Congratulations to Steve Lochmueller and Team Sumerset! Sumerset Houseboats has been recognized as the “Manufacturer of the Year” by Houseboating Adventures Magazine. The interview with Steve is truly enlightening and shares his positive vision for the future. Sumerset Houseboats is stronger than ever and looking forward to 2008!

Read the digital article, and the rest of the seventeenth issue, by visiting Houseboating Adventures Magazine on the web.

The National Weather Service (NWS), Marine & Coastal Weather Services Branch has invited “national weather service marine weather constituents” to attend a meeting on October 25 in Silver Spring, Maryland, from 8 am to 12 pm. The meeting is to help the agency understand the current and future needs of Marine Weather Service users and partners. NWS plans to briefly present its current suite of marine weather products and services. The meeting will also include an interactive discussion of how to make NWS marine products and services most useful for its marine users and partners for today and tomorrow. The meeting will be held in Room 4527 in SSMC3, 1325 East West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland. If you would like to attend this meeting please contact: Deborah Jones ( deborah.jones@noaa.gov; (301) 713-1677 ext. 124), or Wayne Weeks ( wayne.weeks@noaa.gov; (301) 713-1677 ext. 124).

Stephen E. Arnold comments on the challenges unusual company names such as Sumerset Houseboats pose to Web indexing services. Certain company names may trigger some changes in Google’s PageRank. For more information, read Stephen E. Arnold’s short discussion of this topic click here

The Coast Guard recently announced that it is seeking public comment on its newly developed National Recreational Boating Survey prior to seeking final approval from the Office of Management and Budget. NMMA supports this important endeavor that will provide the Coast Guard and the public with valuable information about the boating activities of Americans. To view the survey please go to http://www.dms.dot.gov and search for docket number 28578.

NMMA continues to focus on issues its members’ face in the transportation of boats and equipment. NMMA and its members have worked closely with key organizations, including the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), to develop a proposal to amend the current U.S. and state rules for specialized boat carriers. This proposal would affect “legal loads” that can be moved without a permit. For more information on this proposal, please visit www.nmma.org.
NMMA would also like to thank Sumerset Houseboats for hosting the new chair of the CVSA Size and Weight Committee at their Kentucky plant this month to discuss the difficulties of moving a large permitted load through the states. Major Glynn Powers with the Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement received an education on the problems faced by boat manufacturers. To join the Transportation Task Force, or to begin receiving e-mail updates on the latest transportation news, please contact Cindy Squires ( csquires@nmma.org; 202-737-9766).

NMMA 2008 Boat Show Calendar
Boat shows are great places to shop and compare.
Few, if any, dealerships can offer the breadth of assortment and hands-on shopping experience of even the smallest boat show. You’ll see many boat types and can easily compare cost, size, features and warranties of the models that interest you most. And, with so many dealers under one roof, vying for your business, the competitive atmosphere can really benefit your bottom line.

If you’re new to boating there’s really no better place to educate yourself on the many options available so you can make a smart decision when you do buy. (more…)

HIA Board of Directors to serve two-year terms

CHICAGO, May 24, 2007 – The Houseboat Industry Association (HIA) recently elected officers and welcomed new members to its Board of Directors. Officers are elected to serve one-year terms (March 2007 through March 2008), while Board members serve two (March 2007 through March 2009).

Members of the 2007-2008 HIA Board of Directors include: Pat Duggan, Merrimac Marine Insurance; Matt Harvey, Fun Country Marine; Sheldon Graber, Destination Yachts; Shawn Heinen, Thoroughbred Houseboats; Greg Kyllo, Twin Anchors Marine; Steve Lochmueller, Sumerset Houseboats; Mark Suttie, Aramark/Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas; and Tom Sutherland, Westerbeke Corporation.
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If you have a memorable, unique or humorous boat name, you can enter to win a weekend getaway! Entries must be sent by May 23rd, 2007.

Enter the Contest

Houseboats: Lifestyle of Luxury is a comprehensive resource on DVD which provides owner/operators the basic skills and knowledge to become better and safer skippers. This program covers a variety of topics of interest to new owners as well as those that have enjoyed their homes on the water for years.

Houseboating has become one of the fastest growing segments of the recreational boating industry and owning one of these water palaces requires specialized knowledge compared to operating a runabout or small cruiser.
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NMMA Certified boats seven times less likely to be recalled by the USCG
Read the Press Release