Last Update: 07.02.2009

US sales of 14’-30’ fiberglass boats in down 36% in May

June unemployment rate in US hits 9.5 percent, up from 9.4% in May; 26 year high

US new-boat sales of fiberglass boats (14’+) down 43% for Q1 2009

With his boatbuilding companies in bankruptcy, Genmar’s Irwin Jacobs invests in windmill blade production

Raymarine to explore equity fund-raising or a sale of the business

2,308 brokerage boats were sold in the US in April against a year ago, when 2,897 boats were sold

Norwegian boatbuilder Windy temporarily halts production

Genmar files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

Sales of Caterpillar's marine engines up 48% in April compared to April 2008

Forbes magazine reported in March that the number of billionaires worldwide is down by a third this year, to 793. Their average net worth is $3 billion – 23% less than it was in 2008. Their collective net worth has shrunk by 45 percent, to $2.4 trillion.

International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) opens newly restored 1831 Aquidneck Mill building.

For the first time in 17 years, demand in every sector of the superyacht market is in decline

March sales of 14’-30’ fiberglass boats down 38%

Top 10 boat names: Seas the Day, Summer Daze, Second Chance, Aqua-Holic, Wind Seeker, Dream Weaver, Black Pearl, Hydrotherapy, The Salt Shaker and Sea Quest.

Bénéteau to announce layoffs of 700-800 employees; 2000 Bénéteau and 1500 Jeanneau employees have been temporarily laid off since January

US sailboat production fell to 11,427 units for 2008, a decline of 2,731 units or 19%, compared to 2007; lowest production levels since 1991; US sailboat manufacturers cut workforces by 23%

Caterpillar announces layoffs of up to 650 associates at GA and IN marine engine plants

Formula/Thunderbird builder reduces workforce by 225

West Marine net revenue down 7% for 2008

Parent company of Boater's World files for Chapter 11

Twin Vee boats files Chapter 11

96,736 people attended the 2009 Miami Boat Show; down 26% from 2008

Cummins forecasts 2009 sales to be 20% lower than 2008

MarineMax reports same-store sales declines of 52% for Q1

Mega-yacht charters bookings down significantly in 2009

Christensen delays plans on new production facility in TN

Silverton to lay off 202 of 275 employees at NJ facility; Sister companies Luhrs and Mainship to shut down operations in St. Augustine, FL and move operations to New Jersey

2009 International Marina & Boatyard Conference sets attendance record

West Marine Inc. reports 6.1% drop in net sales for Q4 2008; 7.1% sales decline for all of 2008

Hatteras Yachts reduces New Bern workforce by another 330 employees; third round of layoffs at Hatteras in last 12 months, impacting over 800 employees

Sea Ray mothballs Riverview (TN) facility; 14^th Brunswick plant closure since 2006

Brunswick sells Albemarle Boats to NC businessman

Teleflex Marine to close Maryland facility; 93 jobs lost

Fairline to cut 275 jobs at its Oundle and Corby facilities; 25% of remaining workforce

Palmer Johnson announces layoffs in Wisconsin facilities; 2 new-build projects delayed until 2010

2008 Q3 sales of US fiberglass boats down 31%

Brunswick Corp. to close Trophy plant in Cumberland, MD., 115 jobs lost; production of Trophy boats to move to Ashland City, TN facility

Lund cutting 140 jobs at Minnesota plant

Floridians vote in favor of Amendment 6, the constitutional amendment backed by the state's marine industry to change the way marine businesses are taxed on their land value

2008 IBEX attendance down 14%

Hinckley lays off 49 people at its Trenton, ME production facility

Sealine, the UK based producer of 25’-65’ motoryachts, announces plans to significantly scale back production, resulting in the loss of around 300 staff - almost half its entire workforce

Brunswick accelerates plan to close 4 plants: Arlington, WA, and Roseburg, OR, will be permanently closed, Navassa, N.C., plant will be mothballed and Pipestone, MN., permanent closure is expected for Q1 2009; result will be the elimination of approximately 1,450 hourly and salaried positions at these facilities

MarineMax to become dealer for Azimut in FL

Australian builder Maritimo lays off over 100 workers

Key Bank ends marine lending operations

Yamaha breaks ground on 220,000sq ft expansion to GA facility

Brunswick Corp offers to buy Olympic Boat Centers out of bankruptcy for US$48 million

The Landing School in Arundel, Maine to launch Associate’s degree program in Marine Systems Technology

R.I. senator secures federal funding for working waterfront

Wholesale shipments of outboard, sterndrive and inboard powerboats declined 13% in 2007

For the first time in history, the European boat market exceeded North American boat market in 2007 in terms of dollar value  

Azimut-Benetti is world leader in mega-yacht production (80’+); Ferretti Group ranks second, Sunseeker third

Forbes.com ranks NC the 3^rd best state in the US for business, 4^th for workforce training programs

346 dealerships have enrolled in the Marine Industry Dealership Certification program; 100 have completed certification