By David Gee
“Hi, do you want to experience firsthand the latest expansion of our Verado outboard lineup?” “On the water?” “Yes.” “Can I drive?” “Yes. Part of the time at least.” “Okay, I’ll be there.”
The pitch from Mercury Marine to come to Tampa, Florida, to see the unveiling of its all-new V10 425hp Verado outboard and a performanceenhanced version of the V10 350hp Verado outboard didn’t go exactly like that. But it was close. It wasn’t hard to get me to "yes." Especially when they mentioned “sea trials.”
Before we headed to the water, Mercury Marine President John Buelow hosted a dinner at the hotel with a few media members and some Mercury and Brunswick staffers, with the slightly
veiled V10 as the guest of honor. The hotel didn’t have a drop cloth or tablecloth large enough to cover the entire motor, so we could see the lower half of what was obviously a new Verado of some variation.
Buelow said Mercury Marine is a prop-to-helm product solutions company, and it starts every project with a commitment to ― and passion for ― the wants and needs of the boating consumer.
“These new V10 Verado engines reflect our commitment to giving boaters exactly what they’ve asked for: greater performance with the same smooth, refined experience they expect from Mercury,” he added. “With this launch, we’re raising the bar in the high-horsepower category and reaffirming the Verado family’s position as the pinnacle of premium outboard performance.”
According to the press release, the new 425hp model delivers class-leading acceleration and significant weight advantages compared to a 450hp competitor.
In Mercury’s testing, it was:
3 seconds faster from 0-30 mph than a 450hp competitor (on a 26-foot, 5,000-pound centerconsole boat with a heavy load)
254 pounds lighter than a 450hp competitor (25-inch XL models)
Equipped with a 150-amp alternator – the highest output in its class
22% quieter at cruise than a 450hp competitor
The upgraded 350hp model delivers improvements in top-end speed and mid-range acceleration:
2.7 mph higher top speed than a 350hp competitor (light load test configuration)
4 seconds faster from 0-30 mph and 17.8 seconds faster from 0 to top speed than a 350hp competitor (heavy load test configuration)
Four times the alternator output at cruise compared to a 350hp competitor
40% quieter at cruise than a 350hp competitor
After breakfast the next morning, we met at the Freedom Boat Club Tampa Convention Center, right on the Riverwalk, exactly 129 feet from my hotel room.
After donning the requisite PDF, I got aboard a Boston Whaler 350 Realm, with a trio of the V10 425hp Verado outboards hanging off the back.
I love the symphony of sound the synchronized start-up creates, and we were soon making our way out of the channel and into a slightly choppy Hillsborough Bay.
The hole shot was smooth and linear. I was told the mid-range performance was noticeably increased over the 400hp motor, and we topped out at a drama-free 60 mph.
It’s not only the performance that gets your attention . These latest generation Verado outboards are noticeably quiet and vibration-free, even with three 425s running nearly wide open.
That’s a result of the work performed at the Noise, Vibration, Harshness (NVH) testing facility at Mercury’s global headquarters in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where details of sound and vibration are analyzed and refined.
“Unlike some approaches that address NVH later in development, Mercury integrates this process from day one, including putting pre-production models through sound lab testing,” explained Steve Andrasko, vice president of category management at Mercury Marine, when aboard the SeaVee 37 with us. “This allows engineers to identify and eliminate unwanted noise and vibration before the engine reaches consumers.”
Andrasko said the Verado platform features a unique perimeter mounting system that absorbs vibration before it can reach the boat and it significantly reduces harshness.
Mercury Marine also integrates its cowl design and sealing to minimize airborne noise.
And the intake silencer ensures the Verado maintains its quiet operation, allowing boaters to communicate easily, whether they are slow cruising or running at wide-open throttle.
After the boating portion of the trip, Mercury Marine president John Buelow said the company's focus on product optimization continues. “We’re proud of our pace of innovation,” he noted. “It’s part of our culture. More performance, no compromises . That’s what we strive for.”
The post-pandemic surge of participation in fishing continues to get record numbers of participants on the water, but data from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s (RBFF) 2025 Special Report on Fishing finds churn continues to pose a significant challenge for the industry.
In 2024, 57.9 million Americans ages six and up enjoyed recreational fishing, an all-time high of 19 percent of the U.S. population. Data also continues to underscore the critical importance of introducing fishing at a young age.
Eighty-five percent of current fishing participants fished before the age of 12, but participation rates fell sharply after a child turned 18, and specifically female youth quit fishing at an 11% higher rate than male youth.
“Retaining newcomers remains an integral part of fishing’s continued success,” said Dave Chanda, president and CEO of RBFF. “New anglers are younger, from all walks of life and digitally connected . The industry must remind newcomers about great fishing experiences, highlight convenient water access, provide beginner educational resources , emphasize the social aspects of fishing and boating and recommend cost-effective equipment.”
According to the new report, spending time with family and friends was a key driver for new anglers in 2024. Many new anglers also reported that being in the great outdoors and relaxation inspired their first fishing trip. In addition to these results, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of fishing participation in the U.S.:
5.1 million Americans tried fishing for the first time in 2024, representing nine percent of total participants, up from seven percent in 2023.
More than 43 million Americans ages six and over went freshwater fishing in 2024, holding steady for the third consecutive year.
After hitting 15 million anglers for the first time in 2023, saltwater fishing participation grew slightly to 15.1 million in 2024.
