The second day of the Miami International Boat Show got underway Thursday morning with the delivery of the Industry Breakfast by the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

Informa Markets Miami Boating vice president Larry W. Berryman opened the breakfast.

“I’m very pleased to share some exciting news with the steadfast support of the Miami Beach mayor’s office and city commissioners,” Berryman said. “The Miami boat show recently solidified a long-term agreement to bring the in-water powerboat and yacht component back to Miami Beach in 2026.”

Berryman then introduced Miami Beach commissioner David Suarez, who sponsored the show’s move to Indian Creek. “I’m truly grateful to have this commitment for the next three years in Miami Beach and have this program grow even beyond what it is today,” Suarez said. “You have a trusted friend and partner at the Miami Beach Commission, and I want to thank everyone again for being here and showing the support.”

Dave Chanda, president and CEO of the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, took the stage to provide an update on the state of recreational fishing.

“As you look back, 2024 has been a great year for RBFF, and there’s certainly a lot for us to celebrate,” Chanda said. “We had all-time-high fishing participation numbers, especially among some of our key growth segments, which includes women, Hispanic and Black Americans.”

Chanda spoke to the value of anglers to the recreational boating market.

“The average annual spend of one angler is roughly $1,500,” he said. “So if we had retained just half of the anglers that we lost in 2023, that would have meant $9.2 billion for the fishing and boating industries. Working together, I know we can grow this industry’s revenue, increase funding for conservation and outreach, and get more Americans on the water.”

As is tradition at the Industry Breakfast, NMMA president and CEO Frank Hugelmeyer delivered the State of the Industry address.

“We’re absolutely grappling with some lingering uncertainty, but the good news is there is optimism in the room,” Hugelmeyer said. “New-boat unit sales continued to be challenged in 2024. As we close out our year-end data, we’re expecting sales in the U.S. to be down approximately 10% to 12%, right around 235,000 units compared to 2023. That puts total unit sales at the same levels we were seeing in 2014 and 2015.

“There is no doubt we need to continue to watch the key economic indicators but also international trade negotiations and the potential retaliations very closely,” he added. “They will likely determine how industry sales fare in the year ahead, proactively driving public policy.”

Hugelmeyer also spoke about NMMA’s advocacy plans for 2025.

“This year, NMMA has a multipronged strategy focused on expanding boating access and infrastructure, advancing industry self-regulation, driving industry resilience and growing our U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, whether that’s through tax policy, tariffs or trade,” he said. “If a boatbuilder or a voting consumer is being impacted by government decisions, NMMA will be there … working tirelessly on your behalf.”

He also provided an update on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s recently withdrawn speed restriction rule that aimed to protect Atlantic right whales from vessel strikes. The proposed rule would have restricted boats as small as 35 feet to 11 mph along much of the Eastern Seaboard for up to seven months of the year.

“Last year, we faced a dire threat as NOAA prepared to put in motion a rule that would keep boats from freely moving up and down the entire Atlantic Seaboard,” Hugelmeyer said. “This onerous and ill-conceived regulation disguised as a solution to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales was delayed, eventually withdrawn, and that was thanks to all of the people in this room and our industry’s full-court press. But that doesn’t mean that we won; the withdrawal only buys us time right now since we are already seeing fresh attempts by interest groups to regulate ocean speeds at the state level.”

New Trump administration tariffs are cause for concern, Hugelmeyer said, but the association is prepared to act on behalf of marine manufacturers.

“It is going to be a tough road,” Hugelmeyer said. “Let’s remember as we get into these contested trade battles that the competition is not ourselves. It’s going to take unity and consistency of message across our entire global network and with international partners to effectively share our unique recreational boatbuilding story as this new administration forms. But rest assured, NMMA is already working with the new administration in addition to the Canadian government and the European Union to promote a pro-growth, pro-manufacturing and, especially, a pro-boating agenda.”

Michele Goldsmith, vice president and general manager of the Soundings Trade Only Group —and last year’s recipient of the Alan J. Freedman Award — presented this year’s award to Xylem sales director Steve Tilders. The Freedman Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the marine accessories industry through leadership, creativity and personal motivation.

“It is our pleasure to announce that Steve Tilders is the 2025 Alan J. Freedman Award recipient,” Goldsmith said. “For five decades, he has been a dedicated member of the industry, a Long Island native. He began his journey in May of 1975.”

“Thank you everyone for your kindness and for your congratulations,” Tilders said. “I especially thank the NMMA. Also, thank you Michele Goldsmith for that amazing, undeserved speech, Greg Kinney and all those who embellished my letters of support so that I could receive this honor today.”

The Customer Service Index Awards were presented by NMMA chief administrative officer and senior vice president of operations Robert Newsome, and Rollick senior vice president of enterprise solutions Jeff Coffman.

The awards recognize boat and engine manufacturers that actively measure customer satisfaction and “pursue continuous improvement to better serve their customers.”

The awards were handed out in 12 categories:

• Aluminum Outboard Boats• Deckboats
• Fiberglass Bass Boats
• Fiberglass Outboard Boats

• Jetboats

• Personal Watercraft
• Pontoon Boats

• Ski, Wake & Surf Boats• Sterndrive Bowrider Boats
• Sterndrive Cuddy and Express Boats
• Inboard Engines
• Outboard Engines

The complete list of winners can be viewed here.The breakfast program concluded with the presentation of the Miami Innovation Awards.

The judging committee comprised seven Boating Writers International members who perform product testing throughout the year and have expertise in products and equipment. The judging panel members were Tim Murphy (chair), Ben Stein (co-chair), Gary Reich (Soundings Trade Only editor-in-chief), Kim Knudsen, Tony Esposito, Kate Bush and Kelsey Bonham.

“We live in a time of fundamental change in boating — how we store and use energy, how we control our boats, how we collect and send dynamic information, how we draw in younger boaters and those who haven’t tried it yet,” Murphy said. “There are so many new ways to enjoy time on the water, and the 2025 Innovation Awards are showcasing those changes as they happen.”

The following products received awards during this year’s program:

• Alternative Propulsion: Yanmar Marine International, E-Saildrive

• Cabin Cruisers, Motor Yachts, Trawlers: Azimut Fly 72

• Center Console/Walkaround Fishing Boats: Solace 37 Pilot

• Consumer Electronics, Mobile Applications and Software: Avikus, NeuBoat Dock V2

(Honorable Mention: Leopard Catamarans app with Marine Chat AI)

• Consumer Safety Equipment: Mustang Survival, Atlas 190 DLX life jacket

• Cuddy Cabin, Bowrider, Deckboats: Monterey Elite 30

(Honorable Mention: Chris-Craft Sportster 28 outboard configuration)

• Docking and Fendering Equipment: Sunstream LiftBar

(Honorable Mention: Golden Boat Lifts & Marine Systems, slotted bunks)

• Fishing Equipment, Gear & Tackle: Lee’s Ultima Outrigger

• Mechanical & Electrical Systems (dual winners): Dometic DG3 gyrostabilizer, Lithium Pros S2460 sodium-ion battery

• Personal Watercraft: Yamaha JetBlaster WaveRunner Series

• Towboats: MasterCraft XStar

The Miami International Boat Show continues through Sunday.