BRP named MRAA Platinum Partner

MINNEAPOLIS — BRP, a world leader in the outboard engine market, has signed on as a Platinum Member of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, the highest level of support for the association.

“With the recent news of BRP’s $15 million investment in its Evinrude outboard engine facility, it’s clear the company is planning a bright future in the boating business, ” says Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “We are thrilled to be a part of that future by partnering with an industry leader that is also committed to supporting the dealer body.”

The Evinrude outboard engine division is owned and operated by BRP, which also owns several other recreational and powersports brands including Can-Am Roadster, Can-Am ATV and SSV, Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo, Lynx and Rotax engines. BRP’s newly renovated campus in Sturtevant, Wis., unites the entire Evinrude team under one roof, including those responsisble for R&D, manufacturing, procurement, sales and marketing. One hundred percent of Evinrude E-TEC outboard engine final production takes place at the Evinrude campus.

“Through constant innovation and manufacturing excellence, Evinrude is commited to providing its dealer network with the highest-performing outboard engines on the water,” says Steve Laham, North American Vice President, Evinrude Sales, Marketing and After-Sales. “Our sponsorship and partnership with the MRAA represents another way BRP is able to support our dealers and invest in their success.”

About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the only North American association dedicated to furthering the interests of boat and engine dealers and other marine-related retailers throughout North America. Under the umbrella of MRAA Rewards, the MRAA offers a host of cost-saving, revenue-generating, business-improvement, and professional-development benefits exclusively for its members. MRAA is the united voice of marine retailers. For more information, visit About BRP

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), a privately held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorized recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea‑Doo watercraft, Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines, Can-Am all‑terrain and side-by-side vehicles and roadsters, as well as Rotax engines. BRP products are distributed in more than 100 countries. BRP employs more than 6,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.brp.com.

Harris Marine Financing becomes Partner Member of the MRAA

MINNEAPOLIS — Harris Marine Financing, Inc., a Stevensville, Md.-based company specializing in boat and yacht financing, recently pledged its support of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas as a Partner Member of the association.

“We greatly appreciate Harris Marine Financing’s support of the association,” says Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “Their high customer service standards demonstrate that they have the best interests of the boating community in mind, which makes us proud to have earned their partnership.”

Harris Marine Financing has served the greater Mid-Atlantic region for more than 10 years, working with marine retailers as their F&I outsource partner to offer their customers boat loans, quick funding, licensing and lien perfection as well as vessel documentation. Harris Marine also provides direct financing for brokerage and consignment sales and has a subsidiary to provide marine insurance. Harris is now expanding its service territory to include the entire East Coast.

“At Harris Marine Financing, we’re passionate about helping our dealer customers succeed,” says Robin Harris, CEO of Harris Marine Financing. “We became an MRAA partner because we saw evidence of that same passion in the resources the association offers to dealers.”

About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the only North American association dedicated to furthering the interests of boat and engine dealers and other marine-related retailers throughout North America. Under the umbrella of MRAA Rewards, the MRAA offers a host of cost-saving, revenue-generating, business-improvement, and professional-development benefits exclusively for its members. MRAA is the united voice of marine retailers. For more information, visit

Hear from the Experts ONLY at MDCE!

The Marine Dealer Conference & Expo is the only event at which you can access dealer-specific content, dealer-specific products and services, and dealer-specific networking. It’s the ONLY national dealer conference, and it’s designed by dealers, for dealers.

Here are a few speakers you’ll only see at MDCE:

Hear top techniques for strengthening your business from the top dealership consultants and leading dealers, ONLY AT the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo!

