ABC 2025 attendees engaged in three days of discussions around tax, trade, infrastructure, regulations and other issues.
Propelling our future
I enjoyed the panel discussion about marine technology and future fuels, moderated by Ben Speciale, president of Yamaha Marine USA.
As the panelists noted, recreational boats contribute less than 0.1 % of global emissions, and about 0.7 % of transportation carbon dioxide emissions in the U. S. However, the industry is still endeavoring to be a good steward of the environment.
“ A couple of years ago there was a big push for electrification as everyone was in a hurry to electrify everything,” stated Jeff Wasil, vice president of environmental compliance and marine technology for NMMA.“ It’ s good that we have now taken a step back to consider other solutions. The fact is, we need an entire portfolio of energy technologies.”
Eric Mueller, director of advanced engineering at Mercury Marine, said fuel consumption and greenhouse gases go hand in hand.
“ If we improve our fuel economy, then we are also reducing hydrocarbon emissions,” he said.“ Ultimately, it’ s about what consumers want and value. Range and top speed are important. If we can make improvements and still retain range and speed, then that’ s where we want to be.”
The economy
Acclaimed futurist and trendcaster Dr. Shawn DuBravac provided the conference keynote address, beginning with“ the end of calm” as he called it.
“ We are seeing an unprecedented amount of volatility,” DuBravac stated.“ Volatility levels we have only seen twice in our nation’ s entire history.”
He called the stock market overvalued, and he put the probability of a recession at 30 %.
“ I don’ t think the American consumer will ultimately determine whether there will be a recession, but things look pretty shaky in my view. Personal savings are near an all-time low, and the average American is spending about 96 cents of every dollar that comes in. And over half of all consumers say now is not a good time to make a large purchase.”
He did, however, note that lots of Americans are sitting on lots of wealth, and that there are reasons to be hopeful about the future.
Telling our story
Sharing that hope for the future, and all that the recreational boating industry means to both the boating public and the American economy, was foremost in the minds of the several hundred conference attendees who spent their final day meeting with Congressional lawmakers from their districts on Capitol Hill.
As NMMA President and CEO Frank Hugelmeyer reminded us, 95 % of the boats sold in the U. S. are made in the U. S., supporting more than 812,000 American jobs and contributing $ 230 billion to the U. S. economy annually. The recreational boating industry represents the very best of American manufacturing.
“ The 2025 American Boating Congress was a powerful reminder of what makes our industry so special,” he said.“ Our theme this year, Made in America – Resilience and Innovation, captured the spirit, grit, and leadership our industry embodies. We are advancing pro-manufacturing policies, protecting boater access, and facing regulatory challenges head on as an industry, and our voice in Washington is heard because we show up. I am proud of the work the recreational boating industry is doing to shape the future of American manufacturing and outdoor recreation.”
34 June 2025 www. boatingindustry. com