• BoatUS Foundation and United States Coast Guard Boating Safety Toolkit Despite the recreational boating season beginning to wind down, the safety of your customers and others on the water should still be of the utmost importance. Boating Education — Boater Safety As summer begins to change into fall, colder water and changing weather patterns […]
Category: Advocacy
MAPOceans Act Passes Senate
• New legislation would modernize accessibility to saltwater recreational fishing regulations and marine waters navigation information WASHINGTON, September 12, 2025 – Saltwater anglers, hunters and marine recreationists joined the, Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, National Marine Manufacturers Association, American Sportfishing Association and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation in cheering Senate passage […]
Navigating Change: MRAA, State Marine Trades Associations Voice Concerns Over Removal of Aids to Navigation in the Northeast
By Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager In May the United States Coast Guard announced plans to remove a number of Aids to Navigation (ATONs) across the Northeast. These ATONs — buoys, markers and beacons — are essential tools that guide boaters safely through our nation’s waterways. The Coast Guard cites modernization and shifting resources […]
Massachusetts Marine Trades Association Secures Workforce Funding
• Amendment Passes in the 2025-2026 Mass. State Budget The Massachusetts Marine Trades Association has once again secured funding for workforce development efforts in Massachusetts. The recently passed state budget as included $150,000 specifically to help bolster workforce development and career technical education initiatives within the recreational boating industry. These funds will be critical to […]
Marine Industry Gathers for NMTC Conference
• National Marine Trades Council (NMTC) Hosts Annual Conference to Discuss Workforce Development, Advocacy, Marketing and More PORTLAND, MAINE, August 13, 2025 – The National Marine Trades Council (NMTC) successfully concluded its annual conference, hosted July 21-24 by the Maine Marine Trades Association (MMTA) at the Portland Harbor Hotel in Maine. The event brought together marine […]
Automaker Trade Group Pushes Department of Justice to Target State Auto-dealer Franchise Laws
• Implications for marine retailers — how the MRAA is fighting for you By Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager In late May, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a powerful trade group representing automakers and suppliers, responded to a public comment request from the Department of Justice’s newly created Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force . This […]
Recreational Marine Industry Wins in the Big Beautiful Bill
Among the wide range of provisions tucked into the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA), some will have a positive impact on the recreational marine industry — from tax policy to workforce development. Here are four important provisions the MRAA supported. 1. Qualified Business Income Deduction The 199A Qualified Business Income deduction — set to […]
No Boat Tax Increase in New Jersey
• Strong Advocacy Efforts Lead to Boater Victory in Garden State In late June, Governor Murphy officially signed the 2026 New Jersey State Budget, keeping the boat tax unchanged. The Marine Trades Association of New Jersey exemplifies how vital state marine trades associations are in advocating for our industry. Their efforts highlight the importance of […]
How Tariffs Are Rocking the Boat
• A Q&A with Rick’s Small Sailboats, Florida-Based Dealer and MRAA Bronze Member By Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager Rick Upson started his dealership, Rick’s Small Sailboats, with a simple goal: to share his love of sailing and help more people experience the joy of being on the water. Working solo from his home […]
Coast Guard Reports Fewest Boating Fatalities in More Than 50 Years
• 2024 United States Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics Report Overview By Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, the United States Coast Guard released its annual Recreational Boating Statistics report for 2024, marking the 66th edition of this comprehensive analysis. This report is a vital resource for understanding the current […]
