Summer’s Heating Up – So is Your Opportunity to Advance
We all know that in the marine industry, time is money and flexibility is everything. That’s why MRAA’s Position-Specific Certifications (PSC) are evolving to meet you where you are. For a limited time, you can save $75 on your certification when you enroll by July 3, before these programs shift to an on-demand format starting July 7.
Whether you’re on the service floor or managing the department, PSC offers the career development you’ve been waiting for – on your terms, and on your time.
What Is Position-Specific Certification (PSC)?
PSC is a marine industry certification built for specific roles at a dealership or marina. Unlike general training programs, PSC is tailored to your position, so you get relevant, real-world strategies that immediately impact your work.
Each course was developed by industry pros, such as The American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) who collaborated with us to create Service Management Certification. Think of it as professional development that actually understands your day-to-day challenges.
Why a Marine Industry Certification Is a Career Game-Changer
Advance your career without leaving your job
Gain tactical skills in communication, leadership, service efficiency, and sales process
Improve customer satisfaction and boost your dealership’s bottom line
Learn at your own pace, with content built for real-world application
Earn a respected, industry-backed credential
“This course is a fantastic resource… It serves as a much-needed refresher for seasoned professionals – reminding us of the essential processes and best practices that can sometimes get overlooked.” — Nadine Urciuoli, Helmuts Marine Service
Save $75! Enroll by July 3 with Code SUMMER
This is your last chance to join a structured PSC cohort before all certifications transition to fully on-demand delivery. With the promo, MRAA members pay just $1,400 (compared to $2,250 for non-members).
Enroll now and start making a bigger impact in your role. All you need is the code SUMMER at checkout.
Why the July 3 Deadline Matters
After July 3, our PSC programs will shift to a more flexible, self-paced format:
No more fixed cohort start dates
Begin any Monday after July 7
Finish your certification within 90 days of enrollment
It’s perfect for busy professionals – but enrolling now means you get the added benefit of a kickoff webinar, structured pacing, and peer momentum.
Feel free to call or send an email anytime to MRAA’s Certification Manager, Stevie Cook. She’s your in-house expert on all things related to any of MRAA’s Certification programs. Not to mention – incredibly friendly!
MINNEAPOLIS, June 12, 2025 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) backs a bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (SFRBTF). It was released on Tuesday in the U.S. House of Representatives. The reauthorization of the SFRBTF is a top priority of the recreational marine industry.
75 Years of Funding State-Based Programs
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the SFRBTF — funded by excise taxes on motorboat fuel and recreational fishing equipment. The fund supports state programs that protect sport fish populations, restore critical habitats, and construct boating access facilities. Additionally, the SFRBTF is crucial in maintaining and expanding recreational boating fishing opportunities. It also simultaneously educating boaters and anglers about safety on the water.
Representative Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced H.R. 3858. Representative Dingell carries on the legacy of her late husband’s father, John D. Dingell, who in 1950, introduced the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act, or the Dingell-Johnson Act. It ultimately passed and laid the foundation for the SFRBTF we know and advocate for today.
“Every time a recreational boater fills up before a day on the water, they are supporting the important work done by the SFRBTF, ultimately playing a role in the conservation and restoration of crucial habitat and improving access for recreational boaters,” said Mike Sayre, MRAA Director of Government Relations. “Clean waters, healthy fisheries and access to both are critical for ensuring the recreational fishing and boating industry remains strong, and the work done by the SFRBTF continues to ensure that those priorities remain in check, further underscoring the importance of reauthorization. We cannot thank Representatives Dingell and Wittman enough for their leadership in spearheading the reauthorization of this pivotal program.”
SFRBTF is supported by key revenue sources:
Federal fuel taxes from motorboat and small engine fuel;
Excise taxes on fishing equipment;
Import duties on tackle and pleasure boats;
Interest earnings
In addition, these combined sources generated an estimated $760 million in FY2012.
The funds are critical to eight priority programs:
Coastal wetlands restoration;
Recreational boating safety;
Sewage and pump-out station construction;
Transient docking infrastructure;
National aquatic outreach;
Multi-state conservation grants;
Fishery commissions;
State-level sport fish restoration efforts.
