Changes occur very quickly in our industry. To keep abreast of new developments, both good and bad, you need to know what's happening and how to react swiftly - and decisively. MRAA is your tool for action and your resource for timely information.

MRAA Action Targets for this year include:

• Creating a sample manufacturer-dealer contract that fairly and respectfully deals with both parties to promote sales and profits while minimizing risk. NMMA is joining us in creating the design committee so that the result should have a significant degree of acceptance.
• Enhancing the Workforce - again a joint project with NMMA, as we draw from much of the same skill reservoir.
• Rolling model introduction and year change later, thus avoiding inventory change in the middle of the selling season.
• Developing a Customer Satisfaction Index in conjunction with NMMA: a measurement common to all products, with enhanced accuracy to catch real problems.

In addition to the above, which we tackle with our counterparts at the National Marine Manufacturers Association, we are taking direct solo responsibility for:

Developing solid training for marine industry professionals at the dealership at a reasonable cost, derived from successful dealership operation, not just theory. This training includes our own education committee and representation on the Marine Industry Certification Board.

Please apply if you would like to be considered for our Education Committee:

Continuing surveillance of the government's creation of laws and regulations to make sure our industry needs are being met. What would happen if fuel economy requirements mandated vehicles too small to tow a boat trailer? This situation could easily happen if we promote our interests.

See if there is still room for you on our Legislative Action Committee:

Deriving the most benefits for dealers through the use of the Internet.

If you have Web skills, check out our Internet Committee.

If you don't, explore what they are doing with boats.com.

Making sure that adequate and cost effective insurance is available to dealers to cover risks characteristic to marine business.

There's probably a spot for you on our Insurance Committee.

Promoting Uniting Our Industry for Growth. This program has been a hard fought battle even with everyone supposedly on the same side. MRAA has been the catalyst when progress has lagged to keep the good work going. We share directorship positions in most of the other key boating industry organizations for retailers, including American Boat Builders and Repairers Association (primarily repair yards) and The American Boat and Yacht Council (our industry's standards writing organization). Our members are active in all the state and regional marine trades organizations, and we shepherd the administration of the Advisory Council of Marine Associations.

MRAA enjoys the membership and support of not only retailers but also many associate members. Through this site, you will find access to those members and the many benefits, services, and products they offer. These associate members choose to support MRAA because they feel our membership consists of the top businesses in the recreational boating industry.

Thanks for visiting our site; we're very glad to have you aboard. We're here to help you, so feel free to e-mail us with your questions or concerns at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Grab a line and help pull!

John Underwood, Chairman of the Board
Phil Keeter, President