PHOTO COURTESY NMMAThe National Marine Manufacturers Association yesterday presented its annual industry breakfast prior to the opening of the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show.
Dave Chanda, president and CEO of the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, started the session with a brief presentation about the state of the fishing and boating segments.
“We picked up more than 55 million anglers during the [pandemic],” Chanda said. “Unfortunately, boat sales are softening, and we’re experiencing a higher-than-average churn rate. People are leaving angling at a rate that’s higher than we’ve ever seen.”
Chanda says RBFF is responding this spring with a new campaign to bring more female participants into the sport. “Our new campaign will address those women who want to find their best selves on the water,” he said.
NMMA president Frank Hugelmeyer next delivered the annual state of the industry keynote.
“We’re all starting to see some headwinds,” he said. “There are conflicting signs and confusion, and rising interest rates are starting to [adversely] affect dealers. The good news is that Americans continue to prioritize the outdoors, and demand [for boats] remains strong.”
Hugelmeyer commented that supply-chain bottlenecks are easing and that inventory pipelines are refilling.
He closed out his presentation by emphasizing the importance of the industry presenting a united front when it comes to NOAA’s proposed East Coast right-whale restrictions. If enacted, the regulation would limit boats larger than 35 feet to speeds of 10 knots or less along much of the East Coast during the height of boating season.
“We all love whales and want to protect them,” he said, “but these overarching regulations are a threat to the welfare of our industry. Please joins us at the American Boating Congress in May so we can walk up to Capitol Hill and make our voices heard. We’ll also press members of Congress to establish incentives for the use of the next generation of clean fuels that reward innovation.”
Next, two industry leaders were inducted into the NMMA Hall of Fame. Syntec Industries president Bill Watters and Caymus Boats founder and CEO Earl Bentz welcomed former CEO and principal Joe Miller of William F. Miller & Associates to the stage followed by former Godfrey Marine president and CEO Bob Deputy, who inducted Smoker Craft president and CEO Doug Smoker.
Miller joined the manufacturer representative agency William F. Miller & Associates in 1968. He purchased the agency in the early ’90s, and coached, trained and led his team for several years, driving the business with new territories, new customers and new products to represent.
Smoker joined the family boatbuilding business in 1972. He is a fourth-generation builder and has played an integral role in the success and evolution of Smoker Craft, a privately held business owned and operated by two families.
The Alan J. Freedman Award was presented to Gemlux CEO Matt Bridgewater by Gemlux director of marketing Lauren Alleva. The award recognizes individuals who’ve made outstanding contributions to the marine accessories industry through leadership, creativity and personal motivation.
“Matt’s innovative ideas, positive attitude and never-ending desire to improve boating has made him a leader in the industry, [which] benefits everyone who steps on a boat,” Alleva said. “He is happiest when on his boat surrounded by friends and family, and believes the most successful people in this industry are those who truly live and breathe the boating lifestyle and, most importantly, encourages everyone to take a kid fishing.”
Robert Newsome, NMMA senior vice president of operations, and Rollick senior vice president of enterprise solutions and marketing Jeff Coffman announced 57 recipients of the 2022 Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Index Awards.
The CSI awards honor boat and engine manufacturers who actively measure customer satisfaction and pursue continuous improvement to better serve customers. Award recipients achieved an independently measured standard of excellence of 90% or higher in customer satisfaction during the program year, based on information provided by customers purchasing a new boat or engine between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 2022.
The complete list of CSI award winners can be seen here.
The program wrapped up with the presentation of 2023 Miami Innovation Awards, which honored 10 recipients; three honorable mentions also were handed out. The awards recognize manufacturers and suppliers that bring new, innovative products to market. Entries are judged by a panel of eight Boating Writers International members.
The complete list of Innovation Award winners can be seen here.
The Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show runs through Sunday.