“The SRFBTF is one of the best examples of how a user-pay public benefit program ensures that the investments from many Americans engaging in recreational angling and boating are redirected back into the resource, ultimately creating more opportunities for everyday Americans, benefitting the recreational boating and fishing industry, as well as bolstering our nations fisheries and the habitat they rely on,” said Joe Lewis, Chairman of the MRAA Board and Owner of Mount Dora Boating Center. “As Vice Chairman on the RBFF Board of Directors, a program that is directly supported by the SRFBTF and a marine retailer, I am keenly aware of the many benefits that it provides to our industry. I cannot thank Representatives Wittman and Dingell enough for their leadership in reauthorizing this critical program.”
In 1984, the Wallop-Breaux amendment significantly expanded funding for the SFRBTF. Sponsored by Senator Malcolm Wallop and Representative John Breaux, it included new sources of funding to include excise taxes on motorboat fuels and untaxed equipment. In addition, it also designated 15% of the funds for boating access.
Therefore, as the H.R. 3858 makes its way through Congress, the MRAA and our coalition partners will continue to support and provide regular updates. Please reach out to the MRAA Government Relations Team of Mike Sayre, sayre@mraa.com and Chad Tokowicz, chad@mraa.com with questions.
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.
MINNEAPOLIS, June 12, 2025 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) applauds the Minnesota legislature’s passage of H.F. 4, which included a provision that has relaxed the state’s previously enacted lead key ban.
Unlock Minnesota Coalition
The MRAA, as part of the Unlock Minnesota Coalition, comprised of Minnesota-based businesses, worked together to shepherd this provision through the legislative process. Read more about our past efforts.
“The MRAA is pleased to see the passage of H.F. 4 as the provision included will provide much needed relief to the entirety of Minnesota’s recreational boating industry,” said Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager. “The MRAA lauds the work of the Unlock Minnesota Coalition, which played a crucial role in bringing impacted stakeholders together to highlight the widespread disruption the proposed lead key ban would have on various industries throughout Minnesota. The passage of H.F. 4 underscores the Minnesota Legislatures understanding and commitment to supporting Minnesota’s recreational boating industry and the many small businesses which are integral to the fabric of the North Star State’s recreational boating community.”
(Far right) Mike Davin, MRAA Vice President of Industry Relations, represented Minnesota’s recreational boating industry at an Unlock Minnesota event at the Minnesota Capitol. Davin’s testimonial spoke about the impact a key ban would have on the recreational boating industry in front of Minnesota legislators and their staff.
Minnesota legislators passed a ban in 2023 on consumer products with certain levels of lead and cadmium. It included jewelry, toys, cosmetics, kitchenware and art supplies. The law also included keys, with the ban set to take effect on July 1, 2025. Moreover, many businesses were in a difficult position since workable alternatives are not available or commercially viable at this time.
The Dealer Voice
Keys are traditionally made of brass but include small amounts of lead for strength. Additionally, the recreational boating industry needed additional time to find workable alternatives. Read this op-ed by Dave Briggs, Owner and General Manager of Wayzata Marine. It will help you understand the impact this provision would have had on Minnesota based marine retailers,
“While the impacts of the key issue may be hard to understand for some, as a small business owner, changes like this can stand to have a major impact on my day-to-day operations and ultimately my bottom line,” said Dave Briggs, Owner of Wayzata Marine, an MRAA member. “I appreciate the work done by Unlock Minnesota, the MRAA and the other small business owners like me who stepped up to fight for this change.”
Additionally, the MRAA worked with our Minnesota based members to highlight the impact the ban would have on the recreational boating industry. Moreover, Mike Davin, MRAA Vice President of Industry Relations, spoke on behalf of Minnesota’s recreational boating industry at an Unlock Minnesota event. Held at the Minnesota Capitol. the event raises awareness of the issue among Minnesota legislators and their staff. This event received excellent press coverage, including this video from KARE 11 of Mike Davin making his remarks.
