Scott Berry
We are in the middle of peak boating season, a busy time for the recreational boating community, marine manufacturers and certification teams. While we’re seeing sales begin to stabilize following historic growth in 2020 and 2021, new-boat sales remain above prepandemic levels. For the second time in 15 years, first-time boat buyers exceeded 415,000, accounting for 34 percent of boat sales in 2021, driving growth for the boating industry and further reinforcing heightened demand for boats since the outset of the pandemic.
As the 2023 model year begins, it’s important to stay up-to-date with changes to industry standards. The American Boat and Yacht Council published the Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft, Supplement 62, in late July. Included in this supplement are more than 15 standards updates, along with three new standards.
Of the three new standards, the ABYC... [read more]
