MRAA Highlights Pre-Owned Boat Business in May

MINNEAPOLIS, May 5, 2022 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announces its most recent package of resources devoted to guiding marine retailers to greater business accomplishments. For May, as part of its monthly Spotlight on dealership development, the Association will add information, tools and education to help marine retailers drive success in their pre-owned boat business

“Along with the massive size of the pre-owned boat market — one that saw 1.1 million units sold in 2021 — comes massive potential for dealers to capitalize on opportunities within this $10 billion segment of the marine industry,’” explains Matt Gruhn, MRAA President of Education. “Dealers can fuel their bottom line and diversify their revenue by creating an effective process for securing, servicing, marketing and selling pre-owned inventory. With proper pre-owned boat system in place, businesses can set themselves up for long-term stability.”

To help dealers overcome hurdles and to enhance their current pre-owned boat market efforts, MRAA has built a designated landing page complete with new tools and custom content. The page — MRAA.com/PreOwnedSuccess — provides members and non-members educational resources and content in the form of dealer conversations, articles and blogs, expert interviews, informational videos and more. The content is designed to be evergreen, like all the MRAA Spotlight pages, so site visitors can bookmark the page and revisit the topics to help them work through current issues.

In addition to the Pre-Owned Boat Market Spotlight page, the MRAA also has created “The Ultimate MRAA Guide to the Pre-Owned Boat Market” and a pre-owned boat market article series. They are filled with expert analysis, tactics and implementable processes that will help MRAA members navigate all of the unknowns and capture the business they deserve. Furthermore, MRAA launched its Certified Pre-Owned Boat Market Program this year to provide dealers and their customers with the confidence they each deserve in buying (and selling) pre-owned boats. This exclusive CPO program provides a proven process, quality third-party inspections and analysis, and a direct pathway for dealers to both differentiate their inventory AND make a sizable margin.

“Focusing on the pre-owned boat market offers dealers a competitive advantage and a chance to capture new customers,” said Jason Walz, MRAA Director of Programs. “The MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program eliminates some of the guess work for marine retailers by providing a universal standard for fluid testing, boat history documentation and inspection that will clearly differentiate a dealership’s used boat inventory from non-certified inventory and private sellers. In turn, both dealers and their customers gain confidence in the certified pre-owned boat process, while retailers can add to their much-needed profit center.”

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.

Outdoor Recreation Industry Showcases Power of Americans Getting Outside in New Video

Applauds Senate committee approval of first-ever recreation package that will improve outdoor access, experiences

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 3 – On the same day the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed the first-ever recreation package, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), of which MRAA is a member, released an energizing video highlighting a myriad of outdoor recreation activities, the $689 billion outdoor recreation economy, and the over 4.3 million jobs it supports while urging Americans to get outside and recreate. The video also emphasizes how the outdoor recreation industry boosts our local and national economies, and how recreating outdoors has been a fun, healthful respite for many over the past two years and will continue to be in the future.

“I don’t think our nation has seen the positive impacts outdoor recreation has had on Americans’ physical, mental and economic health in such a tangible way as we have over the past several years,” said Jessica Turner, president of Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “Now is the time to remind the nation and our elected officials how the outdoors and the recreation economy helped us get through the pandemic and how we can bring more to people, communities and economies with bills like the recreation package. We hope Americans continue to get outside to improve their lives and, like the video states, nowadays we could all use a little less zoom and a little more vroom!”

Additionally, America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2022 passed by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee today includes the Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act, the Outdoor Recreation Act, Recreation Not Red-Tape, among other bipartisan and pragmatic outdoor recreation legislation. ORR sent a letter to the committee last year urging them to pass this much-needed legislation as soon as possible to, “help manage already existing conserved lands and waters in order to support businesses recovering from COVID-19, and now impacted by wildfires and drought, ensure better access to the outdoors for all Americans, mitigate the impacts of climate change and ever-increasing visitation in some areas on the outdoor experience and create jobs by supporting rural economies and communities.”

ORR logo “The work and mission of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable is integral for the current and continued success of America’s outdoor recreation economy,” said Matt Gruhn, President of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “Time and time again outdoor recreation can bridge party lines and unify members of Congress who understand the value these pastimes hold for communities and individuals nationwide. I hope that we can see more progress on outdoor recreation policy before the end of the 117th and throughout the 118th Congress.”

