By Bob McCann, Lead MICD Program Consultant When I made the walk from the automotive industry to the marine industry in 1999, two areas of concern jumped out at me. A Missed Opportunity: Neglecting Customer-Pay ServiceThe observation of a missed opportunity in service was mostly my ignorance of the enormity of the dealer’s role in […]
MRAA Blog
Cautiously Optimistic at ‘Cliffside’
• Lenny Sims, VP Business Development/Strategy – Specialty Vehicles for J.D. Power and the MRAA Discuss Insights on the 2023 Q2 Marine Market Drew Mick, MRAA: April saw a small decline across all boat types in traffic views. Is there any reason for that dip? Lenny Sims: When we look at the data, there’s all […]
4 Tips to Help Your Dealership Manage Inventory
It’s been a wild ride for your business these past few years. For a while there, the boat market was incredibly favorable (when you could get boats in inventory), and you were enjoying some healthy profit margins. But today, it’s time to face the reality of a changing market. If you’re anything like your peers, […]
Response to the Beer vs. Boats Game
This guest MRAA Blog was authored by Parker Stair, Co-Founder of Radian IoT and represents his opinions on dealers and manufacturer inventory management, in response to MRAA President Matt Gruhn’s column on the same topic in the July issue of Soundings Trade Only. Hello Matt, In the July issue of Trade Only you presented a fantastic article […]
Advocacy & Boating Safety
As a dealer, customers look to you as a leader within the recreational boating community, and for that reason it is important you champion safe boating practices and compliance with all state and local laws and regulations. Ultimately, we want you to feel confident as a business owner and your customers to feel the same […]
Victory for Boat Dealers: Florida Amends Livery Insurance Requirements
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, on June 12, 2023, signed SB 418 repealing insurance requirements for boat liveries and absolves them from purchasing insurance to cover rental customers. This is a victory for Florida boat dealers. During the 2022 legislative session, the 2022 Florida Boating Safety Act (HB 493) passed, requiring boat rental facilities to insure […]
Oversight Hearing on NOAA’s Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule
A significant Oversight Hearing was held today by the Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee of the House Committee on Natural Resources regarding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) proposed Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule. The hearing addressed the potential impact of the proposed rule on both marine wildlife and the recreational marine industry. The […]
Minnesota Passes Mandatory Boater Education Legislation
Minnesota has passed landmark legislation requiring mandatory boater education, starting in 2025. Find out what boaters, dealers, and renters need to know.
Leverage Credit-First Soft Pulls to Improve Your Dealership’s Results
Shopping for a vessel comes with all kinds of stressors for a consumer – some of which can affect their relationship with the dealer and lender. The decision to require a shopper to undergo a credit verification can be stressful for many consumers – for different reasons! Consumers worry for various reasons, including: As a […]
Boaters Beware: E15 At Pumps This Boating Season
This boating season it is going to be imperative to pay attention at the pump, as an emergency waiver issued by the EPA will allow E15, a harmful fuel for boat engines, to be sold throughout the summer. E15, or gasoline that uses a 15 percent ethanol blend, is a widespread, common fuel type that […]
