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 […]
MRAA Blog
How Manufacturers Can Keep a Better Pulse on Retail Realities
Now is the time to realign, rebuild trust, and use tools like MRAA’s Scorecard Program to spark honest conversations that protect both brand and dealer health.
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 […]
Leverage Your Team and Customers’ Passion
• Content Creator Strategy —Go Beyond Traditional Sales to Engage Your Brand Fanatics Discover Boating’s recent collaboration with influencers like TODAY, National Geographic, and lifestyle creators is a powerful reminder: people connect with people, not just products. But you don’t need a national media budget to make this work — your employees and customers are […]
Drive Sales with a New, No-Cost Sales Incentive for Dealers
• Sea Tow® Sea Care Six Month Program supports long-term retention and removes one barrier to purchase Article submission from Sea Tow, an MRAA Platinum Partner Boater acquisition and retention continue to challenge our industry. Nearly one in four first-time boat buyers leaves boating within four years.Why? Ownership often turns out to be more costly […]
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 […]
From Clicks to Closings: Turning Digital Leads into F&I Profit
By Brenda Cline-Kereakes, Chief Operating Officer at Line\5, an MRAA Platinum Partner Your dealership’s digital marketing efforts are designed to capture attention, generate leads and drive traffic to your showroom. But turning those online clicks and digital leads into actual sales is only the beginning. The real opportunity lies in integrating finance and insurance (F&I) […]
How to Drive Boat Use and Keep Boaters for Life
By Valerie Ziebron, President of VRZ Consulting and Dealer Week 2025 Educator The more customers use their boat, the more likely they are to stay in boating. Those of us in the industry who love and live for boating can consider it a given that once a boater, always a boater. Unfortunately, statistics tell a […]
Maximize Boat Use and Customer Retention
• How to Develop a Winning Post-Sale Engagement Strategy at Your Marine Dealerships By Derrick Marshall, New Business Account Executive at Lightspeed, an MRAA Strategic Partner In today’s marine market, selling the boat is just the beginning. True success lies in what happens after the sale — specifically, how often customers use their boats and […]