Turner added, “We applaud Chairman Manchin and Ranking Member Barrasso for crafting the first-ever Outdoor Recreation Package and helping to pass it out of committee. We now urge the full Congress to pass it this year to continue the tremendous momentum and impact of the outdoor recreation economy.”

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ABOUT ORR
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable  is the nation’s leading coalition of outdoor recreation trade associations representing the $689 billion outdoor recreation economy. ORR focuses on the growth of outdoor recreation by building a better environment for the sustainable growth of outdoor recreation businesses and driving a broader understanding of the value of the outdoor recreation economy. Our membership includes national outdoor trade association members, business entities, nonprofit organizations, and universities — serving more than 110,000 businesses and representing America’s boating, fishing, RVing, biking, hiking, camping, hunting, ATVing, diving, horseback, and skiing communities among many more.

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.

5 Tips to Get More Pre-Owned Boats Approved

Insights to Help You Identify and Avoid Any Traps Along the Way

By Jared Zimlin, Director of Business Development, Elite Recreational Finance

In the new norm we are currently in, demand is up and the supply of new boats down or delayed. Because of this, many dealers are turning more and more to selling pre-owned boats. There are some great opportunities for a dealership to gain new customers as well as hold strong margins.

As with new boat sales, the bulk of customers finance their purchase. Even if they are paying cash, many are just going to their local bank to get the funds, so we also consider those as finance deals.

Here are 5 important tips to help you get more pre-owned boats approved and avoid some traps along the way.

1. Keep the Financing at the Dealership
You can’t control the sale if you let the customer get their own financing. When a customer goes to their local bank, several things can happen that will cost you a sale. And it also generates a lot of questions, such as:

  • Does their bank lend on used boats?
  • How many model years back will they lend?
  • How do they value a pre-owned boat?
  • Could they tell your customer “you are paying too much” because they don’t allow for electronics and other equipment on the boat?
  • What if they do more business with your competitor and refer your customer there?

Questions, questions, questions! This is all you have if you let them walk. Most marine lender programs offer strong pre-owned programs. The rate may be bumped a bit and the terms may be shortened or not; it depends on the bank and the customer’s credit. It’s important to know that if you keep the financing at the dealership, you are less likely to wait for those customers riding the “Be Back Bus” that never turns around.

2. Understand Indirect vs. Direct Lender Programs
From a lender’s perspective, pre-owned boats and consignment boats are two different things. If you read your Indirect lender agreements, they all state that you own the collateral you are seeking to help finance. Indirect lenders will want to see a clear trail on the title from the previous owner to the dealer to the new owner. If you don’t own the boat and are simply consigning it, you’ll need to partner with lenders who have correspondent programs and can lend on a peer-to-peer transaction with you simply acting as a broker.

3. Know Each Lender Age Restrictions
Each lender looks at pre-owned boats differently. Some lenders only go back five years, while some allow for 10, and there are some that will go back as far as 30! This is key when making sure you have the correct mix of lenders in your portfolio. If you put your finance eggs in a small number of lender’s baskets who only go as far back as 10 years and take a trade or pick up a boat at auction that is a 2009, you will not be able to best serve the customer’s finance needs. The easiest place to find this information is on a lender’s rate sheet.

4. Understand Each Lender’s Loan to Value
Knowing the loan-to-value determination is critical. It can help you close the sale or lose the deal. Just like age restrictions, each bank has different rules when it comes to valuing the Loan to Value.

First, what is loan to value? Simply put, it’s the amount to finance divided by the value accepted by the lender. So where does that value come from? Primarily lenders look at NADA. Some will use BUC and occasionally look online for comparable figures. Since NADA is the most widely used, let’s stick with that. You need to look at a lender’s rate sheets to see what value in NADA they use: “Used Trade-In,” “Average Retail” or “High Retail.” Most lenders use “Used Trade-In.”

Next, you need to determine what that will advance above that value, and will they make exceptions for options? Some lenders will take “Used Trade-In” + 10 percent then add 10 percent for options. Some will do ‚”Used Trade-In” + 25 percent all in. The important thing here is, read your rate sheet and know the program.

Why is this critical? If you want to hold your margin on the sale and the lender is only going to advance so much above the NADA value, you will need to get the extra as a down payment.

