MINNEAPOLIS, MN, December 4, 2021 — Today, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced the launch the MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program, backed by industry partners Boat History Report and Titan Certified.
“The MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program offers a proven approach to delivering confidence in the boats that dealers buy and sell,” says Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “Available to all dealers across North America and eligible for the majority of boat brands on the market, the MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program helps dealerships strengthen a much-needed profit center in their business, establish superior levels of trust with new and existing customers, and enjoy peace of mind at each step along the way.”
The MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program outlines, for dealers, a five-part analysis of each boat. It begins with age and manufacturing certification eligibility — the boat must be less than 10 years old and must have been originally Certified by the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Then, MRAA produced an all-new, comprehensive 130-point inspection form, offered in both hard copy and digital format. The inspection must demonstrate that the boat does not have any required repairs necessary.
If the boat passes those checkpoints, MRAA engages its two partners — Boat History Report and Titan Certified — to offer third-party validation of the quality and condition of the boat. Boat History Report provides an in-depth review of the history of the vessel, and in order to qualify for MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat status, the boat’s history must show “no negative incidences.” And the core of the program engages Titan Certified, which conducts a thorough fluid analysis, or DNA “blood test,” analyzing fluid samples from the engine and transmission to determine if they each independently achieve the “pass,” “fail,” or “pass with fluid change” designation. By achieving a “pass” or “pass with fluid change” designation, the boat becomes an MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat and is awarded a 55-hour or three-month, Limited Guarantee.
“The MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program establishes industry benchmarks within the pre-owned boat market to help dealers differentiate their pre-owned inventory and give them the ability to capture more business,” says Jason Walz, MRAA Director of Programs. “The trusted, third-party verification and approval process offers a win-win, providing dealers with an optimal program to find greater confidence and profitability in their pre-owned business, while offering customers peace of mind in the buying process, knowing they are working with a dealer that engages this proven MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat process.”
The new program has an initial start-up fee of $215 for enrollees, which includes fluid testing materials and supplies. MRAA Certified Dealers and members receive reduced rates for per boat/engine testing costs, but even non-members can participate for less than $300 per boat and one engine.
MRAA Dealer Week 2021 attendees can visit the MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Pavilion (booth #3060) featuring Boat History Report (booth #3060A) and Titan Certified (booth #3060B) at the in-person event Dec. 6-9, in Austin, Texas.
For more detailed information, complete pricing, warranty options and to enroll in the program, visit www.CPOBoats.com, or contact Jason Walz at 315-256-2878 or jason@mraa.com.
About MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program
The MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program is owned and operated by MRAA Dealer Solutions, LLC, a subsidiary of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. Through a licensing agreement, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas provides MRAA Dealer Solutions and the MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program with marketing and staffing support.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.
About Titan Certified
Formed in 1996, Titan Certified of Bellingham, Washington, has developed, for all industries, the ability to economically certify a vehicle that will comply with ASTM/OEM standards. We are the founder and leader in used vehicle lab testing for the automotive industry, with over 800,000 vehicles tested in the United States and over 20,000 internationally. Titan Certified Pre-Owned Testing Programs are the only programs in the United States and Canada that precisely determine the “real time” internal condition of an engine and transmission. For more information, call 360-334-9350; titancertified.com
About Boat History Report
Boat History Report is the leading provider of boat background data and information, serving used boat buyers, sellers, dealers/brokers, marine surveyors, law enforcement and finance and insurance companies. Founded in 2005 and based out of Florida, Boat History Report has amassed over 120 million unique records and more than 1.4 million significant negative events. On average, Boat History Report finds that 1 in 17 used boats has a significant negative event in its history — a startling statistic that reinforces the importance of having this information. As the most trusted resource for watercraft history information, Boat History Report helps its clients make better lending and purchasing decisions and has become an essential step in the used boat buying process. For more information, please visit BoatHistoryReport.com or email us at info@boathistoryreport.com.