  • Valerie Ziebron – Your Service Department should be one of the most profitable departments in your dealership. But if you’re like most dealers, it could be much more profitable than it is. Join us at MDCE as the highly touted instructor Valerie Ziebron returns to answer the toughest service-related questions and provide insight into new service department strategies that will help you uncover hidden profits.
  • Mike Mraz – With boat show season right around the corner, you need to make sure you’re prepared to have your best events yet. Turn your show experience into the selling event you’ve always inspired to, by catching Mike Mraz’s MDCE session on the five proven tactics to get your money’s worth out of boat shows. Learn how to capitalize on pre-show outreach, the right graphics, staff preparation and ROI measurement.
  • Jennifer Robison – Is your showroom living up to its potential or are boats and other products just placed wherever they might fit? There are strategies you can use to increase showroom appeal and drive more sales, and at this year’s MDCE, merchandising expert Jennifer Robison will share display and retail solutions to help you improve your dealership and boost your sales.
  • Don Cooper – Historically, the MDCE’s most highly rated speaker, Don Cooper, returns to lead a mini-conference offering FIVE DIGITAL STRATEGIES to boost business in 2013. Learn the latest strategies for using texting to increase business, generate powerful online reviews, boost sales with geo-locational targeting and more!
  • Sam Dantzler – The most sought-after speaker in the powersports industry, Dantzler will share proven strategies to help you sell more – and make more money – with your service department. His inside view of the top Harley-Davidson dealers in North America will translate into new ideas and new opportunities for your business.
  • Best Ideas Panel – Get a great bang for your buck as you hear the very best ideas from dealers across the country. These are actionable, real-life examples that are building business today! MDCE attendees will also receive a FREE Best Ideas white paper filled with the best dealer submissions of the year.
  • Joe Verde – The premier sales trainer in the auto industry, Verde counts among his clients more than half of the Top 500 dealers in the country. He’ll give you a step-by-step plan to make 2013 your best year yet. MDCE attendees will also get a copy of his book “A Dealer’s Guide to Recovery & Growth in Today’s Market.”
  • Neal Harrell – The president of Brooks Marine Group has worked with hundreds of dealers to help them find, train and retain the best employees. Harrell will help you develop a plan to recruit the most skilled workers for your service department.
  • David Parker – One of the leading business consultants in the marine industry, Parker will be offering two seminars at MDCE helping you make the most of your finance and insurance departments AND offering tips/pricing strategies that maximize sales and margins.

Be a step ahead of your competition by attending MDCE & make 2013 your best year yet!

For more information about session and speakers, click here.

2012 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo
November 11 – 14, 2012
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, FL

MRAA supports letter encouraging passage of tax cuts

The following link will take you to a letter that 50 GOP Freshmen Congressmen signed to the Ways and Means Committee, encouraging passage of the extenders (Bush Tax Cuts). The committee is expected to be reviewing the extenders soon.

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is encouraging passage of the tax extenders and has supported this letter. Failure to pass the Bush Tax Cuts at this time may have negative consequences to the economy.

Click here to read the letter.

Larry Innis
MRAA Legislative Affairs

Marine Sales of Pickwick signs on as MRAA Premium Retail Member

MINNEAPOLIS — Marine Sales of Pickwick, a leading full service marine dealership based in Counce, Tenn., has signed on as a Premium Retail Member of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, the highest level of retail membership within the association.

“We are delighted that Marine Sales of Pickwick has chosen to kick off its MRAA membership with such a strong commitment to the association ,” says Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “After 38 years of successfully serving the local boating community, Marine Sales of Pickwick continues to seek out new opportunities to take their business to the next level. We are honored that this leading dealer has chosen to invest in MRAA as part of this quest.”

This Cobalt, Regal, Crest, Marquis and Carver Yachts dealer surrounds its customers with a bevy of products and services to enhance their boating lifestyle, from new and pre-owned boats and yachts to brokerage services, marine finance, service, parts, boat storage, winterization, ship store and more. In fact, the dealership recently won a Cobalt CSI Award for achieving the highest score worldwide.

“At Marine Sales of Pickwick, we are always looking for ways to be more effective and profitable,” says Ron Martin, Marine Sales of Pickwick General Manager. “We became an MRAA Premium Retail Member to join together with other leading dealers and gain access to the incredible resources at their disposal.”


