Sales of fiberglass boats dropped 40.5 percent in October, according to early release data.

If the past is, indeed, prologue, then the recession should end sometime in 2009.

Taking a page from the playbook of automobile manufacturers, Tiara Yachts launched a certified pre-owned program to capture more of the used-boat market and give the company an edge over its leading competitor — pre-owned models of its own brand.

A change in procedure has eliminated federal paperwork in the marine loan process, but has increased the likelihood of fraud and identity theft, members of the National Marine Bankers Association were told in November at their annual conference.