The provision passed in H.F. 4 ultimately delayed implementation of the ban until July 1, 2028. Utlimately, it gives the recreational marine industry, and others, much needed time to research, develop and deploy alternatives that comply with the statute.
MRAA Advocacy Efforts
In summary, this is just one of the many examples of how the MRAA continues to advocate on behalf of our Minnesota members and the recreational boating industry at large.
To stay up to date on MRAA government relations activities, subscribe to our quarterly newsletter here. Have any further questions about the key ban? For instance, ant to know more about MRAA government relations activities or how to get engaged? Email Tokowicz, at Chad@mraa.com.
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.
• Rapid Marine uses proactive approach to engage, educate and encourage Minnesota boaters about new boating safety law
Imagine there are 10 hurdles in your way, standing between you and the finish line.
If you’ve ever had a chance to run hurdles on a track team, staring down 10 hurdles, each measuring 42 inches high (Olympic), in the 110-meter high hurdles looks incredibly daunting. Clearing all 10 hurdles in sequence while running is even more challenging for those who have never done it or done it with proper form.
I remember the first time I tried to run hurdles in track. If I could jump and run what could go wrong? A lot. However, once I practiced a certain controlled running and leaping cadence for clearing each obstacle things improved. In fact, hurdles were sort of fun after that. “Sure, coach, I’ll do the 400 hurdles, too!”
Help Customers Enjoy Boating
As a boat dealer, you have hurdles of your own, but you also can help guide and coach your customers to greater boating success by clearing obstacles that could prevent them from boating or simply enjoying time on the water. One recent example of this is Minnesota’s new boater education law that goes into effect on July 1, 2025. The MRAA Advocacy Team supported this safety and educational law to promote boater knowledge and training of the future generations of boaters. To be clear, it’s only a hurdle if dealers and boaters are unprepared for it. One dealer took it upon themselves to help its customers understand the new law.
Rapid Marine, an MRAA Gold Member and Certified Dealership with multiple Minnesota locations, recently created a helpful blog for boaters (especially younger ones) explaining the new mandatory boater safety law that takes effect July 1, 2025!
Rapid Marine, an MRAA Certified Dealership (Shout out to @GarettSolberg and his teammates), understands that by helping its customers overcome boating hurdles, it’s clearing some major hurdles of its own — boater retention. Its recent website article explains all the details of this law. They also share that, “This law is all about boater safety. With more boaters on the water than ever, ensuring everyone knows the rules and has the right training helps prevent accidents and protect Minnesota’s waterways.”
By focusing on messaging that helps improve its customers’ (and potential customers’) boat ownership experiences and educating the boating community it supports, Rapid Marine is earning boaters’ trust and helping to keep its customers boating. And by serving as a respected boating expert — promoting safety and encouraging abidance of boating laws — Rapid Marine is maintaining relationships and fostering messaging that promotes proper boat use and building a culture focused on boater retention.
Overcoming Boating Hurdles Together
Remember this new boater safety law is just one hurdle of many new boaters face. Others may include not knowing boating and fishing laws, where to boat or how to maintain their boat.
That’s why it’s important to engage, educate and encourage customers. You’re helping them to reduce the number of hurdles or properly size them up so they enjoy boating to its fullest. Your guidance, like this Rapid Marine example, helps them find greater success and develop loyalty to your dealership.
What hurdles have you helped your customers understand more clearly so they can take them on with more confidence and at full stride? Let me know about it — send an email to: jerrod@mraa.com.
• Senate Bill 1267 Increases Transparency in Boat Transactions
MINNEAPOLIS, June 10, 2025 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), along with a coalition of recreational boating organizations, commends the state of Texas for enacting Senate Bill 1267, signed into law on May 27 by Gov. Greg Abbott. This bipartisan legislation, classified as “Uniform Certificate of Title for Vessels Act” (UCOTVA), makes important changes to Texas boat titling, registration and branding systems, ultimately delivering significant benefits to consumers, law enforcement, marine retailers and the industry at large.
