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m are nd ers was he es. ng out est meir he orals tly at's it, ted — he ard he est ds ch ng ce. www.PowersportsBusiness.com pwc Powersports Business • August 12, 2013 • 37 DIGEST PWC sales see negative growth during June Following a soft patch in the first half of this year, PWC sales growth in June was negative for the first month in more than a year, signaling a persistent minimal slow-down for the PWC market, according to the latest figures from Info-Link Technologies' Bellwether report. Ski boats remain very strong, continuing at approximately 10 percent sales growth compared with the previous 12-month period. Ski boat sales growth has steadily increased for the past four years. Outboard sales have held steady, still showing sales growth just below 10 percent, which has remained steady throughout the bulk of 2013. Sportfishing boat sales have been growing at a less frothy rate, hovering at approximately 10 percent for the last few months. The data is based on new U.S. boat registrations. Bellwether states are geographically dispersed states representing roughly half of the US boat market (which varies by market segment and time of year). the proposed 12 years old. NMMA and PWIA partnered with the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association to successfully advocate for marine interests. Increased PWC safety on tap for New York NMMA and PWIA supported a bill establishing mandatory boater safety education in New York, which will be sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his signature. The law would require boaters born before 1996 to pass a boater safety education course if enacted. The safety course can be taken online. If signed into law, New York would become the 46th state to require boater safety education. PSB The latest Bellwether Report from Info-Link Technologies shows a dip in PWC sales in June. PWIA Safe Rider Campaign gains momentum After successful kickoff festivities on Lake Lanier, Ga., the Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) is continuing to see success through the Safe Rider campaign. The campaign centers on the Safe Rider Pledge, which promotes safe practices for PWC, and is available online or through PWIA's Facebook and Twitter (@ PWIA_News) pages. In July, members of PWIA gathered in Washington, D.C. to shoot a series of public service announcements focusing on the Safe Rider message. The short films are airing on social media and were designed to prompt riders nationwide to share their own videos on safe riding. The Safe Rider Pledge emphasizes a variety of safety precautions, from checking equipment to respecting the environment. "The Safe Rider Pledge is easy to follow and promotes fun on the water," said PWIA executive director David Dickerson, "and with practice, safety becomes second nature and greatly enhances the PWC experience." PWIA hopes to make safety information and education easily accessible to everyone who plans to take to the water on a PWC. The Safe Rider pledge is online at PWIA. org. PWIA expects more than 1 million Jet Skis, Sea-Doos and Wave Runners will take to the water this summer. Minimum PWC riding age still 16 in Ohio According to a report in the National Marine Manufacturers Association's "The Washington Wave," in the final deliberations that led to passage of Ohio's 2014 budget, legislators blocked efforts to apply state sales tax to marina services and labor charges. The legislature also stood firm on boater safety, agreeing to remove amendments that would have diluted the mandatory boating education requirements and lowered the minimum age to operate a PWC. State law will continue to incrementally increase the age of boaters who must pass a boater safety course. The minimum age to operate a PWC will remain at 16, rather than P34x37-PSB10-PWC.indd 37 7/31/13 2:58 PM