Boat dealers

Boat, engine manufacturers and dealers should note responsibilities under new requirements

CHICAGO, Monday, March 12, 2007 – Beginning January 1, 2008, the State of California will introduce a new, more stringent set of exhaust emission regulations for sterndrive and inboard (SD/I) gasoline marine engines, and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is encouraging all parties in the SD/I distribution channel—including boatbuilders, engine manufacturers and boat and engine retailers—to understand their individual responsibilities and liabilities associated with the ruling.

“Unlike previously enacted outboard engine and personal watercraft emission regulations, which placed the compliance burden exclusively on marine engine manufacturers, the compliance burden and liability for the SD/I regulation will be shared between the dealer, boatbuilder and engine maker,” says John McKnight, NMMA director of Environmental Safety and Compliance. “That said, it’s critical each party understand its role and know the required steps in order to comply with the ruling.”

Boat manufacturer agrees to help defray certification costs for its extensive dealer network

CHICAGO, September 8, 2006 - - Godfrey Marine Group of Elkhart, Indiana, recently announced it will assist dealers with the costs associated with becoming certified under the Grow Boating Initiative’s Marine Industry Dealership Certification Program. The offer, which is being extended to dealers of the Sanpan, Aqua Patio, Sweetwater, Parti Kraft, Polar Kraft, Polar and Hurricane brands, allows dealerships to receive up to 50 percent reimbursement of total certification costs via Godfrey’s “Flex-Funds” program after the certification process is complete.Dealership Certification actively addresses one of the main issues limiting growth in the marine industry: customer service. An effective dealership certification program that provides both consumer and dealer benefits is fundamental to the Grow Boating Initiative. The new Marine Industry Dealership Certification program was developed by dealers, for dealers and focuses on the areas that affect dealership quality—operations, facilities, professional sales/service processes, customer satisfaction and employee training/satisfaction.