5. Market Pre-Owned Boat Financing
In the words of the Grinch, “Solve world peace, tell no one.” This holds true for pre-owned boat financing. If a customer knows they can finance, they may be more likely to purchase. Maybe they are a payment buyer. Maybe they are doing well in the market and want to keep their cash working for them instead of putting it into a used boat. Whatever the reason, if you offer financing, let the world know. Place a note in your ads, as well as on your website and social media feeds. Get some signage. Post payments on boat tags.

These tips are meant to help you capitalize on the increased desire for pre-owned boats. There are other areas to focus on with this segment including service contracts, cash conversions and all the nuances between lender programs. However, those are universal topics to all F&I training, so this article is meant to provide you with actionable items to increase your ability to get more pre-owned boats approved and make more of your customers’ dreams of being on the water come true.

Jared Zimlin About the Author
Jared Zimlin is the Director of Business Development, Elite Recreational Finance, Education Champions with MRAA. Zimlin draws upon his two decades of business development experience solving problems for manufacturers, distributors and dealers across multiple industries with comprehensive retail finance, equipment finance and inventory finance solutions. A University of Florida alum, Zimlin is an avid cyclist and Club President of Gearlink Racing Inc.

TechForce Foundation Announces Category Winners and Opens Grand Prize Vote in 2022 FutureTechs Rock

Ten transportation technician students recognized for outstanding contributions as role models at school and in their communities

May 2, 2022 – SCOTTSDALE, AZ – TechForce Foundation® announces the Category Winners (Finalists) for the 2022 FutureTechs Rock Awards and opens the Grand Prize public vote. TechForce created this prestigious award to honor aspiring technicians and recognize those students with a promising future in the transportation industry. Voting is open through May 6, 2022. Meet the Category Winners and vote to choose the nation’s top tech student at TechForce.org/Vote.
TechForce Foundation FutureTechs Rock Awards
Industry expert judges selected ten Category Winners from a pool of nearly 370 nominations, representing 95 schools across 33 states. Each of the 10 High School and Post-Secondary winners has been awarded over $1,800 in prizes. The Grand Prize Winner, chosen from the Category Winners by public vote, will receive over $4,000 in additional scholarships and prizes from TechForce and our industry partners. Prize sponsors include Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, Caliber Collision, Cengage Learning, CRC Industries, Ford Motor Company, Snap-on Industrial and WD-40 Company.

The 2022 Category Winners represent six states and nine schools, and are equally split across high school and post-secondary programs. They each represent a distinct technical education discipline, and include:

• Automotive – Trishana Sadloo, New York Automotive and Diesel Institute, Jamaica, NY
• Aviation – Chozon Gilbert, MIAT College of Technology, Canton, MI
• Collision Repair – Andres Arellano, Wenatchee Valley Technical Skills Center, Wenatchee, WA
• Diesel Off-Road – Joshua Finell, Universal Technical Institute, Avondale, AZ
• Diesel On-Road – Riley Larr, Wexford Missaukee Career Tech Center, Cadillac, MI
• Marine and Watercraft – Durham Egger, Marine Mechanics Institute, Orlando, FL
• Motorcycle and ATV – Ashton Chatham, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Phoenix, AZ
• Motorsports (Pit Crew/ Racing) – Joshua Gunther, Naperville North High School, Naperville, IL
• Restoration – Jacob Edwards, Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES, New Hartford, NY
• Welding and CNC – Jacob Gunther, Naperville North High School, Naperville, IL

Voters also have a chance to win. Every person who votes for the Grand Prize Winner will be entered into drawings to win one of 5 prizes valued at $125 each, courtesy of TechForce partners AutoZone and CRC Industries.

The FutureTechs Rock Awards are part of TechForce Foundation’s workforce development initiative to help inspire and support tomorrow’s workforce of technicians. TechForce has also created the first and only social network designed and gamified for professional technicians and tech students to connect with each other, employers and schools (JoinTechForce.org). The transportation community is supporting it with content and using it to learn, connect, find events, and explore job opportunities while competing for prizes and leaderboard status.

About TechForce Foundation
TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion all students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional transportation technicians. The Foundation distributes more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants annually, thanks to its generous corporate sponsors and donors, and spearheads an industry-wide workforce development initiative to help encourage and support more young people to pursue the vehicle technician profession. This includes a network of students, working technicians, instructors, employers, industry professionals and enthusiasts committed to championing the technician workforce. For more information, visit www.TechForce.org. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Linkedin.