Authored by Senator Carol Alvarado and sponsored in the House by Representative Cody Vasut, SB 1267 introduces comprehensive reforms to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code. The bill aims to enhance transparency, combat fraud and streamline the process of buying and selling boats in Texas. To clarify, the provisions put forth in SB 1267 fall under UCOTVA. The recreational boating industry, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) support this set of policy recommendations.
Furthermore, the policies will provide more protections for consumers and marine retailers, making it harder for bad actors to hide the vessel history and deter theft. Ultimately, this increases transparency in the marketplace. Texas is the seventh jurisdiction to enact UCOTVA provisions.
“The MRAA praises the passage of SB 1267 and commends Representative Vasut and Senator Alvarado for championing legislation that supports the recreational marine industry,” said Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager. “It is our hope that the successful passage of SB 1267 in Texas will pave the way for other states to follow the lead and consider adopting UCOTVA to the benefit of their states recreational marine industry.”
Key Consumer Protections and Industry Enhancements in Texas Boating Bill — SB 1267:
Hull-Damaged Title Branding:
The law mandates that vessels with known hull damage be clearly branded as “Hull Damaged” on their titles. To clarify, the requirement applies to both private sellers and insurers and includes criminal penalties for noncompliance. Overall, it ensures that consumers are aware of serious issues before purchase. It helps them make informed decisions and reducing the risk of unknowingly buying unsafe or devalued vessels.
Accelerated Titling Process:
The timeframe for submitting a title application after a boat sale has been reduced from 45 days to 20 days. This change expedites ownership transfers and reduces opportunities for title fraud.
Electronic Titling and Records:
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is now authorized to issue and maintain electronic titles and ownership records. This modernization improves record accuracy and accessibility for consumers and law enforcement.
Enhanced Hull Identification Number (HIN) Enforcement:
The law strengthens regulations surrounding HINs, requiring inspections and proper documentation to prevent tampering and ensure accurate vessel identification.
Marine Industry Coalition
A recreational marine industry coalition, including the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), Boat History Report and the MRAA, supported SB 1267. The MRAA worked with the NMMA to ensure that legislators on key committees understood the benefits and implications of UCOTVA. We urged them to support the passage of the Texas boating bill and legislation. Click here to see our outreach.
The MRAA worked with the NMMA to ensure that legislators on key committees understood the benefits and implications of UCOTVA. We urged them to support the passage of the Texas boating bill and legislation in recent letter.
“The passage of SB 1267 marks an important victory for boaters, dealers and manufacturers across Texas,” said Emily Villanueva, NMMA Western Government Relations Manager. “By modernizing Texas’ titling and registration system, this legislation brings much-needed transparency, strengthens consumer protections and aligns with national best practices that benefit the entire recreational marine industry. We commend Senator Alvarado, Representative Vasut and the Texas Legislature for their leadership and are proud to have partnered with MRAA and other stakeholders to support this reform.”
A Focus on Boat History
The industry’s most trusted provider of pre-owned boat history reports, Boat History Report actively supported SB 1267. Its support is part of the broader effort to enhance transparency and consumer protection in boating.
Boat History Report was founded in 2005 to address the lack of reliable information in the used boat market. Grant Brooks, its founder, was frustrated with inconsistent and incomplete data when he searched for a boat. Today, Boat History Report compiles thousands of public and private data sources into comprehensive reports. The reports help buyers, sellers, lenders, insurers and regulators make more informed decisions.
An MRAA Platinum Partner Member, Boat History Report’s mission aligns closely with the objectives of SB 1267. It remains committed to promoting safer and more transparent boat transactions nationwide.
“This legislation is a significant step forward for boating safety and consumer protection in Texas,” said Caroline Mantel, Boat History Report Director of Business Development. “We applaud the Texas Legislature and Governor Abbott for enacting these reforms, which will serve as a model for other states seeking to enhance transparency and integrity in the boating industry.”
UCOTVA Momentum
The MRAA and industry partners are mobilizing to champion these policies as UCOTVA spreads to other states. Want to know more about UCOTVA or discover how you can make a difference? Want to take action on other MRAA advocacy priorities? Please reach out to MRAA Government Relations Manager, Chad Tokowicz, at Chad@mraa.com.
By Liz Keener, MRAA Senior Director of Dealer Development
During the opening night dinner at the American Boating Congress, organizers invited first-time attendees to stand up. There were dealers, manufacturer representatives and industry suppliers who rose from their chairs — and, of course, me.
For 14 years, I had heard of this event — ABC — where the industry meets on Capitol Hill in Washington to learn, network and meet their congressional representatives. It always sounded like such an impactful event and I was eager to finally attend.
(From left) Matt Gruhn, MRAA President, Chris Butler, MRAA Board Member and Joe Lewis, MRAA Board Chair attended the 2025 American Boating Congress in Washington to share the voice of boat dealers.
Real Dealer Stories that Made an Impact
What I learned in my short visit to D.C. is every single one of us in the industry can make a difference by attending ABC, engaging in dealer advocacy, meeting with representatives and telling our story.
Akey theme shared throughout was sharing our story. If you don’t tell your story — the story of your business, your family, your employees, your product and your customers — your representatives won’t know how they can best represent you and support your business.
We started the first day by learning from Brett McGill of Marine Max and Bryan Redmond of Suntex Marinas. We also heard from manufacturers, staff from federal agencies and congressional offices, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) team and an economist. Moreover, topics included regulation, the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, new marine technology, modern manufacturing and more. Finally, the day ended with breakout sessions. It included a state update by the NMMA state government relations team, which touched on their collaborations with MRAA on state policy.
Can’t-Miss Opportunities
Between sessions, during lunch and at the BoatPAC reception, attendees could be heard discussing what they learned, the impact it had on them and what they’re experiencing in their own businesses during these uncertain economic times. BoatPAC, the federal political action committee of the recreational boating industry, promotes boat dealers’ business interests in Congress.
For the first-timers I talked to, it was eye-opening. And for many others in the room, ABC is a can’t-miss annual event.
ABC provides chances for attendees to network, get involved in marine industry advocacy in D.C., and opportunities for further work and collaboration. For example, just hours after meeting a Minnesota dealer at ABC, I connected him with Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager. We got the dealer plugged into local issues impacting him.
Why Dealer Advocacy Matters in Washington
Another first-time dealer participant told me she sees the value in attending as a dealer and hopes more boat dealers will join her in Washington in the future. As the Senior Director of Dealer Development, I would love to see more dealers and MRAA members at ABC. Lawmakers need to hear from our side of the industry. They need to better understand the challenges and opportunities associated with marine retail. While ABC comes at a very busy time for many boat dealers, it is an incomparable opportunity to connect with both legislators and others within the industry.
I hope more dealers will attend the 2026 event, eager to storm the Hill with their stories and make federal lawmakers listen. The NMMA and its industry partners will host next year’s American Boating Congress from May 4-6 in Washington.
In the meantime, never hesitate to reach out to MRAA’s marine industry advocacy team. Should you have questions about attending ABC, what is happening in your state, or if you want to set up a meeting with your local elected official, Mike Sayre, MRAA Director of Government Relations, and Chad Tokowicz are excited to dig into any issue — big or small.
Now in its third year, Discover Boating’s partnership with the Black Boaters Summit is expanding to three vibrant markets. Each major city is home to a strong and growing Black boating community:
Detroit, MI – Riverside Marina on Saturday, June 14
New York, NY – Breezy Pointe Yacht Club on Thursday, June 19 (Juneteenth)
Washington, D.C. – The Yards Marina on Saturday, June 21
The Black Boaters Summit is an exclusive, RSVP-only lifestyle event designed to celebrate culture, community and the joy of boating. The Summit offers a relaxed, welcoming environment that fosters authentic engagement, unlike traditional sales-driven boat shows.
Attendees, many of whom are current boat owners, new enthusiasts or prospective buyers, will enjoy a full day of on-water activities and conversations about the boating lifestyle.
