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School is back in session and it’s almost time to say farewell to summer! I hope everyone had a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend. Thank you to all our members who came to the Farewell Summer event hosted at The Buccaneer and thank you to MarineMax for their partnership.
To recap August, I had the opportunity to join the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida aboard the Margaritaville at Sea for Girl Scouts at Sea, one of the organization and programs that receives funding from Palm Beach International Boat Show Gives Back grant program. Speaking of the grant program, applications are now being accepted through October 17! Please share the info with any nonprofit that you think may benefit from a grant of up to $25,000.
Congratulations to Summer Warren and her crew on another successful Chase’n Tailz KDW fishing tournament! With 150 boats in the tournament, there were many great catches, including our Boater Member Jason Miller winning an extra $1,000 in prize money from MIAPBC as the member with the heaviest fish on the leaderboard.
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VIKING YACHTS
SERVICE CENTER TOUR
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I also had the opportunity to meet with PBC school district leaders at Viking Yachts Service Center to discuss marine industry career needs and how we can work together more effectively to fill the talent pipeline for our industry.
Congratulations to Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast on a successful back-to-school kickoff event. There will be several career exploration fairs throughout the school year if your business is interested in participating. The MIAPBC staff plans to attend many of them again this year. You can reach out to me for more information.
This month, MIAPBC will again be partnering with Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful to sponsor the International Coastal Cleanup on September 20. Space is extremely limited, so if you would like to volunteer to help us clean up Lake Worth Beach then do not wait to register. There are many other locations throughout the area with beach and waterway cleanups on that date as well.
Happy September!
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E.J. Schrader Mattress Company, Inc, 22
Atlantic Marine Limited, 17
Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, 17
Town of Palm Beach Marina, 17
Castaways Sailing, Inc, 15
Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Resort & Spa, 14
Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A., 14
Cummins Cederberg - Coastal & Marine Engineering, 12
Aqua Adventure Tours, Inc., 8
Freedom Boat Club of the Palm Beaches and the Treasure Coast, 5
Port 32 Marinas, 2
HMY Yacht Sales, Inc., 1
PINMAR USA, Inc,. 1
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It Pays To Be a Boater Member
Congratulations to our Boater Member Jason Miller on catching the heaviest fish out of all of our Boater Members at the Chase'NTailz KDW Fishing Tournament.
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SAVE THE DATE
Saturday, December 6
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Get excited for our 31st Annual Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade! We are 13 weeks away from the brightest night of the year.
Follow us on social media to stay up to date on exciting announcements!
Secure your sponsorship below.
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Presenting Sponsor: $15,000 - SOLD
Admiral Sponsor: $10,000 - MULTIPLE AVAILABLE
VIP Viewing Party Hospitality Sponsor: $5,000 - SOLD
Judging Sponsor: $5,000 - ONLY 1 AVAILABLE
Awards Sponsor: $5,000 - ONLY 1 AVAILABLE
Fireworks Destination Sponsor: $5,000 - MULTIPLE AVAILABLE
Shirt Sponsor: $4,000 - SOLD
Valet Sponsor: $3,000 - SOLD
Photo Booth Sponsor: $3,000 - SOLD
Captain Sponsor: $2,500 - MULTIPLE AVAILABLE
First Mate Sponsor: $1,000 - MULTIPLE AVAILABLE
Bosun Sponsor: $500 - MULTIPLE AVAILABLE
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Farewell Summer Marine Mingle
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Thank you for everyone who joined us at our Farewell Summer Marine Mingle last week.
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Now through October 17, nonprofit organizations across Palm Beach County are invited to apply to the Palm Beach International Boat Show Gives Back $500,000 grant program. Selected nonprofits will be awarded up to $25,000 for environmental and marine education programs, and waterfront projects, that serve residents and visitors in Palm Beach County. This includes educational activities, curriculum development, field trips, outreach, in-house programs, and cultural events.