For the second year in a row, fly fishing topped eight million participants.
21.3 million women went fishing in 2024, the highest number of female participants on record.
36.7 million men went fishing in 2024, the highest number of male participants on record.
More than 5.5 million Black Americans ages six and over fished in 2024, the highest number since activity tracking began in 2007.
Hispanic fishing participation increased by over three million in a decade, increasing from 3.3 million in 2014 to 6.6 million in 2024.
“Despite all this good news, there are two very concerning trends in fishing participation,” Chanda added. “Each year we’re losing more and more participants, and avid participants are fishing less.”
In 2024, fishing lost 16.6 million anglers (a -23% churn) versus a loss of 18 percent five years ago and 12 percent 10 years ago. In addition, participation among more frequent anglers has gradually declined since participation tracking began in 2007. Just 32 percent fished once a month or more in 2024, down from 37% a decade ago.
RBFF conducted research in 2023 on the Psychology of Churn to help its state and industry stakeholders tackle these challenges.
The Special Report on Fishing, an annual report in its 15th year, provides an overview of fishing participation in the U.S., including participation numbers among key groups, barriers to entry, reasons for participation, and more. RBFF created the report in partnership with the Outdoor Foundation.
The Boating Industry 2025 Top Dealers applications , part of the Top 100 Awards, are open until September 8, 2025.
Dealers are encouraged to submit one of two applications, which will be reviewed by the Boating Industry team.
The Simple Application is for dealers who wish to be considered as a 2025 Top Dealer. They will be required to provide financial information and other basic information.
For dealers who wish to be considered for top awards such as the Top 20 ranked dealers, Best in Class and Dealer of the Year, Boating Industry offers a Full Application. This form allows the Boating Industry team to take a deeper dive into each nominated dealership.
These applications are available on the Boating Industry website at https://boatingindustry.com/ top-100/application/
Program details:
Boating Industry will select a group of Top Dealers based on the information submitted and other industry research conducted by Boating Industry staff.
The top 20 companies will be ranked based on the Full Application submissions, recognizing them for their elite status in the industry. The number one ranked dealer will be recognized as “Dealer of the Year.”
Boating Industry will also select several Best in Class Award winners. Those Best in Class awards will include Best Place to Work, Best Digital Strategy, Best Boat Show Strategy, Best
Events, Best Marketing, Best Industry Advocate, Most Innovative and Best Service Department. These categories are subject to change.
Dealers can save and return to their application as often as they wish before submitting it. Dealers will also be given an opportunity to print and review their application before final submission. To do so, please create an account with an active email address when starting the application.
Any photos dealers wish to submit with their application can be delivered through a file transfer site to mhubbard@epgacceleration.com.
Meeting and exceeding rising consumer expectations is no small feat in today’s competitive market. Yet, these challenges have become second nature for professional dealerships, seamlessly woven into their daily operations. These dealers recognize that true success lies not just in selling boats, but in delivering the full promise of the boating lifestyle.
Companies that:
Display a consistent and clear understanding that the profitability of the organization is directly related to the extent that it focuses on customer satisfaction;
Provide customers with an experience worth returning for and recommending to others;
Prepare for future success with sound planning, marketing and training initiatives;
And ensure an exceptional boating lifestyle
Are encouraged to apply to be recognized as one of the top dealers in North America. Applications are due September 8, 2025.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) have launched the Market Expansion Advisory Group to confront declining new boat sales and unify the recreational marine industry around a shared growth strategy.
Hand-picked for their deep marketing expertise across OEMs and dealerships and with an NMMA board liaison, the Advisory Group includes:
Thomas Bates, chief revenue officer, Correct Craft
Lauren Beckstedt, chief marketing officer, Brunswick
Bryce Brown, owner, MasterCraft Colorado
Abbey Heimensen, vice president marketing, MarineMax
Amber Holm, chief marketing office, Winnebago Industries; also sits on the Board of Directors for the RVIA’s GoRV’ing initiative
Victor Gonzalez, chief marketing officer, Sportsman Boats
Rob Parmentier, chief executive officer, Sailfish Boats and NMMA Board of Directors liaison
Bryan Seti, general manager, Yamaha Watercraft; national sales and marketing, G3 Boats
“This is bigger than a campaign; it’s about how we work together to serve a changing consumer through shared resources that allow us to accomplish what no single entity can accomplish on its own,” said Lauren Beckstedt, CMO of Brunswick. “Like any good marketing effort, the group will ensure decisions are rooted in data and partnership and bring clear measures of success for Discover Boating that ignite industry action.”
“We need a solution to grow this industry because sales are not only declining, they’re going away,” said Rob Parmentier, CEO of Sailfish Boats. “People are choosing to rent, join a boat club or not even become a boater at all. Something has to change and our goal for this group is to ignite the spark we need to enact real change and get our industry on the right track to grow.”
The Advisory Group will determine how success should be defined for Discover Boating and how this success can be achieved. The group’s recommendation on how the industry defines success for Discover Boating will be presented to the NMMA and MRAA by the end of October. Recommendations for how to achieve this success will be developed after the board gives feedback.
To inform this work, Discover Boating is commissioning first-of-its-kind, in-depth consumer research to pinpoint the buyers of today and tomorrow. After the research is completed in September, it will be shared with the industry in the fall. It’s being guided by the Advisory Group and executed in partnership with global research firm Ipsos.