Save the date: 2025 Black Boaters Summit to make stops in Detroit, Washington, D.C. and New York.
Prospective buyers, and those looking to take the next step by first renting or chartering, will have the opportunity to RSVP for on-water boating experiences from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The day continues with a dynamic “Ask Me Anything” panel featuring boating professionals, complemented by live music, local food vendors, boating trivia and more.
Participating partners, including MRAA dealers, Carefree Boat Club and others, receive a 10′ x 10′ booth space. They can engage with attendees and showcase their products and services. Moreover, between 250 and 500 guests are anticipated at each location as well as numerous boaters whose vessels will be docked at the marinas or rafted nearby.
In short, this is a meaningful opportunity to connect with a passionate, fast-growing audience in a setting that prioritizes inclusion, experience and lifestyle. For more information, see the attached flyer or contact Kevin M. Williams (kwilliams@nmma.org).
• Discover Boating Safe Boating Video Series — Empower boaters with confidence, safety and inspiration
Discover Boating, in collaboration with Progressive Insurance®, has launched a fresh wave of safety videos designed to build trust, encourage on-water confidence and support the long-term growth of recreational boating.
These five new videos are part of an ongoing commitment to make boating safer, more accessible and more rewarding for current and future boaters. As a boat dealer, you can use the content to engage customers, encourage boating, promote safety and boost retention.
How to File a Float Plan, No. 3 of the 2025 Discover Boating safe boating video series with Progressive Insurance, helps dealers engage customers and encourage boating and doing it safely.
2025 Safety Video Lineup
Prepare Your Boat for Boating Season — Help customers start smart. Help them learn how to inspect and ready a boat for a successful and safe season.
How to Boat Safely with Kids — Share these simple tips. They are tailored to young passengers and keep family outings safe and fun.
Use a Float Plan for Safety (Above) — Encourage the use of a float plan. Share how it can save lives on the water. This video tells them what it is, why it matters and how to use one.
Life Jacket Safety Essentials — Like boaters, life jackets come in various sizes, shapes and ages. Provide this video to your customers. It helps them know how to choose, wear and maintain life jackets for every rider in the family.
Boat Sound Signaling Devices — Boat sound signals are important to know and understand. Help your customers know what the signals mean and how to use them. Promote safety and compliance.
Why These Boat Safety Videos Matter
Each Discover Boating, powered by the NMMA and MRAA, boat safety series video supports key goals that benefit your customers — and your business. They are:
Builds confidence by making safety second nature
Positions boating as a welcoming lifestyle for all ages and experience levels
Turns curiosity into commitment, nurturing long-term participation and boat ownership
The Discover Boating, in collaboration with Progressive Insurance®, boating safety videos are designed to build trust, encourage on-water confidence and support the long-term growth of recreational boating. (Discover Boating image)
How to Share:
These boat safety videos, which engage customers and encourage boating, are ready to embed, are easy to share and free to use from the Discover Boating Industry Resource Centeror YouTube channel. Moreover, the videos, and the industry’s “See You Out Here” marketing campaign, are part of Discover Boating’s new PSA campaign. It is timed to match peak boating season and include messaging that encourages viewers to explore boating responsibly.
Use these videos in your:
Website resource sections
Email campaigns
Social media posts
Showroom displays
About Discover Boating Discover Boating is your go-to resource for all things boating. We believe the water is a place of welcome, adventure, wellness and connection. We’re dedicated to helping you experience the joys of life on the water, advancing boater education, safety and conservation and sharing resources, advice, and stories from our community of boaters and boating experts.
• A Q&A with Kellen Friedlander, President, Great Lakes Marine
By Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager
Rapidly shifting global trade policy is resulting in rising costs and supply chain disruptions. It’s ultimately creating uncertainty for boat dealers, especially those serving both recreational customers and public safety agencies. To explore these challenges, we spoke with Kellen Friedlander of Great Lakes Marine in Denver, Colo. Since 1976, his dealership has sold and serviced boats for the general public and also supplied critical patrol vessels to law enforcement, wildlife and emergency services agencies.
