Right to Repair Fight Continues

MRAA and our coalition partners are continuing to push back against Right to Repair legislation that surfaces throughout the country, as this presents a serious risk to boat users who may have had their engine improperly modified or repaired. MRAA is currently monitoring and pushing back against Delaware House Bill 22 which would require manufacturers to provide comprehensive information and access to software and tools needed to repair products — including electronics and marine engines — to untrained and uncertified technicians and individuals. MRAA is committed to monitoring efforts that seek to push forward this harmful legislation in all 50 states, so please do not hesitate to reach out if there is a bill introduced in your state.

For more information or any questions, please reach out to MRAA’s government relations manager, Chad Tokowicz at chad@mraa.com.

MRAA Board of Directors Outline 2021 Advocacy Priorities

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Board of Directors unanimously approved the adoption of the association’s 2021 advocacy priorities. The priorities were put together through responses to an industry-wide dealership survey where respondents ranked issues from most to least important. The responses were tabulated and the final recommendation was put together by MRAA’s Advocacy team.

Three overarching priorities were agreed upon to guide MRAA’s advocacy work at the state and federal level for 2021:

Protecting Small Business Growth

  1. Advocate for state and federal fiscal policies to promote small business growth.
  2. Ensure that boat dealers have a consistent regulatory environment to compete in.
  3. Advocate for increased investment in trades schools, technical training, and on the job work experience to help build the pipeline for new marine technicians.
  4. Address state tax conformity issues to ensure that Paycheck Protection Program loans are not taxed and administered according to Federal guidelines
  5. Advocate for states to conform to the CARES Act’s tax relief provisions to ensure that recreational boat dealers can remain in business and rehire employees.

Promoting Recreational Fishing and A Safe Boating Environment

  1. Increase investments for boating access and navigation infrastructure.
  2. Restore marine ecosystems that balance healthy fisheries with recreation access.
  3. Address the threat of Aquatic Invasive Species by securing federal and state funding for policies to manage or eliminate them.
  4. Support recreational access in the international effort to conserve 30 percent of all lands and waters by 2030, dubbed “30 by 30.”
  5. Fix the Renewable Fuel Standard to protect boaters from the harmful effects of misfuelling their vessels with E15 fuel.

Securing strong recreational infrastructure

  1. Implementing the Great American Outdoors Act.
  2. Develop disaster-resilient infrastructure for coastal communities.
  3. Pass a major infrastructure package to address critical needs for our industry, including funding for boat ramps, dredging, and updating critical transportation infrastructure.
  4. Reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.

“This sort of responsive feedback from our membership will help guide MRAA’s advoacy work through a critical year for the recreational boating industry,” said Matt Gruhn, MRAA’s President. “Our team is eager to continue this important work with our state and industry association partners to help solve some of the most pressing issues facing boat dealers in North America”

Fishing Nets 5 Million New & Returning Anglers in 2020

Fifty-five million Americans age 6+ went fishing in 2020 according to preliminary data from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s (RBFF) 2021 Special Report on Fishing. These 5 million new and returning anglers, who are younger, more diverse and live in urban areas, represent 10% growth in fishing participation in 2020. In addition to overall participation gains, RBFF saw substantial gains in key segments for growth including youth, women and diverse audiences.

“Fishing, like all other outdoor activities, clearly benefited from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the skillful execution of marketing campaigns pre-COVID has allowed fishing and boating to rise to the top of the consideration set for consumers looking for outdoor activities,” said RBFF Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Stephanie Vatalaro. “2020 was the perfect storm for fishing participation, and consumer sentiment is prime for continued growth in 2021.”

RBFF is releasing participation data early this year to help inform the industry’s efforts to engage and retain these new audiences.

2021 SPECIAL REPORT KEY FINDINGS:

  • Fishing participation rate rose to 18% of the U.S. population, the highest rate in over a decade
  • Youth participation in 2020 grew 53% to 13.5 million total participants
  • Hispanics participated at an all-time high with 4.8 million participants, a 13% increase from 2019
  • 19.7 million female participants represented a 36% of total participants, an all time high
  • Nearly 1.8 million more women went fishing than in the year prior, with a 10% increase
  • First- time participants climbed to 4.4 million (up from 3.1 million last year)
  • Reactivated participants soared at 9.0 million (compared to 6.8 million last year)
  • 88% of current fishing participants fished before the age of 12

Preliminary data also identified a troubling three-year trend among lapsed anglers. In 2020, 8.8 million anglers lapsed out of the sport. This group is primarily made up of Americans age 55+ who cite lack of time, preference for other outdoor activities, cost, loss of interest and lack of access to waterways as the primary reasons they lapsed.