Boatline.com Commits to Education Champions Partnership with MRAA

MINNEAPOLIS — April 28 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announces Boatline.com has committed to partner membership as Education Champions.

“Boatline aims to be a partner for dealers providing both marketing solutions and educational resources to support their business,” says Lori Stacy, CEO of Trader Interactive, the parent company of Boatline. “Partnering with MRAA through the Education Championship program allows us to share information that will expand knowledge of the industry and keep dealers competitive in the marketplace.”

Boatline logo Boatline, a site purpose-built for buying and selling boats of every shape and sizes. Boatline focuses on solving dealers’ biggest concerns — expanding the reach of their business, getting their inventory in front of the right buyers and communicating with consumers quickly and authentically.

For more than 30 years, Trader Interactive has been the host of premier online recreation and commercial vehicle marketplace sites. Boatline, which leverages Trader Interactive’s proprietary functionality, uses next-gen technology specifically designed with boat shoppers and sellers in mind. Through marketplace listings, search engine optimization (SEO) services, search engine marketing (SEM) advertising options, and top-tier reporting via specialty lead enrichment and lead management products, dealers will streamline and improve their businesses.

As the second-highest level of membership, Education Champions fuel the educational programming that the MRAA delivers to its members in a year-round sponsorship program. Whether through Dealer Week, The MRAA Conference and Expo, MRAATraining.com or any other medium through which MRAA delivers content, Education Champions help bring MRAA’s world-class educational programming to life.

“In this digital era, where online has become not only a storefront for all dealers, but is how most consumers shop, it’s exciting to add Boatline as Eucation Champions,” said Allison Gruhn, Vice President of Business Development. “With decades of experience in the recreational industry, we value Boatline’s dedication to both the MRAA and the industry as whole, and look forward to generating resources for our members.”

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 Boatline
Boatline is a next-generation marketplace powered by Trader Interactive, an industry leader in premier online recreation and commercial vehicle marketplace sites. Marine Dealers have access to top-tier tools for advertising their locations and inventory, researching prices and scarcity, and top-of-the-line lead generation and management tools. Plus, buyers can expect a high-quality shopping experience and the fastest loading marketplace in the marine industry. You can visit us at Boatline.com or contact us at marketing@traderinteractive.com or call 877-354-4068.

Global Marine Insurance Commits to MRAA as Education Champions

MINNEAPOLIS — April 27 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announces Global Marine Insurance is continuing its support of the MRAA as an Education Champion partner.

“As a long time MRAA partner and sponsor, Global Marine Insurance is proud to continue our support as Education Champions” said Matt Anderson, President of Global Marine Insurance. “Those marine dealerships who take advantage of the educational programming at the MRAA, invest in themselves, which leads to a first-class dealership and long-term success.”

Global Marine Insurance Logo Global Marine Insurance has focused solely on marine insurance for all marine businesses and boaters since 1989. It invests in its people, products and technology to be the premier specialty insurance provider in the industry. The company strives for excellence in delivering value to its clients, partners and team members with integrity. The dedicated staff of 60-plus marine insurance professionals are proud to work with marine retailers as their businesses grows, add services and expand geographically.

As the second-highest level of membership, Education Champions fuel the educational programming that the MRAA delivers to its members in a year-round sponsorship program. Whether through Dealer Week, The MRAA Conference and Expo, MRAATraining.com or any other medium through which MRAA delivers content, Education Champions help bring MRAA’s world-class educational programming to life.

“We’re pleased to have Global Marine Insurance continue its long-standing partnership with MRAA, becoming Education Champions,” said Allison Gruhn, Vice President of Business Development. “With its industry knowledge and leadership within the marine industry, we’re certain our dealers will receive top-notch education to guide them to more successful growth.”

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 Global Marine Insurance
Global Marine Insurance has been providing yacht insurance, boat insurance, and marine business insurance solutions since 1989. Your customers will benefit from MRAA Preferred Repair Deductible (50% off), Agreed Value, Extended Parts Replacement, Repair Guarantee, Hurricane Haul Out, Rental Reimbursement, Increased Limits for Medical Payments, Personal Effects & Towing available, and Wreck Removal and more.