About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the only North American association dedicated to furthering the interests of boat and engine dealers and other marine-related retailers throughout North America. Under the umbrella of MRAA Rewards, the MRAA offers a host of cost-saving, revenue-generating, business-improvement, and professional-development benefits exclusively for its members. MRAA is the united voice of marine retailers. For more information, visit

MDCE tops 80 exhibitors

The Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, the premier education event for boat dealers, has already signed up more than 80 exhibitors and sponsors. With more than 183,000 square feet of exhibit space, this year’s conference promises to be the largest yet.

MDCE is being held November 11-14 at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center and is co-produced by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas and Boating Industry.

This year’s sponsors include:

Powered By Sponsors: ADP Lightspeed, ARI, Boat Trader, Forest River Marine, Manheim Specialty Auctions, Nautic Global Group, Regal Marine, Starcraft Marine & the Smoker Craft Family of Products and Volvo Penta

2012 Digital Sponsor: Global Marine Insurance

Official Sponsors: Bennington Marine, Brunswick Boat Group, GE Capital and Tigé Boats

Best Ideas Program Sponsor: Boat Trader

Service & Marina Track Sponsor: Marine Mechanics Institutes

See a full list of the event’s sponsors and exhibitors.

To reserve space or inquire about additional sponsorship opportunities contact, contact Kathy Johnson at 480-988-3658 or kathyjohnson@boatingindustry.com.

Beyond the expo hall, attendees also have an opportunity to attend more than 20 educational sessions presented by some of the biggest names in the marine industry. Three educational tracks will feature dealer-presented best practices and expert advice on every topic from sales and marketing to service department operations and leadership to growth management.

Click here for more information.

ACMA to tackle legislative issues at MDCE

The Advisory Council of Marine Associations (ACMA) is set to meet during the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo (MDCE) in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 11-14. ACMA is a group of marine trades associations that serves as the MRAA Legislative Committee and advises the MRAA Board of Directors through its resolutions about legislative issues and strategies.              

The ACMA reviews MRAA and state legislative activities for the current year and discusses potential issues coming up in the next year. Because of the importance of 2012 as a presidential election year, ACMA will also look at the results of the elections in state governments, Congress, and the White House.           

Important issues ACMA may consider include the Bush tax cuts (sales tax deduction and estate tax repeal) and the economic impact of the Congressional action on the fiscal cliff issue, ethanol, the second home mortgage deduction, efforts in Congress to reduce red tape and reduce regulations of small business, re-authorization of the Sport Fish and Boating Trust Fund, adult lifejacket wear requirements, dredging, and working waterfronts.

What the Lame Duck Session holds for marine retailers

Most of the real work of the U.S. Congress (and perhaps the most contentious) will occur after the elections when Congress returns to finish the “business of the people” during a short Lame Duck session. Almost everything of consequence, most notably a set of automatic, economy-related spending cuts and tax increases that have been called a “fiscal cliff,” will be debated during the post-election Lame Duck.            

Topping the list of issues important to marine retailers is the expiration of a full menu of President George W. Bush-era tax cuts on December 31. The resulting tax increases, should an extension of the Bush Tax Cuts fail to pass, when combined with more than $100 billion in automatic across-the-board spending cuts (called sequestration) set to take effect at the same time, have become known as the fiscal cliff. Economists warn that unless Congress acts, the one-two austerity punch could sent the fragile economy back into recession.            

The automatic cuts are punishment for the inability of last year’s deficit reduction “super committee” to strike a bargain to cut the 10-year deficits by at least $1.2 trillion as promised by last summer’s debt and budget pact. The Bush tax cuts were originally set to expire at the end of 2010, but were renewed two years ago.            

There is no certainty that Congress will handle the issue in the Lame Duck, especially if Republicans retake the White House and gain seats in the House and Senate. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has asked Congress to delay its work in this regard until he’s in office.             

Two important issues to marine retailers are tied to the Bush tax cuts. The first is re-authorization of the sales tax deduction in lieu of deduction state income taxes. This deduction is especially good for major purchases, such as a boat, in states where there is no state income tax, like Florida and Texas. The other issue is continuation of the 35-percent tax rate on inherited assets valued more than $5.5 million, known as the estate tax. MRAA has long supported both the state sales tax deduction and elimination of the estate tax and will work hard to retain both tax provisions.

What marine retailers can expect from Congress between now and the elections

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Congress returned to Washington, D.C., on Sept. 10 for an abbreviated session and is likely to do the bare minimum: making sure the federal government doesn’t shutdown.  Congress has scheduled only about five to six work days in Washington between now and the elections.  Many members will be spending most of their time at home campaigning for re-election. So what can we expect? Will Congress accomplish anything in these last days?            

The most important bill will be passage of a temporary spending bill called a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government at close to current levels from the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1 through March 27. It is up for consideration in the House Rules Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 12 and in the full House at the end of the week. The Senate would most likely consider the CR the following week.            

It is expected the bill will be a clean bill that only extends the funding period. It appears the CR will pass and the government will forego a shutdown. The CR is needed because none of the regular appropriations bills for the upcoming fiscal year have been enacted. Passage of the CR would eliminate the threat that arose several times last year in budgetary showdowns. The bill essentially misses the core Constitutional responsibility of Congress to complete tis annual appropriations and budget work.            

There will also be many non-controversial bills passed by the House and Senate under suspension of the rules and unanimous consent, but few will make it to the President for his signature. The MRAA does not expect any bills that would directly impact marine retailers in the last days of this Congress before the election.

MRAA introduces Federal Regulatory Compliance Guide

MINNEAPOLIS — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has partnered with Priority One Financial Services to create the MRAA Federal Regulatory Compliance Guide, a handbook for marine dealers on how to develop the appropriate policies and procedures to comply with federal financial regulations.

This incredible resource not only provides dealers with a clear understanding of the often-complicated federal regulations, but also offers them key insights into how to maintain compliance with those laws. The 44-page publication includes an overview of the eight regulations that pertain to marine dealers, important considerations for ensuring your business is compliant and many of the specific forms you need to complete, as well as a checklist for monitoring your business’ progress when it comes to compliance.

“Those companies that are not compliant with these regulations risk thousands, even millions of dollars in fines and penalties,” says Liz Walz, MRAA Director of Membership & Marketing. “This publication will help our members ensure that they are staying on top of the regulations and ahead of the enforcement of them, while providing their customers with a secure pathway to boat financing. It is one more example of how the MRAA provides much-needed resources to help its members succeed.”

MRAA will deliver a free copy of this publication to any new or renewing retail members who join the association in the month of September. It is also available to current members through the growing MRAA Rewards Resource Center, available at MRAA.com.

“There couldn’t be a better time for dealers to gain access to this information,” says Heather Mariscal, President of Priority One. “The federal government has been increasing its enforcement of regulations such as the eight discussed in this guide. This guide focuses exclusively on that which is applicable to boat dealers, making it possible for dealers to protect their customers’ information and shield their businesses from fines and penalities that could threaten the the financial stability of their dealerships.”

About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the only North American association dedicated to furthering the interests of boat and engine dealers and other marine-related retailers throughout North America. Under the umbrella of MRAA Rewards, the MRAA offers a host of cost-saving, revenue-generating, business-improvement, and professional-development benefits exclusively for its members. MRAA is the united voice of marine retailers. For more information, visit About Priority One Financial Services

Priority One has been serving the marine and RV industry since 1987. Acquired in 2007 by Forest River, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company, Priority One serves as the F&I managed services provider for hundreds of dealers nationwide. For more information, visit www.P1FS.com.