Boating Industry

July 2016

Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/688632

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 8 of 43

INDUSTRY NEWS www.BoatingIndustry.com July 2016 | Boating Industry | 9 who else will? … Please make it an important part of your portfolio to make sure that Con- gress looks out for our oceans and coasts." Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., agreed, noting the importance of getting issues like a longer red snapper season for recreational fishing addressed. "One of the things I really want to get back is a snapper season in this country," he said, adding that issues like that matter to ev- eryone in the industry, no matter where they boat and fish. "What they did to us, they can do to you, regardless of where you are," he said. "The people in your industry have got to stand up for your clients. It's going to take the marine in- dustry to stand up for your rights and to do it." Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., said the red snapper issue is an example of how the fed- eral government uses "inferior science" to make its decisions and that it takes industry experts to show that you can preserve nature and continue to enjoy fishing and hunting. "You understand the importance and connectivity of habitat and sustainability," Graves said. "Thank you for coming up here and educating people. You are the ones who are the experts and if you don't come up here and share that knowledge with us, we're going to continue to make stupid decisions." Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., urged those in the industry to reach out to their elected officials at home as well as in D.C. "Invite people to your facility, show them around," he said. "It's a great way [for them] to see your business and your issues." Marcus Jadotte, assistant secretary of com- merce, said boating is an important part of the U.S. economy, noting that 95 percent of boats sold in the United States are made here. "You make a huge contribution to Ameri- cana, but you also make a huge contribution to the economy of the United States," he said. Jadotte also asked the industry to sup- port the Trans-Pacific Partnership, saying it was important for the growth of U.S manufacturing. "TPP is an opportunity to set the rules for trade in Asia," he said. "If the agreement does not go into force, China will eventually set the rules in Asia." Correct Craft acquires SeaArk Boats Correct Craft is entering the aluminum fishing boat market with the acquisition of SeaArk Boats. Correct Craft said it plans to continue manufacturing SeaArk at its facility in Mon- ticello, Ark. SeaArk Boats' prior owner and member of its founding family, Robin McClendon said, "After 58 years in the marine industry, it is a bittersweet decision for the McClendon family to exit the recreational boat building business, but we believe that we have found the right owner in Correct Craft." It is the latest of several acquisitions by Correct Craft over the past two years, includ- ing PCM and Crusader in October 2014, Bass Cat and Yar-Craft in March 2015 and the Su- preme and Centurion lines in June 2015. "SeaArk Boats is an outstanding company with a strong brand, great reputation and ex- ceptional team; we could not be happier to have them joining the Correct Craft family," said Bill Yeargin, Correct Craft's president and CEO. Brunswick names new presidents for Boston Whaler, Harris, Cypress Cay Brunswick Corporation has named Nick Stickler as president–Boston Whaler. He succeeds Huw Bower, who recently was appointed president–Brunswick Boat Group. Stickler most recently was president– Harris and Cypress Cay Pontoons. Stickler will report to Bower. Succeeding Stickler at Harris will be Jorge Valdes, managing director–Brazil for Bruns- wick Boats. As head of Harris and Cypress Cay, Valdes will report to Jeff Kinsey, presi- dent–Brunswick Freshwater Boats. Since 2012, Stickler has been president– Harris and Cypress Cay pontoons, having previously served as vice president of opera- tions for those brands at the Ft. Wayne, Ind., facility. Stickler joined Brunswick in 2005, and for the next six years served in posi- tions of increasing responsibility within the The welcome reception at the Carnegie Library offered a chance for networking with industry members and policymakers. Continued on page 10 PHOTO BY JOHN NELSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Boating Industry - July 2016