• 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 […]
MRAA Blog
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 […]
The Untapped Potential of F&I
• Why Structured Product Programs Are Essential for Modern Marine Dealerships By JD Baker, Vice President of Specialty Sales, Protective Asset Protection, an MRAA Platinum Partner For marine dealers navigating today’s shifting market, the pursuit of healthy, sustainable growth is more challenging than ever. While the excitement of new boat sales still drives much of […]
Surface Protectant: Protect Customers’ Boats
Sharing the Benefits of Surface Protectant for Gel-coated/Clear-coated Boats By Larry Wenger, Vice President of National Sales, Ultimar, an MRAA Platinum Partner As a dealer, when you take in a boat on trade, it’s pleasing to see the boat has been well cared for and in top condition. But too often, customers don’t know how […]
How to Encourage the Cautious Shoppers
• Overcome Customer Objections and Empower Hesitant but Interested Buyers to Take Action By Tyler Kelly, Recreational Dealer Field Sales Manager, Motility Software Solutions, an MRAA Platinum Partner After a trip out on the water enjoying the warm sun and fresh air, how could anyone not fall in love with boating? The 85 million Americans […]
Charting a Course Through Tariff Uncertainty
Matt Ginsburg, Managing Director, Huntington Distribution Finance†, an MRAA Education Champion The marine industry has long relied on a global supply chain to source key components and materials. That international reach brings efficiency, but it also means that shifts in trade policy, such as tariffs, can introduce cost variability and operational uncertainty. Recent tariffs on […]
