As the leading certification body for the recreational boating industry in the United States, the National Marine Manufacturers Association oversees the foremost product-certification program for boats, yachts, trailers, personal watercraft, components and marine oils. Some 85% of boats sold in the United States today are NMMA-certified.
NMMA certification is required as a condition of association membership for boatbuilders. It is also recognized globally as the benchmark for product quality in the boating industry. This certification helps manufacturers build quality products, and it ensures that boating remains safe and enjoyable for the millions of people who take to the water each year.
Though all boats sold in the United States must meet Coast Guard minimum regulations, NMMA-certified boats must also meet the more comprehensive standards set by the American Boat & Yacht Council. NMMA-certified boats undergo third-party inspection to ensure a high-quality boat for the owner and passengers. The certification program covers more than 30 categories of standards that vary by boat type. They may include fuel systems, ventilation, passenger and weight capacity, horsepower capacity, flotation, electrical systems, navigation lights, warning label placement and guidelines, steering systems and more.
The importance and value of NMMA certification is evident in a recent ABYC report, which examined the effectiveness of ABYC standards in enhancing boating safety. The analysis was conducted by the research firms Industrial Economics and ITA International, which primarily used NMMA-certified boats for the analysis.
Results of this report are a testament to the hard work of the recreational boating industry to self-regulate with comprehensive industry safety standards and a goal of protecting the consumer. The NMMA certification program ensures all participating boat brands meet the most current safety and construction standards to deliver a safe and enjoyable boating experience for boaters and their loved ones. There is strong evidence that compliance with ABYC’s voluntary standards through NMMA’s certification program reduces the frequency and severity of the type of boating accidents the standards are designed to address. These boats are NMMA-certified, which means they are built to ABYC standards and contribute to fewer fatalities from both reduced boating accident occurrences and severity.
Further findings from the research include:
• Boats that are NMMA-certified to ABYC standards are 43% to 47% less likely to be involved in certain accidents.
• For accidents that do occur, NMMA- certified boats reduce the likelihood of a fatality by 26% to 58%.
• Results strongly suggest the effectiveness of ABYC standards in reducing the likelihood of accidents resulting in a fatality, and among focused incidents.
• NMMA certification is correlated with a higher likelihood of non-fatal injuries during these types of accidents.
NMMA certification is a win-win program for the recreational marine industry. In addition to meeting the primary goal of building the safest products on the water for the consumer, certification also mitigates liability for the builder.
The process to become NMMA-certified is rigorous. Each year, the manufacturer must complete nine tasks, including submitting applications for each model. Those models are then physically inspected for the model year — an accomplishment to be proud of and promote to consumers. In addition, all boatbuilders must keep a compliance specialist on staff and complete a series of exams annually to demonstrate mastery of current marine standards.
NMMA certification is also an opportunity to stand out among the competition. Boatbuilders can display certification decals on their boats, in showrooms, on websites and on social media. The NMMA promotes certified boat brands through its Discover Boating boat and sport shows, in featured placements on Discover Boating websites and in Discover Boating communications.
Boat certification is one of many product-certification programs that the NMMA offers. The association also works with the industry to certify 2-stroke oil lubricants, personal watercraft, type-accepted components and trailers.
The NMMA team is ready to assist manufacturers with the upcoming model-year transition. Learn more about NMMA- certified boats at nmma.org/certification.
This article was originally published in the September 2024 issue.
