Fostering B2B editorial excellence

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & TOP 100 DIRECTOR Adam Quandt | aquandt @ epgacceleration . com

TRADE MANAGING EDITOR Krystina Skibo | kskibo @ epgacceleration . com

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Lindsay Zigan | lzigan @ epgacceleration . com

NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Leslie Palmer | lpalmer @ epgacceleration . com | 763.383.4460

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Welcome to the 95th year of Boating Industry ! While the title won ’ t be officially 95 until November , I wanted to be sure to kick the year off recognizing the history and staying power of not only Boating Industry the publication , but our great industry as a whole .

With the help of various industry resources and outside sources , at the beginning of every year , Boating Industry takes a long look at the year ahead , with this year being no exception .

There ’ s no denying that conversations around our industry have been very different over the last year than that of the previous couple of years . As the National Marine Manufacturers Association has reported , boat sales are normalizing across most segments . And with many conversations across retailers , the sales team at dealerships are having to readjust to active selling strategies .

Despite the normalization across sales , recreational boating continued to be a driver to the U . S . economy thanks to the roughly 85 million Americans who go boating each year . It drives an economic impact of $ 230 billion , up 36 % from 2018 , while supporting 36,000 U . S . businesses and 812,000 American jobs , according to NMMA ’ s 2023 Economic Impact Study on Recreational Boating .

There ’ s certainly some unknown as we venture into 2024 , an election year , swirling consumer confidence , high interest rates , the list of new challenges goes on and on . However , this is not the first , nor will it be the last , time the recreational boating industry faces a stack of challenges .

Over its 95-year history , Boating Industry has been here to shine a light on both every challenge and every great success our industry has endured . And 2024 will be no different .

While our industry faces its challenges , the start of the new year has already come with some highlights . Despite the return of other activity options or varied consumer confidence , the 2024 winter boat show season is off to a tremendous start according to reports from NMMA ’ s Discover Boating shows in Minneapolis , Louisville and New York .

And that ’ s all heading into the much-anticipated annual Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show taking place this month . Across multiple venues , this “ show of all shows ” is ready to welcome a new record level of attendees and bring new boaters to a lifestyle on the water .

So , while 2024 may bring new challenges to business and the boating industry as a whole , it ’ s ever important that we as an industry keep our foot on the gas and keep boating in the spotlight . Sales may be a little more work compared to the “ covid years ” but the important thing is that sales are still out there and consumers are still looking to get on the water .

Here ’ s to the staying power of boating . Here ’ s to embracing challenges . And here ’ s to a prosperous 2024 for the entire industry !

CEO : Marion Minor SR . VICE PRESIDENT / MARKET DEVELOPMENT : Joanne Juda-Prainito OPERATIONS DIRECTOR : Bernadette Wohlman

BOATING INDUSTRY ( ISSN # 1543-4400 ) is published 8 times per year : February , March , May , June , August , October , November , and December – by EPG Brand Acceleration , 7760 France Avenue South , Suite 810 , Bloomington , MN 55435 . Periodicals postage paid at St . Paul , MN and additional mailing offices .

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4 february 2024 www . boatingindustry . com