Today's News

Jeff Napier, the first president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, died at his home in Italy after suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. He was 78.

Brunswick

Brunswick Corp. announced that consolidated net sales increased 7 percent in the first quarter, with the marine engine segment up 9 percent and the boat segment rising 7 percent over last year.

MarineMax

MarineMax grew revenue more than 10 percent to $270.6 million in the second quarter, prompting the company again to raise its annual expectations to $1.44 to $1.50 versus its prior expectations of $1.30 to $1.40 per-diluted-share.

Economy

The Trump administration is likely to end public access to a web portal used by hundreds of thousands of consumers each year to file complaints against financial companies.

FLIR

First quarter revenue at Flir Systems Inc. grew 8 percent to $439.6 million, and organic revenue was up 13 percent, due in part to strong results in the Raymarine.

MarineMax

MarineMax has named industry veteran Christian Gonzalez as general manager for its Miami stores.

Other

The 3rd Annual Connecticut Spring Boat Show will be held May 4-6 at Brewer Essex Island Marina in Essex, Conn., and will feature boats from Albemarle, American Tug, Back Cove, Beneteau, Boston Whaler, Buzzards Bay, Catalina, Chris Craft, Cutwater, Dufour, Dyer, East Bay, Formula, Four Winns, Grand Banks, Hunt, Legacy, Mainship, Maxim, Meridian, MJM, Monterey, Nordic Tug, Ranger Tug, Rossiter, Sabre, San Juan, Scarab, Scout, Sea Born, Sea Ray, Shelter Island, Southport, Surfhunter, Tiara, Vanquish and more.

Other

BMW’s twin-turbocharged three-liter diesel engine is being used as part of a test program to convert the motor for marine use.

Fuel Issues and Ethanol

President Trump vowed last week that he would make E15 available year-round, a move the boating industry has lobbied against for years.

Marine industry

A slew of major marine industry issues — including some it has confronted for years — are closer than ever to being resolved, making the American Boating Congress, May 9-11 in Washington, D.C., the most crucial to date, organizers say.

Technology

Mike Walsh at Marine Services Corp. in Dalton, Ill., has been working with trim tabs and interceptor systems for years.

Features

Marine industry

Palm Beach International Boat Show

The Palm Beach International Boat Show, held March 22-25, posted a 7.5 percent increase in attendance over 2017 — marking its third year of substantial growth.

Hinckley

The Hinckley Company has long been a leader in technology, and in 2017, it became the first production boatbuilder to roll out an all-electric luxury yacht, Dasher.

Obituaries

Charlie Strang was a marine-propulsion icon. To those who knew and worked with him, he was brilliant. A genius.

Technology

Pulling a 42-foot boat alongside the dock at a crowded restaurant and easing it into a 50-foot opening with a throng of spectators watching would challenge even the most seasoned captains, but James Fleming doesn’t think anything of doing just that with his Scout 420 LXF.

Boating safety

When a transient boat pulls into one of the two Irish Boat Shop locations in Charlevoix and Harbor Springs, Mich., one of the first things that happens is an employee handing the boat owner a piece of paper.