Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/147181
launch same-store sales report Unusual weather patterns in the Northeast have substantially changed same-store sales in all departments during the past three months. In the first four months of 2012, sales did not fall below 2011 numbers. Each of the first three months was substantially above the previous year. In April, sales gained ground over April 2012, but by only 2 percentage points. Parts Service DepartmentDepartment -1.2% 0.3% Major UnitsOverall 12.4% 2.0% For more information on this report and other industry data, go to adplightspeed.com/dataservices sales scorecard Dominion Marine Media collects data via its BoatTrader, Boats.com and YachtWorld websites. Here is a ranking of the most-searched boat brands on Boats.com in early 2013 Top SEARCHED BRANDS 2013 Brands 1. Sea Ray 2. Boston Whaler 3. Chris-Craft 4. Grady-White 5. Bayliner 6. Four Winns 7. Regal 8. Formula 9. Wellcraft 10. Baja (2012 rank) (1) (2) (4) (5) (3) (6) (9) (8) (7) (10) Based on 1.9 million internal searches of Boats.com, January-April 2013 10 | Boating Industry | July 2013 P08x10-BI13JUL-Launch.indd 10 Boating industry gathers in D.C. for American Boating Congress Hundreds of industry stakeholders met in the nation's capitol in May to hear from policymakers and deliver boating's message to legislators. The annual American Boating Congress is the industry's two-day event focused on public policy and its impact on recreational boating. ABC is organized by the National Marine Manufacturers Association and 31 co-hosts, including Boating Industry. Several government officials and experts addressed the gathering about key issues facing the industry. They highlighted the importance of contacting elected officials to share the issues that are important to marine businesses. Senators and representatives need to hear from their constituents, said Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. "We don't have the answers up here," he said. "We rely on you all." Manchin, who owns part of a 54-foot Sea Ray docked in Washington, said he is concerned about several issues related to boating, most notably E15 and the government's mounting debt. He has voted against every subsidy for ethanol and joined other senators in signing a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency raising concerns about using it for fuel, he said. "This is crazy, using food products to make fuel," he added. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., joined Manchin in voicing concerns about government spending and the impact on future generations. As a representative of a district that includes Evinrude's engine facility in Sturtevant, Wis., Ryan said he knows firsthand the jobs a robust boating industry can create. Rear Adm. William "Dean" Lee, Deputy For Operations Policy & Capabilities for the U.S. Coast Guard also addressed ABC on regulatory issues, including life jackets, model year and mandatory education. On model year, Lee said he's happy that MRAA and NMMA forged their own model-year agreement. That agreement is now going through the rulemaking process at the Coast Guard and will be open for comment when it is officially published. It's an area where the best solution is for the industry to regulate itself, Lee said. "Our position is that we really don't care," he said. "It's not a safety issue." On mandatory life jacket use and national boater education requirements, Lee said there is no change in current policy, although he did note that his personal belief is that every boater should take some sort of training before being allowed to drive a boat. Other speakers at the event included author and journalist Kenneth T. Walsh, who spoke on presidential politics; Deerin Babb-Brott, director of the National Ocean Council; and Frank Peterson, president and CEO of the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation. Following the conference portion of ABC, industry representatives made more than 250 visits to Senate and House offices to deliver the boating message on issues including E15, tax reform, water access and more. www.BoatingIndustry.com 6/5/13 9:27 AM