“As an industry, we need to plug our leaky bucket to realize our goal of reaching 60 million anglers by the end of 2021,” added Vatalaro.

RBFF will continue to release new fishing participation data over the course of the next several weeks. The full report will be available in early Summer.

DockMaster Software Launches DMPay, an Online Payment Portal for Clients

Tampa, FL, Apr. 21, 2021 — DockMaster Software is pleased to announce that it has teamed up with Opportunities Bridge to provide DockMaster clients with DMPay, an online payment portal where their customers pay invoices online, in a secure cloud environment.

“Bringing online payment functionality to DockMaster will elevate the overall user experience and increase efficiency,” says Kevin Hardcastle, Director of Services and Support Operations at DockMaster Software. “By teaming up with Opps Bridge to deliver online payments, we have added years of industry knowledge to our already diverse team.”

DockMaster’s DMPay online payment portal allows our clients’ customers to simply click a link to pay invoices, boat sales deposits, work order deposits and storage contracts. They can also view and pay any outstanding invoices via the payment portal. These transactions then post to the customer ledger automatically.

DMPay consists of a Client Application Menu for staff and a Payment Portal for customers. Thanks to the client terminal, a dealer can take a boat sale deposit or send via email/text from anywhere. This allows DockMaster’s clients to receive payments rapidly, while decreasing the workload for employees.

DockMaster clients were treated to a DMPay webinar prior to launch and the response was outstanding. Thanks to feedback from clients, the team added the ability to collect a convenience fee either via a flat fee or percentage of the invoice total. Clients can now recoup credit card transaction fees; further assisting clients’ ability to increase their bottom-line revenue.

DockMaster would like to take this opportunity to thank its clients who participated in the webinar and offered their valuable insight. Their feedback is what helps DockMaster ensure that all its products and services are built to meet the needs of the industry.

DockMaster remains committed to further improving its suite of marine software solutions and adapting based on the needs of its clients.

About DockMaster Inc.
DockMaster Software is an industry leading management system for marinas, boatyards, and boat dealerships. DockMaster includes Unit Sales, Prospecting and F&I with fully integrated financial management and numerous integrations with CRM applications, dealer websites and text/messaging services. The Service module includes estimating, labor tracking, and complete parts management with ordering/receiving, subcontractor fulfillment and invoicing. DockMaster Mobile allows technicians to clock on/off jobs from any mobile device. Visual Marina™ management includes storage & billing, occupancy tracking, reservations and dry stack management, including integrations to leading consumer applications for boat rentals, online reservations, concierge/launch scheduling and our new Fuel Integration with FuelCloud. DockMaster also includes Point of Sale, Order Entry with eCommerce and a complete accounting system. Learn more at www.DockMaster.com and follow DockMaster on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Or email info@dockmaster.com

Massachusetts Marine Trades Association Receives $20,000 Grant To Market And Enhance The 2021

The Massachusetts Marine Trades Association (MMTA) is pleased to announce it has received a $20,000 recovery grant from the Massachusetts office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) to help market their 2021 Stay Local Boat Ma program.

Yesterday Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, MOTT Executive Director Keiko Orrall, State Senator Edward Kennedy & State Representative Carole Fiola presented the grant awards virtually to recipients. In alignment with the Baker-Polito administration’s partnerships for recovery plan, the Travel & Tourism recovery grant program aims to strengthen the economy of Massachusetts through the development and enhancement of the state’s tourism industry. The Stay Local Boat MA program was created in 2009 to help market and promote transient boater travel to destination marinas throughout the state. The program encourages group travel by offering discounts on dockage ranging from 10% to 20%. Participating marinas agree to offer these discounts to boaters from other registered marinas.