2021 Compensation Data is Almost Here!

In November, 2021 MRAA launched the Marine Industry Compensation Study. It was conducted for the first time in 2017 and came as a response to an industry-driven desire to identify compensation and staffing trends in dealerships across North America. With several years having passed, economic and workforce changes and, of course we can’t forget the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been curious to know what has changed for dealers in terms of compensation. Now, after several months of waiting, we are happy to announce we are just two weeks away from releasing the full report!

While some of the data is still being flushed out, here are some things you can look forward to seeing. With 102 dealership responses, initial data has come in for 37 positions for total compensation and other compensation information. Positions reported come from the front office, sales department, service department, parts/accessories/retail department and marina and include:

  • Front Office: Owner, General Manager, Receptionist, Bookkeeper, Controller, Warranty Administrator, Title Clerk and Accounts Payable Clerk
  • Sales Department: Sales Director, Sales Manager, Sales Lead, Sales Consultant, Sales Assistant/Lot Attendant, F&I Manager, F&I Associate, Sales/Marketing Assistant, Marketing Manager and Internet Sales Manager
  • Service Department: Service Director, Service Manager, Service Apprentice, Service Technician ‚Äì Entry Level, Service Technician ‚Äì Intermediate, Service Technician ‚Äì Senior/Master, Service Writer/Advisor, Boat Detailer, Rigger, Service/Parts Associate and Shop Foreman
  • Parts/Accessories/Retail Department: Parts Manager and Parts Associate
  • Marina: Marina Manager, Gas Dock Attendant, Marina Operations/Maintenance Personnel, Storage Runner/Yard & Marine Attendant, Yard Foreman and Yard Staff/Porter

The data for each position has been broken down based on characteristics such as geographic distribution, region (metro/suburb vs. small town vs. rural/low population), revenue (more or less than $10 million total annual revenue), Marine Industry Certification Dealership status, number of employees and whether or not there is a marina.

The 2021 Marine Industry Compensation Study was launched with support of the Bill & Kristin Fenech Foundation on behalf of Barletta Pontoon Boats and will be available mid-May.

MRAA Adds 700Credit as Education Champions

MINNEAPOLIS — April 22 — The Marine Retailers Assocation of the Americas announces that 700Credit has made the commitment to an Education Champions Membership.

“We are honored to be an educational asset for the MRAA organization,” said Ken Hill, Managing Director of 700Credit. “Through the years, 700Credit has been committed to providing relevant and valuable educational content to our dealership customer base and are excited to extend our commitment to marine dealers. Ensuring our dealers are up to date and informed regarding the latest regulations and requirements is one of our key focal points.”  700Credit logo

700Credit began in 2000, providing credit reports to a small group of automotive dealerships in California and Florida. Today, the organization has grown to one of the largest credit report and compliance vendors in the automotive market. It maintains close working relationships with all three bureaus: when compliance and/or regulations change, 700Credit is immediately made aware of it and makes the required changes and updates in its solutions.

As the company has grown, it has carefully selected specific products and services to enhance its core, credit report business. Consistently, 700Credit strives to meet its goal to create additional value for clients by streamlining its workflow to help maximize their opportunity for growth. 700Credit describes its client onboarding process as “best in class” in the industry. In as little as 48 hours, dealers will be up and running with any of its solutions. A client support line is answered by a live person, 24/7/365.

As the second-highest level of membership, Education Champions fuel the educational programming that the MRAA delivers to its members in a year-round sponsorship program. Whether through Dealer Week, The MRAA Conference and Expo, MRAATraining.com or any other medium through which MRAA delivers content, Education Champions help bring MRAA’s world-class educational programming to life.

“I’m thrilled to add 700Credit to our growing list of dedicated Education Champions,” said Allison Gruhn, Vice President of Business Development. “The MRAA Mini Guide ‘How to Read a Credit Report’ was done in partnership with 700Credit and its recent webinar on the new FTC Safeguards Rule proves it has its finger on the pulse on compliance and the marine industry. We’re excited to produce great education for our dealer members and industry as a whole.”

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 700Credit, LLC
700Credit, LLC. is the largest provider of credit reports, compliance and soft pull products to automotive, marine, powersports and RV dealers. Our offerings include credit reports, prescreen and pre-qualification platforms, compliance training platform, Safeguards Rule training, OFAC compliance, Red Flag solutions, MLA, Synthetic ID Fraud Detection, Identity and Driver’s License Verification, score disclosure notices, adverse action notices and more.