In this Q&A, Kellen shares how sudden tariff changes have delayed boat orders. How they have, strained relationships with overseas manufacturers. How they have complicated contracts with government agencies. His story reflects the broader impact trade policy has on dealers and the communities they serve.
Our conversation aims to spark dialogue, share real-world insight about tariff policy and cross-border marine trade. It will help you find clarity in uncertain times.
A Colorado Dealer’s Perspective
MRAA: Can you provide an overview of your business andyour work with law enforcement or natural resource agencies?
Kellen Friedlander, President, Great Lakes Marine
Friedlander: Great Lakes Marine is a Colorado-based marine dealer that was founded in 1976 and we both sell and service boats. While we sell and service recreational boats for the general boating public, we have supplied and maintained patrol boats for various agencies in Colorado since 1984. I have sold boats and engines to everyone from biologists to law enforcement, to public safety professionals of every description. This is a very important aspect of our business. We not only serve recreational boaters, but work closely with the various agencies and professionals who are tasked with keeping those recreational boaters safe while recreating on Colorado waterways.
Canada & Overseas Boat Manufacturing
How important is Canadian and overseas boat manufacturing to your business model, particularly when it comes to sourcing boats for public safety use?
Due to the longstanding relationships we have developed in Colorado, we have had the opportunity to work very closely with multiple agencies to help develop a brand-new patrol boat suited for the ever-changing needs of daily patrol. During this process, I contacted many boat builders in an effort to find one that would be willing to work with us to develop this new boat. After many conversations pertaining to the specifications needed, the company that we ended up working with on the project is a Canadian boat manufacturer. This company offered the best products and a willingness to customize the patrol boat for the needs of the agencies. And since then I have also used the same company to satisfy the needs of multiple other agencies in Colorado.
To be concise; this company is crucial to my ability to supply these agencies. At this time there are no American-made counterparts who can satisfy the requirements of the agencies in Colorado.
Custom Crafts
What types of boats or marine products are you typically importing from Canada or overseas for these agencies? What other work do you do in tandem with these agencies and how has this relationship changed over the years?
We are solely importing aluminum boats but the type of boat has varied dramatically from center console to landing craft. I work closely with many agencies including law enforcement, fire departments, fish and wildlife and many other emergency services providers. At Great Lakes Marine, we not only work to import these boats for Colorado agencies, but service and repair them as well. Working directly with the manufacturers to create custom crafts for Colorado agencies is a new evolution of our relationship within the state. It unfortunately may be threatened by current trade policies.
U.S. Trade Policies
Please compare how past and present U.S. trade policies impacted your ability to import boats from Canada or overseas.
The current policies have been very detrimental. I have contracts in place that were agreed upon before any of the different tariff rates were even proposed. Now my pricing has changed dramatically. This rapid shift in pricing is even more complex when dealing with a government agency. Unlike a consumer, who are also negatively impacted by market uncertainty and price spikes; government agencies simply cannot authorize an increase in how much they are spending.
In the case of working with the Colorado state agencies on their custom patrol boats, I had to bid on a competitive contract, a process the state utilizes to ensure they are getting the best priced products. The issue this presented is that I was not able to price in the tariffs when making my offer. The Trump Administration did not provide enough warning, or ramping up of the tariffs. And now that they are in place, my profit margin has been severely undercut on this deal.
Tariffs & Delays
Can you share any specific examples where uncertainty around tariffs has delayed or complicated an order for a client? What was the impact on your business? What was the impact on the natural resource/law enforcement agency?
One of the agencies I work with, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), has had three patrol boats on order since January of 2024. The Canadian company that I ordered the boats from stopped building boats for the U.S. for a period when the tariffs were announced and pushed all those boats out of production. I am still waiting for those boats to be built. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is still waiting for their new boats. Obviously this is a detriment to their ability to ensure public safety. CPW needs these new upgraded patrol boats to effectively keep recreational boaters safe on Colorado waterways.
Further adding to the issue is the fact that all of this is happening right before peak season. Now is the time for CPW and other agencies to be training and getting familiar with their new vessels and safety equipment before using it to save lives during peak boating season. Simply put, the timing couldn’t be worse.