Stay Local Boat Ma founder and MMTA Executive Director Randall Lyons said “2021 will be an important year for recreational boating traffic within Massachusetts. Every $1 spent on dockage equates to close to $4 to the local economy where the boaters are traveling. Boaters are spending money on shopping, lodging, at restaurants and more so this program creates a win for boaters, marinas and local economies”. MMTA Board member and owner of Constitution Marina in Boston Tom Cox said “This is a terrific program: appreciated and enjoyed by our seasonal customers and it brings new boaters to our marina”.

The MMTA would like to thank the Massachusetts office of Travel & Tourism for this funding investment and we look forward to marketing the program to enhance boater traffic throughout the upcoming season. For more information on the Stay Local Boat Ma program and or to register your marina visit www.staylocalboatma.com or contact MMTA Executive Director Randall Lyons at Randall@boatma.com or (774) 404-8005.

MRAA Gold Member and Certified Dealer, Union Marine Adds New Location

Union Marine is excited to announce they are expanding their operation with a new location in Issaquah, WA.

Located just five minutes from Lake Sammamish, this new location will feature MasterCraft, Bennington Pontoon and Boston Whaler boat brands. The 11,000 sq ft showroom will offer design centers & interactive activities and events for their customers.

Kevin Roggenbuck, President and CEO stated “This is a great opportunity for Union Marine to provide convenient showroom access to the boaters on the east side of Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish.”

Founded in 1986, Union Marine, is one the largest independent boat dealers in the nation, featuring seven locations in Seattle, Fife, Pacific, Bellingham and now Issaquah. They offer boat sales, marine service centers and accessories sales at each location. The company’s portfolio features Sea Ray, MasterCraft, Bennington, Bayliner, Heyday Wakeboats, Nautique & Boston Whaler.

Dealer Profit Releases Compliance Preparation, Compliance Certification Program

Compliance Preparation and Compliance Certification Program offers Marine, RV, Powersports Dealers with ability to demonstrate “good faith” compliance effort

ATHENS, GEORGIA, USA, February 1, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ — “Compliance, when it comes to identifying and protecting against identity theft, protecting against any form of trafficking with terrorists, terrorist organizations, and sympathizers, and protecting against any form of entanglement with money laundering activities, is always important for dealers – and it is also hard to manage correctly,” states Myril Shaw, COO of Dealer Profit Services. “We developed our Compliance Preparation and Compliance Certification Program to make compliance a ‘no-brainer’. It is on-demand. It is available when and as needed. It is comprehensive. It is easy!”

With the newly released Compliance Preparation and Compliance Certification Program (CPCPP) annual subscription, Dealer Profit Services (DPS) provides all Marine, RV, and Powersports dealers with the following tools, capabilities, and content:

• Complete Compliance Documents available whenever and as often as needed and fully branded for the Dealership including:

o Red Flags Rule – Policy and Procedure Manual

o Disposal Policies and Procedures

o OFAC Policy and Procedure Manual

o Safeguards Rule Policies and Procedure Manual

o USA Patriot Act Policy and Procedure Manual

• Full Compliance Training via video content available whenever, as often as needed, and to as many dealer personnel as required – content is comprised of seven distinct video units in lengths ranging from 20 minutes to 45 minutes which may be watched on-demand and at the convenience of the viewer, with the ability to pause and return to the viewing at a later time – on completion a document in the name of the viewer is produced and made available to the dealership showing when the videos were watched by each viewer and suitable for inclusion in both the personnel file and with the Compliance Documents
• Compliance Certification Exam to be completed by those who have completed the Compliance Training made available as a 20-question multiple-choice exam the results of which will be made available to the dealership showing the exam results, including the score and whether the exam was passed or failed, and suitable for inclusion in both the personnel file and with the Compliance Documents
• Compliance Checklist suitable for use by the Compliance Officer and other Dealership management and designated personnel to ensure that best efforts are being made to demonstrate “good-faith” efforts in meeting Compliance rules and regulations as they pertain to protecting against and identifying Identity Theft, protecting against any form of trafficking with terrorists, terrorist organizations, and sympathizers, and protecting against any form of entanglement with money laundering activities
• Supplemental Compliance Training Slide Deck for use as and where desired to reinforce compliance training principles
• Social Security Area Information which helps dealer personnel identify potential identity theft through casual conversation by referring a customer’s place of birth or residence based on the Social Security Number
• Compliance “Hot Line” Email available to any Dealership personnel for compliance or program-related questions or suggestions – note that there will be no legal advice provided

During the period of the subscription any or all CPCPP is available on-demand and as frequently, as often as desired at the complete convenience of the Dealership and personnel.

