PHOTO COURTESY ABYCThe American Boat & Yacht Council announced that it designated April 24-29 its second annual International Marine Service Technician Week to recognize the “professionals who keep boats safe, reliable and enjoyable.”
“Our inaugural year was a huge success, and it was inspiring to see how businesses, publications and boaters took the holiday and ran with it in their own ways,” Shannon Aronson, ABYC marketing and PR director, said in a statement. “It was a feel-good event where we saw social posts of genuine appreciation, pictures of technicians with their families, and companies throwing parties for their employees.”
According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, the surge in demand for boats that began during the pandemic in 2020 continued into 2021, and boating remains one of the most popular U.S. leisure activities. New powerboat, personal watercraft and sailboat sales surpassed the 300,000 mark in 2021 for the second time since 2008.
As part of this year’s campaign, ABYC plans to highlight technicians and organizations throughout the week on social media, host daily technical challenges, and offer free online educational opportunities. ABYC is accepting nominations for the Outstanding Technician Awards that will recognize five winners.
