Racing greyhounds may be a thing of the past, but boaters in southwest Florida will be heading to today’s opening of the Bonita Springs Boat Show, staged at a former dog track.
“Showgoers will discover hundreds of boats on display this year,” says John Good, executive director of the Marine Industries Association of Southwest Florida & Tampa Bay. “Surrounding the boats will be exhibits ranging from engines to electronics, furniture to fashions, and much more.”
The show has been recognized as the kick-off event for the spring fishing season in this region, with daily seminars on inshore fishing for such species as redfish and snook; the offshore action for grouper, kingfish and snapper; and the world-famous tarpon fishing at Boca Grande Pass.
The four-day Bonita Springs show runs through Sunday.
MRAA Expands Used-Boat Program
An expanded dealer program called MRAA Verified has been announced by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. It’s intended to drive more revenue in a retail member’s preowned boat business.
The new program is designed to expand confidence in the organization’s Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program by including boats that may not meet the requirements to earn the certified designation.
The current CPO program has been successful in building confidence for dealers and customers that are selling and buying preowned boats less than 10 years old. It offers the industry’s most thorough evaluation and testing of a used boat.
“In a market where the vast majority of product research is done and buying decisions are possibly made before the consumer even engages with a dealer’s sales team, our MRAA Verified program will be instrumental in differentiating a dealer’s inventory from any competition. The result will be a positive customer engagement,” said MRAA director of programs Jason Walz
The MRAA Verified program maintains two essential elements from the CPO program: a Boat History Report and the Titan Certified wear and fluid sample testing. The detailed information obtained through these two services provides buyers with an indispensable record of the boat, along with thee condition of the engine and transmission. It can greatly increase buyer confidence in making the purchase decision.
Titan Certified is a technology company that provides the electronic communications path between its wear and fluid analyses and consumer-centric dealer websites. No technician can see inside engine or powertrain components during a regular inspection. Titan provides that view electronically.
In addition, MRAA Verified will offer customized website widgets to differentiate a dealer’s preowned inventory from competitors’ boats that aren’t Titan Certified.
Statistics show a preference among consumers to receive condition reports before purchasing used vehicles or boats.
Boat History Report is a provider of vessel history to help consumers make better used-boat purchasing decisions. It can also help dealers avoid listing a stolen boat or one with hidden damage. In addition, Boat History Report offers dealers confidence in the condition and pricing of inventory, as well as greater trust with prospects and customers. BHR’s database has more than 122 million unique records and over 1.5 million significant negative events.
Take advantage of these valuable resources if you’re selling preowned inventory.