Have these cross-border marine trade challenges affected your relationships with Canadian or overseas manufacturers? Or with the government agencies you serve?
Absolutely. Firstly, the relationship between my company and the Canadian company have been strained greatly as they are very unhappy with the policies. This strain has thereby also filtered down to my relationship with the agencies I deal with as I really have no good answers as to time frame or pricing of new boats. This is really putting everyone in a tough position, compromising long-standing international relationships and potentially limiting the ability for state agencies to engage in on-water-safety.
Flexibility & Adjustments
What adjustments or workarounds have you had to make — either operationally or financially — to keep fulfilling these critical contracts?
This is still to be determined as I have reached out to U.S. companies who are still unwilling to and/or unable to satisfy the requirements laid out in my purchase orders. While a goal of the Administration is to bring more manufacturing back into the U.S., the stark reality is that this will take a serious investment of time and money.
What changes in trade policy would you like to see to better support businesses like yours?And to support the public agencies you serve?
I think that it would be logical to make allowances for existing contracts that were made prior to changes in tariff rates. The tariff regime is making pre-existing deals simply unprofitable and unfair. I also think that exemptions for public safety and government purchases would make sense since those contracts usually are for longer. The money is locked in more than a private sale and done through a competitive bidding process. An exemption on these types of transactions would ensure that our law enforcement and public safety agencies are not hamstrung by the unintended externalities of international trade policy. They can continue to focus on what they do best – saving lives and helping people have fun on the water.
Marine Trade & Your Voice
Friedlander’s story underscores how tariff policy and cross-border marine trade are directly affecting dealers. And the public safety agencies they support. As the industry navigates these challenges, your voice and experience are more important than ever. Want to tell us about your experiences with tariffs? Take our survey here. Have questions or ready to dive into MRAA advocacy efforts? Email me at Chad@mraa.com.
For over 40 years, IDS has been a trusted DMS partner across the recreational industry, delivering unmatched transparency, integrity, and innovation. Drawing on that deep well of industry expertise, IDS Marine will focus entirely on the unique needs of marine dealerships, providing a unique consultative approach to client management and acting as a trusted partner to boat dealers.
IDS Marine is charting a course to provide:
Purpose-Built Solutions – Developing products and integrations specifically designed for the Marine industry.
Customer-First Service – Delivering industry-leading support and personalized attention.
A Dealer-Driven Approach – Ensuring your voice shapes our roadmap to help you streamline operations and maximize profitability.
“The launch of IDS Marine comes at a critical time when dealers are seeking more from their DMS partner,” says Marc Hertert, General Manager of IDS Marine. “They need a partner solely focused on the unique needs of marine dealerships—one that offers exceptional customer service along with unrivaled accounting and reporting capabilities.”
As IDS Marine begins this journey, the company is calling on marine dealers, OEMs, and technology partners to share their ideas, feedback, and integration requests to help shape the future of marine dealership management technology.
“Dealer feedback will play a vital role in guiding our path forward,” says Hertert. “Our success hinges on your success, and we’re committed to delivering solutions to streamline operations, strengthen customer relationships, and drive profitability.”
To learn more about how IDS Marine can be your dealership’s trusted partner, contact the IDS Marine sales team at ask@ids-marine.com or visit ids-astra.com/ids-marine.
About IDS Marine
Integrated Dealer Systems (IDS) is the leading provider of DMS solutions throughout the recreation industry. Trusted by thousands of dealers, IDS has set the standard for quality service and continuous innovation for more than 40 years. Backed by a team of dedicated professionals with strong marine industry partnerships, IDS Marine’s mission is to understand the unique challenges dealers face and deliver the tools and expertise needed to power their success.
IDS Marine is a proud Partner and Education Champion of the MRAA. Education Champions fuel the educational programming that the MRAA delivers through Dealer Week, MRAATraining.com, and other programs through which MRAA delivers content. Learn more about how your organization can Partner with the MRAA.
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