MRAA News

Certified Dealership Program Revamps Continuous Education

As rollout of the fourth year of the Continuous Certification Curriculum approaches, the Marine Industry Certified Dealership program team has taken feedback from participating dealers and worked to develop continuing education courses that are more customizable and flexible to the business needs of today’s marine dealers. The updated program will require current Certified Dealers enrolled […]

SmokerCraft Makes Large Contribution to MRAA and Dealer Week

Smoker Craft, Inc. has made a significant donation to the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas in support of Dealer Week and educational programming for its entire dealer network. While the Smoker Craft executive team of Doug Smoker, Peter Barrett, and Phil Smoker noted their desire to support MRAA financially with a significant donation, they […]

First-Of-Its-Kind ‘Get On Board’ Campaign Makes Historic Impact on Fishing & Boating Industry

This summer, the recreational boating and fishing industry rallied together in support of a public service campaign to encourage consumers to take to the water, which yielded unparalleled results on many levels. The Get On Board campaign from Take Me Fishing and Discover Boating amplified the industry’s collective voice during a time when consumer interest […]

Grady-White Boats Subsidizes Registrations for Dealer Week

Grady-White Boats has expanded its partnership with the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas and is subsidizing the cost of its dealers’ participation in MRAA’s annual Dealer Week conference and expo. Already a Partner Member of the MRAA, Grady-White enhanced its partnership with the MRAA in 2019 when it announced its support of MRAA’s Dealership […]

National Marine Lenders Association Joins MRAA as Partner Member

MINNEAPOLIS — October 20 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announces the National Marine Lenders Association (NMLA) has joined as a Partner Member.   The NMLA, founded in 1979, specializes in educating current and prospective lenders in marine financing procedures, promotes the extension of credit to consumer and trade borrowers, maintains alliances with […]

Barletta President Bill Fenech Issues MRAA Support Challenge

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Barletta Boats President Bill Fenech has issued a challenge to marine industry businesses to “step up” and support the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas financially. Watch the video challenge here. In what has otherwise been a record-setting year for the boat business, the MRAA’s annual revenue has taken a major hit […]

Dealership Advantage, Derema Group Join MRAA as Partner Members

MINNEAPOLIS — October 12 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announces the Dealership Advantage and Derema Group have committed to Partner Memberships.   “We are excited to have Dealership Advantage and Derema Group join the MRAA as our newest Partner Members,” says Allison Gruhn, MRAA Director of Business Development. “Both of these companies […]

Building on previous successes, House and Senate pass key bipartisan marine debris legislation

On October 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Save our Seas 2.0. Led by House Ocean Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and Don Young (R-AK-At Large) in the House, and Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), this bipartisan legislation which is supported by the recreational boating industry will […]

Recreational Boating Infrastructure Funding Included in Short-Term Spending Bill

On October 1, President Trump signed into law a short-term funding bill to fund the federal government at current spending levels until December 11. The measure includes a provision that extends the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund until October 1, 2021– a significant priority for the recreational boating industry Funded through excise taxes […]

Gordy’s Lakefront Marine Proudly Partners with Malibu Boats

Gordy’s Lakefront Marine, a 65-year-old Wisconsin family run business, will partner with Malibu Boats in southeast Wisconsin to become the exclusive Malibu and Axis dealer. Gordy’s was founded by Gordon “Gordy” Whowell and family in 1955 as a seasonal Boat Ride and Rental operation. The tradition of providing fun in the sun on Geneva Lake […]