After a year of deliberations and public input, the 21-member Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Task Force – which includes Matt Gruhn, President of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas – held their final meeting on March 24, 2021, where they finalized recommendations to enhance outdoor recreation in Minnesota. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commissioner […]
MRAA News
Digital Power Solutions Joins MRAA as Partner Member
MINNEAPOLIS — May 4 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announces Digital Power Solutions has joined as a Standard Partner Member. “We’re very excited to be a member of MRAA,” said Mike Rhodes, Vice President – Marine Division. “These past couple of years have been great for our boat dealer clients in terms […]
MRAA Board Member, Joe Lewis, Wins Boat PAC Award
MRAA Board Member and Secretary/Treasurer of the board, Joe Lewis, was honored with the BoatPAC The Champions for Growth Award during the 2021 American Boating Congress to recognize his continued involvement with the Boat PAC. Lewis, who is the owner of Mount Dora Boating Center & Marina in Mount Dora, Fla., has been a staunch […]
Mandatory Engine Cut-Off Device Legislation Reminder
April 1, 2021, the United States Coast Guard implemented regulations requiring that certain boats have mandatory engine cut-off devices. This regulation requires that operators of vessels less than 26 feet in length, with open-helm stations, must wear a link that shuts off the engine in the event an operator is ejected from the vessel or […]
Right to Repair Fight Continues
MRAA and our coalition partners are continuing to push back against Right to Repair legislation that surfaces throughout the country, as this presents a serious risk to boat users who may have had their engine improperly modified or repaired. MRAA is currently monitoring and pushing back against Delaware House Bill 22 which would require manufacturers […]
MRAA Board of Directors Outline 2021 Advocacy Priorities
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Board of Directors unanimously approved the adoption of the association’s 2021 advocacy priorities. The priorities were put together through responses to an industry-wide dealership survey where respondents ranked issues from most to least important. The responses were tabulated and the final recommendation was put together by MRAA’s Advocacy […]
Fishing Nets 5 Million New & Returning Anglers in 2020
Fifty-five million Americans age 6+ went fishing in 2020 according to preliminary data from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s (RBFF) 2021 Special Report on Fishing. These 5 million new and returning anglers, who are younger, more diverse and live in urban areas, represent 10% growth in fishing participation in 2020. In addition to overall […]
DockMaster Software Launches DMPay, an Online Payment Portal for Clients
Tampa, FL, Apr. 21, 2021 — DockMaster Software is pleased to announce that it has teamed up with Opportunities Bridge to provide DockMaster clients with DMPay, an online payment portal where their customers pay invoices online, in a secure cloud environment. “Bringing online payment functionality to DockMaster will elevate the overall user experience and increase […]
Massachusetts Marine Trades Association Receives $20,000 Grant To Market And Enhance The 2021
The Massachusetts Marine Trades Association (MMTA) is pleased to announce it has received a $20,000 recovery grant from the Massachusetts office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) to help market their 2021 Stay Local Boat Ma program. Yesterday Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, MOTT Executive Director Keiko Orrall, State Senator […]
MRAA Gold Member and Certified Dealer, Union Marine Adds New Location
Union Marine is excited to announce they are expanding their operation with a new location in Issaquah, WA. Located just five minutes from Lake Sammamish, this new location will feature MasterCraft, Bennington Pontoon and Boston Whaler boat brands. The 11,000 sq ft showroom will offer design centers & interactive activities and events for their customers. […]
