Seventeen Additional Boat Manufacturers Become NMMA Certified...Manufacturers complete requirements under NMMA Boat/Yacht Certification program  

CHICAGO , November 8, 2007 – Seventeen additional boat manufacturers recently became certified under the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s (NMMA) Boat/Yacht Certification program.

The following manufacturers recently earned the “NMMA Certified” designation for their respective products: Alerion Express, Portsmouth, R.I.; Aloha Pontoons, North Little Rock, Ark.; Chaos Boatworks, Hampstead, N.C.; Dakota Boats, Stuart, Fla.; Escape Watercraft, Ferndale, Wash.; Glasstream, Panama City, Fla.; Mares Marine, Stuart, Fla.; Marine Technology, Wentzville, Mo.; Marlin Yachts, North Miami Beach, Fla.; Mikelson Yachts, San Diego; Navigator Yachts, Perris, Calif.; Pegiva, Queensland, Australia; Ribcraft, Marblehead, Mass.; Sea Hunt, Lexington, S.C.; Sonic, Stuart, Fla.; True North Yachts, Warren, R.I.; and Waco, North Little Rock, Ark.

Certification is an NMMA membership requirement beginning with all products manufactured for model year 2007. To date, 270 NMMA member manufacturers have become NMMA Certified. An additional 80 manufacturer members are currently undergoing the Certification process.

“Our manufacturer members are truly committed to this program,” says Robert Newsome , NMMA director, Engineering Standards. “They understand the value to both the industry and consumers, and they’ve fully embraced the Certification concept. We applaud our members for showing such dedication to building quality products and making a commitment to do so in the foreseeable future.”

While all boats in the United States must meet applicable U.S. Coast Guard regulations, boats built by manufacturers participating in the NMMA Certified program must also meet the more comprehensive standards set by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC). Furthermore, to become NMMA Certified, a boat must pass rigorous third-party inspection to ensure they meet and adhere to all applicable standards, as well as maintain an ongoing, formal Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) program.

The NMMA Certification program covers more than 30 categories of standards, which vary by boat type and size and may include: fuel systems; ventilation; passenger and weight capacity; horsepower capacity; flotation; electrical systems; navigation lights; warning label placement and guidelines; and steering systems.

For additional information on the NMMA Certification program, or to schedule an inspection, contact Newsome at (312) 946-6275; rnewsome@nmma.org.

National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters in the United States . The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy, market research and data, product quality assurance and marketing communications.