• 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.
• 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
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
• 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
• 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.
• 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
MINNEAPOLIS, June 12, 2025 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) backs a bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (SFRBTF). It was released on Tuesday in the U.S. House of Representatives. The reauthorization of the SFRBTF is a top priority of the
MINNEAPOLIS, June 12, 2025 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) applauds the Minnesota legislature’s passage of H.F. 4, which included a provision that has relaxed the state’s previously enacted lead key ban. Unlock Minnesota Coalition The MRAA, as part of the Unlock Minnesota Coalition, comprised of Minnesota-based
• Senate Bill 1267 Increases Transparency in Boat Transactions MINNEAPOLIS, June 10, 2025 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), along with a coalition of recreational boating organizations, commends the state of Texas for enacting Senate Bill 1267, signed into law on May 27 by Gov. Greg Abbott.
By Liz Keener, MRAA Senior Director of Dealer Development During the opening night dinner at the American Boating Congress, organizers invited first-time attendees to stand up. There were dealers, manufacturer representatives and industry suppliers who rose from their chairs — and, of course, me. For 14 years, I had heard
