Forecasters were not surprised by slow activity early in the 2018 hurricane season, but some have a different concern as they look ahead to the peak of the season, which starts around Aug. 1.

There’s an old sports adage that says a good big man will always beat a good little man.

Mercury Marine continues to aggressively develop new outboard motors, and in May introduced 13 models with V-8 powerheads and one V-6.

When details of Yamaha’s new XTO Offshore outboard were released last week, it triggered a plethora of comments about the engine’s weight on social media and boating and fishing forums.

Yamaha Marine Group unveiled its most powerful outboard, the 425-hp XTO Offshore, at a media event today at its test facility in Bridgeport, Ala.

When a load of journalists took a ride on a Grady-White Freedom 325 with Fusion Entertainment’s new Apollo stereo system, marketing manager Marcus Hamilton played a song that was considered a “good challenge” for its components.

Overall boat sales in March were slightly lower compared to last year, and year-over-year growth fell by just over 1 percent, according to Statistical Surveys Inc. data that was gathered for 30 states.

Fusion, the New Zealand-based manufacturer of stereo equipment, introduced two head units during a media event today at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

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.

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

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.

When Westrec Marinas decided to build Haulover Marine Center, which opened last spring in Miami, management looked at the trend toward bigger boats powered by multiple outboards before designing the dry rack storage facility and, most important, the forklifts that would move those boats.

Go to Mustang Survival’s website and you’ll see the motto, “We save lives for a living.”

Elkhart County, Ind., is home to many manufacturers in the boat and RV industries. In September 2017, unemployment was at 2.5 percent for the area.

If you were looking for crowds at the 2018 Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat show, a good place to start was in the booth of any manufacturer that builds a big outboard-powered boat, most likely a center console.

William Walton III, assistant vice president for Honda Marine, leads the development of overall strategic business direction and vision for the company.

Kennebunkport Marina has hired Shawn Dumas as operations manager. In his new role, Dumas will help with the marina’s expansion.

In its third year at the Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key, the 2018 edition of MIBS had good weather, increased attendance and positive feedback from exhibitors.

Outboard-powered fiberglass and aluminum boats, pontoons and personal watercraft continued to carry the industry as 2017 came to a close.

In December 2017, David Morrison, managing partner at Taylor Lane Yacht and Ship, was in a quandary. “I have a boat coming in on the 7th,” he said, “and the boat that’s there can’t leave until the 10th.”

Spend a few minutes with Jens Bering, and you won’t be thinking “salesman” despite his title: vice president of marine sales at Volvo Penta of the Americas.

Mercury Marine has introduced a naturally aspirated 3.4-liter V-6 outboard in 175-, 200- and 225-hp versions.

A new service called Nautic-On provides connectivity that keeps a boat owner apprised of his vessel’s location and systems remotely and adds a level of coverage by also keeping the service provider connected to the boat as well.

Mercury Marine has introduced a naturally aspirated 3.4-liter V-6 outboard in 175-, 200- and 225-hp versions.

The home of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the Bahia Mar Resort and Yachting Center, has been approved for a redesign.

At 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Capt. Alan Wentworth, owner of Sea Tow Virgin Islands, got a phone call. As most of us know, when your phone rings at that time of day it’s rarely good news.

If you think the horsepower battles in the outboard market have slowed, the latest sales statistics for Seven Marine — maker of the largest outboards in the industry — are telling.

Don and Melissa Foss are like many parents of a 17- and a 13-year-old: being pulled in myriad directions by school, sports and other activities while looking for ways to spend quality time with their kids.

Although specific numbers are not yet available, the 58th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show outperformed last year’s event in sales and attendance, show producer Informa Exhibitions said.

Trawler builder Kadey-Krogen Yachts said it will launch Summit MotorYachts, a luxury performance brand, early next year.

The city of Fort Lauderdale has selected Dallas-based Suntex Marina Investors LLC to redevelop the Las Olas Marina.

Boston Whaler continued Thursday to celebrate its 60th anniversary with the introduction of the 350 Realm, a boat in a new series, and updates to two models in its classic Montauk line at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Cobia Boats continues to expand its model line with the new 320 center console, which is on display at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center location of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Viking Yachts introduced its new 93 Motor Yacht, the largest boat the company has ever built, at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on Wednesday.

Garmin Ltd. discussed its recent acquisition of Navionics S.p.A. at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on Wednesday and looked forward to a future with software updates that will let users see more information on their Garmin marine-product screen.

S2 Yachts, the parent company of Pursuit, Tiara and the new Tiara Sport division, introduced two new models at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on Wednesday.

Kelly Grindle, president and CEO of Hatteras Yachts, introduced four new models and the HattCon total vessel management system in a champagne toast to close out the first day of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Show Management’s new plans, a new international trade zone in Fort Lauderdale and the importance of conservation were covered today at the opening breakfast at the 58th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Editors from several Active Interest Media Marine Group publications met with industry manufacturers or their representatives Tuesday on the eve of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

In the days after Hurricane Irma made landfall in Cudjoe Key, Fla., Carl Wolf visited marinas in the southeastern part of the state. Wolf is an associate specializing in marina and boatyard operations at Robson Forensic, and he expected much of what he saw, but he was a little surprised by one source of damage to docks and shoreside structures.

Rex Hodge attended his first International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference this year as an exhibitor with his company, Sternmaster Marine Tools.

Guy Davenport is a Brunswick Corp. employee living in Florida and working at Boston Whaler. Not long ago he lived in Houston, and during Hurricane Harvey his old neighborhood was forced to evacuate.