Last Update:   5/1/2008

MarineMax reports second fiscal quarter same-store sales declined by 28 per cent

New fiberglass boat registrations down 28 percent in March

Brunswick Corp reports a 3 per cent decline in sales compared to the same period a year ago; net income declined 71 per cent

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

New York National Boat Show moving back almost two weeks to Dec. 13-21

Brunswick Corp signs a letter of intent to sell Baja boat company to Washington, NC-based Fountain Powerboat; Baja to close factory in Ohio

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

US fiberglass new-boat sales (14’-30’) fell 16 percent in the fourth quarter; down 8.9 percent for all of 2007; 30’+ down 6 percent for the year

North American sailboat production down 5 per cent (787 boats) in 2007 to 14,158 units, compared to 14,945 units in 2006.

Sea Ray to close down Merritt Island, FL facility; 350 jobs eliminated

Miami Boat Show attendance down 7 per cent

US boat registrations fell by 1.5 per cent in 2006; Florida retains top ranking. California ranked second, Minnesota third. Other top ten states for powerboat registrations in 2006 include: Michigan (828,529); Wisconsin (635,751); Texas (596,934); New York (497,974); South Carolina (436,075); Ohio (412,256); and Illinois (383,615).

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

Brunswick to close Hatteras plant in Swansboro, NC; 200 employees out of work

Genmar to close Sarasota, FL facilities; moving production of Hydra-Sports, Wellcraft and SeaSwirl to other Genmar facilities; Plant closure will impact 225 workers.

Bertram Yacht has appointed Mike Myers as its new President/COO. Myers brings an Industrial Engineering degree from Penn State, senior leadership background with GE and was former President of Boston Whaler

EdgeWater Boats decides against relocation to NC; will remain in FL

NPR report: Boating Industry Slump Could Signal Recession: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17620887

2007 FLIBS attendance down 7 per cent

2007 IBEX attendance was 4570; compared to 4509 in 2006

2006 US boat registrations surpassed 13 million for the first time since 2001

‘Aquaholic’ is most popular boat name

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