Pricing starts at $1,999.00 for the first year and $999.00 for subsequent years with discounts available for multi-location dealerships, 20 Group participants and DPS Financial Services customers.

Additional pricing information, as well as sign-up information, is available by clicking CPCPP-DPS.

Questions may be directed to: compliance@dealerprofit.com.
Myril Shaw
Dealer Profit Services, LLC
+1 678-641-8419


Yamaha Boating Academy Launches Consumer Driven Resources

Yamaha Marine has announced a video series designed to give novice boaters basic tips while emphasizing the importance of safety on the water. Hosted by Yamaha Pro and social media influencer Tyler Anderson, Yamaha’s Boating Academy aims to help educate new boaters on a wide variety of useful topics including boating etiquette, driving 101 and proper boat ramp procedures.

“Interest in recreational boating and fishing increased substantially in 2020 as people looked for new ways to enjoy time with family and friends outdoors,” said Dale Barnes, Marketing Division Manager, Yamaha Marine Engine Systems. “As a result, there are many new boaters on the water. Now is the perfect time to provide them with basic tips and safety information that will keep everyone safe during the high season.”

During the short videos, host and angler Tyler Anderson covers a basic list of topics every boater should know before getting out on the water, including driving basics, docking, maritime knots, getting up to speed, boat cleaning techniques, boating etiquette, boat ramp launching and landing and driving with a boat trailer. He also touches on boating terminology and gives his audience a pre- and post- boating checklist to make sure they have everything they need for a great day on the water.

“What we’ve learned is that many new boat owners are afraid to ask basic questions, but without this kind of fundamental knowledge, experiences on the water can become stressful or even dangerous,” said Anderson. “The Yamaha Boating Academy aims to equip novice boaters with the information they need to really enjoy their boats. The videos are short, concise and easy to watch again for those who need a little refresher.”

The Yamaha Boating Academy series is available now on yamahaoutboards.com. Click here to learn more.

MRAA Member Hagadone Marine Group Announces Major Expansion

Hagadone Marine Group based out of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is upping the boat moorage game in a big way.

The largest project by Hagadone Corporation in over 12 years has officially been announced. Craig Brosenne, President of Hagadone Marine Group, has publicized the $15 million dollar construction of the region’s first and only dry stack facility. It is slated for construction to commence July 1st, 2021 with a target completion and grand opening of April 1st, 2022 – timed accordingly for the beautiful Coeur d’Alene summer.

“Thanks to the vision and vigilant planning of Duane and Brad Hagadone, this project will be first class from start to finish,” Brosenne said. “It’s our goal that this development meets the same high quality standards that the Hagadone family has required of its other properties. The company continues to beautify the west entrance to the city.”

The project stems from the escalating high demand of boat slips on Lake Coeur d’Alene. In fact, Hagadone Marine Group currently has a substantial waiting list. The project will involve the erection of an impressive 60-foot tall structure, featuring 47,700+ sq ft of indoor storage space. The building will have the ability to house 380 boats within a five-story custom racking system. It’s a significant expansion of the company’s popular Quick Launch program.

It will be the only facility like it in the State of Idaho or in the region as a whole. Two specially designed forklifts, each weighing 80,000 pounds, will have the ability to remove and launch, or replace and restack, a boat at a rate of every 5 minutes. The forklifts were a significant investment of their own at $400,000 per lift. A custom 36-slip valet dock has already been built for Quick Launch boats waiting to depart onto the lake
or to be re-shelved. The top rack, at five stories high, can handle a 6000-pound boat. Once a boat is removed from dry stack, a custom fuel truck will be on-hand to gas up the boat before it goes in the water, eliminating the need to stop at a gas dock.