Discover Boating Celebrates Next Generation of Boaters in New ‘See You Out Here’ Campaign

Discover Boating, powered by the NMMA and MRAA, launched this month its new campaign, ‘See You Out Here’ across the U.S. and Canada. The campaign celebrates boaters from all backgrounds in an open invitation to explore life in, on, and under the water and in addition to its traditional run throughout spring and summer, will be extended year-round as its weaved into Discover Boating boat shows in 2023, and across Discover Boating’s enhanced digital channels.

“The unique, personal experiences boating creates across a wide spectrum of demographics are at the center of this campaign—the special moments, feelings, and freedoms only boating delivers—in a way that captures the hearts of our diverse customers,” said Ellen Bradley, chief brand officer for NMMA. “What we learned through extensive segmentation and mindset research of boater behaviors and motivations is their interest isn’t on the product—the boat—but rather the experience and where it takes you. Those learnings informed our creative approach and all aspects of our new campaign to invite the next generation, retain new boaters, and continue to engage long-time boaters.”

The new campaign videos, created by agency partner, Cutwater, are anchored by an impactful brand anthem film and the real stories of passionate boaters turned brand ambassadors around the country. These authentic, moving narratives feature the ambassadors’ unique histories and relationships with boating, all of whom reflect the next generation of boaters. “Hooked” spotlights Khristian Rousseve, the first Black student athlete in Louisiana to receive a scholarship for bass fishing. “Captain Jana” chronicles licensed captain Jana Zontek and her wife, Cindy, finding a shared love and appreciation for life on the water. “Depth of Field” takes a glimpse at the adventures of Andy Mann, an award-winning National Geographic photographer committed to marine conservation. These individuals are a snapshot of the more than 10 boaters featured in the new campaign.

The campaign launch comes on the heels of Discover Boating’s recent rebrand and digital transformation and the preview of the campaign’s ads to the industry during the Discover Boating® Miami International Boat Show® in February. Starting today, advertising will appear across North America via a comprehensive media strategy including video streaming with YouTube, ESPN, VICE, Telemundo; digital and social media channels; and, partnerships with the likes of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and a number of high-profile influencers.
Discover Boating 2022 Campaign
“Together with Cutwater, we created this campaign as an invitation to the next generation of boaters by sharing the fun, freedom, inclusivity, and sense of community that is special to life on the water,” said Kevin Williams, vice president of North American marketing for NMMA. “The compelling stories of Khris, Jana, Cindy and Andy speak to people who may not have historically seen themselves in boating but are excited by where a boat can take you, the adventures to be had, and the memories to be made.”

The campaign’s spring/summer marketing mix includes advertising, digital and social content, influencer partnerships, experiences, television public service announcements (PSA) and public relations and will appear in Discover Boating boat show media ranging from TV and onsite to digital and social starting in early winter.

“The inclusive theme and approach of the Discover Boating ‘See You Out Here’ campaign invites people of all backgrounds to use boating to create life experiences that are unique to them and their passions,” said Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “This is the very essence of what dealers can help their customers achieve. To understand that they enable the best moments in the boat ownership journey and help their customers find the right boat that can help make their on-the-water ambitions come true.”

How can you get involved with the new campaign and engage your audiences? Click here to stream, download or embed the new “See You Out Here” content to share in your showroom, on your website, via your social network or in your next email campaign.

Discover Boating See You Out Here

Atlantic Outboard Acquires Portland Boat Works & Harbor One Marina

Westbrook, CT, March 2022—The Cusson family (owners of Atlantic Outboard and Westbrook Marine Center, both of Westbrook, CT) announced they have completed the acquisition of Portland Boat Works (Portland, CT) and Harbor One Marina (Old Saybrook, CT).

Portland Boat Works is a large marina facility with summer seasonal slips, over 100,000 sq. ft. of indoor winter boat storage and the capacity to haul and launch boats up to 60 tons. Additionally, Portland Boat Works is Connecticut’s exclusive Tiara Yachts Dealer, and boasts their Yacht inventory in a large heated indoor showroom in Portland, CT. Harbor One Marina is a luxurious marina located at the mouth of the Connecticut River which offers gas and diesel sales, has a pool and a restaurant on site, and many more amenities.