to the U.S. workforce grew as well, with an 18% increase in jobs supported, from 691,000 in 2018 to more than 812,000 in 2023. Conducted by John Dunham […]

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New bipartisan bill supports outdoor recreation

Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), member of the Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, introduced the Lake Access Keeping Economies Strong (LAKES) Act. This bipartisan bill would improve outdoor recreation facilities in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)-managed areas, provide new opportunities […]

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NMMA Canada appoints new executive director

NMMA Canada announced the appointment of Marie-France MacKinnon as Executive Director. MacKinnon officially joins NMMA Canada today, May 1, and will oversee the Association’s strategic and advocacy efforts in Canada. She is a respected association executive with over 25 years of experience working in public affairs and communications in the private and public sector. “We […]

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Suzuki Marine embarks on long-haul sustainable fuel journey

Suzuki Marine USA will embark on an important journey beginning Tuesday, April 18, setting out from Jacksonville, Florida on a nearly 800-mile journey by water to Washington D.C., where the 259 Sea Pro center console will be highlighted in an on-the-water display during the 2023 American Boating Congress, May 8-10.  This is no “ordinary” 800-mile […]

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NMMA to host American Boating Congress webinar

The 2023 American Boating Congress is quickly approaching, returning to Washington, D.C from May 8-10, 2023. Ahead of the industry’s advocacy event, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is hosting a webinar on Thursday, April 27 at 4 p.m. ET to provide registrants and potential attendees an overview of what to expect at this year’s advocacy conference […]

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First Look: Meet The Donzi 39 VRZ

Craig Barrie, the marine industry veteran charged with revitalizing the once-coveted Donzi Marine powerboat line, has an unmatched historical grasp of the brand. But far from stuck in the past, Barrie’s goal with Donzi has been to bring it into the modern era without losing its long-held mystique and cachet. To be sure, it’s a […]

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Aquatic Invasive Species Commission addresses regulatory gaps

The Aquatic Invasive Species Commission, a collaboration between YETI, Bass Pro Shops, and recreational boating and fishing industry stakeholders, released a report today that identifies regulatory gaps in addressing aquatic invasive species and urges Congress to modernize laws, increase spending, and improve coordination at federal, state, local, and tribal levels to combat harmful aquatic invasive species. Released […]

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Yamaha names external affairs director

Yamaha has named Martin Peters director of marine external affairs. With the new role comes official responsibilities for marine sustainability and regulatory affairs in addition to government relations and communications. “Yamaha remains dedicated to sustainability and as Director of Marine External Affairs, Martin will help lead the effort to reduce the carbon footprint of the […]

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NMMA joins boating advocates for Oregon Advocacy Day

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) joined recreational boating and fishing stakeholders and advocates, including Oregon-based marine dealers, and grassroots organization Oregon Families for Boating (OFFB) at Oregon’s inaugural “Advocacy Day” in Salem, Oregon. The coalition of industry stakeholders met with nearly 20 Oregon Senate and House of Representative legislators and staff to discuss legislative […]

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NMMA participates in White House summit

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) participated in the White House Conservation in Action Summit held at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. The Summit focused on the Biden-Harris Administration’s actions and historic investments to advance conservation, restoration, and stewardship efforts and access to nature in communities nationwide. The day-long event included […]

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Join Me at the American Boating Congress

By Bill Yeargin If you lead an organization and care about the boating industry, you need to join me May 8-10 in Washington D.C. at the American Boating Congress (ABC). It may be the single best way you can help our industry and your business. ABC is a unique opportunity to meet with congressional leaders, […]

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NMMA to co-host 2023 California Boating Congress

The 2023 California Boating Congress, sponsored by the Marine Recreation Association and co-hosted by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), is scheduled for April 11 and 12, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Sacramento. The California Boating Caucus (CBS) brings together industry stakeholders and leaders from across the marine industry and boating community to help […]

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