Brosenne indicated that Quick Launch customers signing an annual contract will receivefull Concierge Service and will be able to easily schedule boat launches or drop-offsthrough their Quick Launch App, SpeedyDock. Rates have yet to be announced and deposits will be accepted this upcoming summer for the 2022 season. All purchases of new 2022 model boats from Hagadone Marine Group’s premium brand selection –including Axis, Barletta, Chris-Craft, Cobalt, Harris, Malibu, Regal and Coeur Custom –will have a Quick Launch slip available and obtainable for their use.

Adjacent to the Quick Launch building will be a new Clubhouse featuring a café, cocktails and to-go items as well as a private gated parking area exclusive for Quick Launch guests. In addition, Hagadone Marine Group will be offering a Valet Concierge Service to the Quick Launch members. This service provides the delivery of boating equipment directly to the tenant’s boat, both from the tenant’s car as well as from the Clubhouse. This added experience is a first-class amenity and offers a worry-free service for a day out on the lake. The indoor storage provided by the new Quick Launch structure is undoubtedly the best way for customers to protect their investment while their boat is not in use.

“This will be a complex and detail-oriented project that has taken our company over four years to plan,” Brosenne said. “We’re very excited about the effect Quick Launch will have on the local economy, giving people additional and improved access to not only the lake, but also to the businesses of North Idaho. We believe this will bring millions of additional dollars to Coeur d’Alene’s community”.

John Barlow will supervise the construction of the project. The design team includes Welch Comer Engineering of Coeur d’Alene and architect Kol Nelson of BP Design Works. The project has been awarded to T.W. Clark Construction of Spokane as the general contractor.

This innovative development aspires to follow Hagadone Marine Group’s company mission statement: “To be the premium provider of the best on-the-water experience.”

Rollick Launches the Recreation Industry’s First Digital Retailing Solution

Rollick, the leading relationship marketing technology provider for the Marine, Powersports, and RV industries, announced today the launch of its industry-first digital retailing solution, RollickDR, geared towards transforming how dealers and manufacturers engage with consumers online.

RollickDR features an online deal creator that allows consumers to start a deal on their terms in an online setting, while providing the dealer and OEM with the data they need to determine the consumer’s purchase intent.

“A dealer or manufacturer website is the most important marketing tool to engage buyers. Our digital retailing solution provides a consolidated tool to help consumers gather detailed transaction information about a potential purchase and when ready, provide all of the researched information to the dealer,” said Bernie Brenner, Chief Executive Officer at Rollick. “Our pilot dealers have experienced increases in lead volume, lead quality, and most importantly, customer satisfaction with the experience at the dealership.”

The initial release of RollickDR features a robust deal creator widget that is embedded on dealer website showroom and inventory listings, and provides shoppers with engagement tools, such as:

  • A proprietary Special Offers engine that finds incentives and benefits for members of Rollick’s exclusive partner network which includes Sam’s Club, AAA, Progressive Insurance and employees from over 2,000 employer groups
  • A pre-qualification tool that determines a consumer’s ability to obtain financing from the dealer
  • A trade-in value estimator that leverages Rollick’s partnership with NADAguides
  • Appointment scheduling with a dealer sales rep through Rollick’s concierge system
  • A payment calculator to guide consumers as to what their monthly payment may be by easily adjusting their term and down payment

The initial rollout of RollickDR was in partnership with several powersports dealerships nationwide. Initial results show that:

  • Dealers are seeing a 5 – 10% increase in overall lead volume
  • Almost 40% of consumers who enter the digital retailing experience engage with a pre-qualification
  • The most popular feature within the digital retailing experience is the “Special Offers” feature, with nearly 50% of consumers searching for member offers and incentives

“I am excited to be part of the RollickDR launch,” said Jimmy Reda, Dealer Principal of Island Powersports. “From my perspective, I’ve been wanting this capability for a long time. With RollickDR, our customers can self-direct their outdoor vehicle buying experience from estimating monthly payments, to getting pre-qualified, viewing OEM & dealerships offers, estimating trade-in and scheduling an appointment all in one simple interface. This is truly a game-changer for us as we seek to deliver the best online customer experience in the industry.”

In addition to the Powersports industry, Rollick is in the process of expanding the pilot program to marine and RV dealers nationwide. Later this summer, all participating GoRollick Premium dealers will have the opportunity to embed RollickDR on their websites, driving additional customer engagement and satisfaction.

To learn more, sign-up or to schedule a demo of RollickDR, click here.