HEADINGS

by Dave Geoffroy

Our 54th Annual Los Angeles Boat Show has just concluded and I want to compliment all the exhibitors and our SCMA staff for producing another outstanding event in spite of the difficult economic challenges that our industry is currently experiencing. I'd also like to compliment our Board of Directors for taking the bold step to consolidate the L.A. Boat Show into a more compact four-day format for the first time. Given all the factors, it was certainly a good decision for this year.

Partnership for Sustainable Oceans Calls for Equality
During Marine Life Protection Act Regulatory Process

On March 3, 2010, California's Fish and Game Commission (FGC) convenes in Ontario, Calif., to discuss the four Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) marine protected areas (MPA) proposals for the South Coast Region.

Positive Attitude Makes a Difference!

I just finished the Los Angeles Boat Show and am working on the contacts I made while exhibiting at the show. It was a better show than anyone had forecast and the staff deserves a big pat on the back for making this show as good as it could be!
We had a very strong gate with consumers that were interested in what was new and available for the 2010 boating season.

Reprinted from Tradeonlytoday.com
by Norm Schultz

We’ve had enough reports from our January boat shows to know they’ve been better than expected. Great news! Even better, reports from virtually all shows indicate a definite improvement in prospect quality over last year when show visitors wouldn’t even talk to us!

Orange County Harbor officials have announced that Dana Point Marina boaters will not be hit with a slip rate hike for 2010. According to officials, the contemplated increases have been put on hold for the time being because of the generally poor state of the economy in the Southland.

By Susan Carey, reprinted from Wall Street Journal, February 22, 2010

Makers of recreational watercraft are steaming into the boat-show season cautiously optimistic that they've powered through the roughest waters of the economic downturn. Shoppers like Jeremy Jaech, with money to spend but in no real hurry to do so, highlight some of the problems and potential facing the industry.

Invites President to Tour a Boat Factory

Note to SCMA members:
You may have heard President Obama’s recent comments in New Hampshire where he commented that people should not be buying a boat or vacation in Las Vegas if they can’t afford their mortgage payments. Here's NMMA's formal response to those unfortunate remarks.

The Southern California Marine Association, Recreational Boaters of California and several other boating organizations urge boaters to express outrage to State legislators, opposing the proposal of the California State Water Resources Control Board [SWRCB] to establish a statewide requirement that marinas and clubs with 10 or more slips and moorings obtain a state permit [termed a Coastal Marina Permit] and comply with many new requirements including extensive testing and reporting at a projected annual cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Boaters statewide should be concerned and take action.

The SWRCB plans to conduct stakeholder/public workshops in March, to receive public comments in April, and to vote upon the permit in November of 2010. The exact dates, times and locations of the workshops have not yet been set, but plans are for workshops to be in San Diego, Ventura, and San Francisco.

For more information and updates, please log on to www.rboc.org.

SCMA has two new FACEBOOK pages. Check them out at SCMA.COM and on LOSANGELESBOATSHOW.COM. Please sign up today and become a fan. This is your chance to interact with the Southern California boating community.

Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude