Weekly 5: Powerboat shipments up 2.5% in August

The BI Weekly 5 is a collection of tips, news and data affecting the boating industry this week. Be sure to look for the BI Weekly 5 every Tuesday on BoatingIndustry.com.

1. Powerboat shipments up 2.5% in August

Wholesale shipments of traditional powerboats were up 2.5 percent through August, the National Marine Manufacturers Association reported.

Growth for NMMA’s control group of manufacturers (representing 68 percent of the market) was led by the fiberglass outboard boat and inboard boat segments. Corresponding dollars were up 9.8 percent, NMMA said.

Shipments were up 1.7 percent through July.

2. Florida legislators propose boat locator bill

In the wake of the disappearance of two teenagers in Florida earlier this year, two state legislators are proposing a bill to encourage boaters to put tracking devices on their vessels, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, and Rep. Mary Lynn Magar, R-Tequesta, have filed legislation that would create an annual discount on boat licenses for Floridians who purchase and register locator devices that can transmit a boat’s location so it can be identified by satellite in an emergency.

“We think we’ve found a way to do it where we’re incentivizing boaters rather than making something mandatory,” said Negron at a press conference announcing the legislation.

3. Which Bond movies have the best boats?

With the new James Bond film, Spectre, opening in the U.S. this past weekend, Moorings is out with their ranking of the top eight Bond boats. Live and Let Die’s iconic Glastron tops the list.

4. FLIBS panel discusses marinas of the future

What will the marinas of tomorrow look like? A panel at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show attempted to answer that question.

Some key takeaways: marinas are becoming destinations, restaurants and retail are desired, and Wi-Fi has become a must-have for yacht owners. The panelists also said future marinas will have fewer slips, as the boats get bigger, but there are fewer owners.

5. 271,000 jobs added in October

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 271,000 in October, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 5.0 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Job gains occurred in professional and business services, health care, retail trade, food services and drinking places, and construction.

 

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