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Center for Creative Education
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Founded in 2023, the Palm Beach International Boat Show Gives Back is a collaboration between the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County (MIAPBC), the owner of the Palm Beach International Boat Show, and Informa, the producer of the show. Last year, Palm Beach International Boat Show Gives Back awarded proceeds to 29 nonprofit organizations including Loggerhead Marinelife Center, ANGARI Foundation, Palm Beach State College Foundation, Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, and The Reef Institute.
“We strive to promote and protect the growth of the marine industry in Palm Beach County not just for economic progress, but to give back to the community and support education and environmental stewardship,” said Alyssa Freeman, executive director of the MIAPBC. “The Palm Beach International Boat Show helps us invest in a future that enriches the lives of those in our community and helps safeguard our oceans for generations to come.”
Florida Fishing Academy used its 2025 grant to teach students about fishing and marine life through field trips on the Thea Marie, a 49-passenger, handicapped-accessible vessel docked at the Riviera Beach Marina. Ballet Palm Beach choreographed and produced an original ballet about saving and protecting sea turtles inspired by the children’s book, I’ll Follow the Moon, paired with a curriculum for educators. ANGARI Foundation, a two-time grant recipient, supported its Coastal Ocean Explorers: Sharks (COE: Sharks) program, a series of at-sea, educational expeditions aboard the Foundation’s 65-foot research vessel, ANGARI.
Palm Beach International Boat Show Gives Back is funded through the proceeds from the annual Palm Beach International Boat Show, which include ticket sales, optional add-on donations, and other boat show-related endeavors. The boat show has been produced for more than 40 years and has a major economic impact on the region. It is a much-loved, annual tradition for residents of the region and is widely known to be among a handful of must-attend, major boating events in the world.
“The Palm Beach International Boat Show generates a significant economic impact for local businesses, creates jobs, and brings global attention to our region,” said Rena Blades, director of community and government affairs for the boat show. “Through the grant program, we reinvest a portion of that success into nonprofits that are making a real difference in education, the environment, and community wellbeing. It’s our way of ensuring that the benefits of the show extend far beyond the docks.”
To apply, and for more information on eligibility, requirements, and criteria, please visit marinepbc.org/grant-program/ or call (561) 863-0012.
About Palm Beach International Boat Show Gives Back
Through the Palm Beach International Boat Show Gives Back grant program, the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County and Informa provide funding to nonprofit organizations in Palm Beach County. The grants will help the organizations to underwrite environmental and marine education programs, and waterfront projects in Palm Beach County that serve residents and visitors. Since 2023, Palm Beach International Boat Show Gives Back has pledged to give $500,000 per year.
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Making Waves In The Palm Beaches
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International Coastal Cleanup 2025
Help keep Palm Beach County beautiful while making a real impact in our community by joining us for International Coastal Clean Up. 🐚✨
📍 Lake Worth Beach
📅 September 20
⏰ 8am-10am
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Looking to grow your workforce? Join CareerSource PBC’s Trades Industry Career Fair — your direct link to motivated, skilled candidates ready to work. Open to the public and hosted in partnership with the ServiceTitan Elite Trades Championship Series. Contact merichsen@careersourcepbc.com to learn more!
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Industry Mourns Viking Yachts Co-Founder
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William J. Healey, who in 1964 started the New Jersey-based builder with his brother Robert T. Healey Sr., was 97.
By Gary Reich, Soundings Trade Only
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PHOTO COURTESY VIKING YACHTS
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Viking Yacht Co. co-founder and former company president William J. Healey of Cape May and Mays Landing, N.J., died Aug. 14 from long-term complications of a stroke. He was 97.
One of four brothers, he was born to Patrick J. Healey Sr. and Loretta M. Healey in Atlantic City, N.J. Healey attended Camden Catholic High School and entered the U.S. Marine Corps, serving during the final years of World War II. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Joseph’s College in Philadelphia.
Healey worked for his father at P.J. Healey Structural Steel in Atco, N.J., before turning his attention to the Jersey Shore. When local boatbuilder Peterson-Viking failed, it marked the beginning of Viking Yacht Co.
Viking grew to become a premier builder of sportfishing boats with an 880,000-square-foot facility and multiple production lines capable of producing 100 boats per year. The company has manufacturing locations in New Gretna and Egg Harbor City, N.J., and multiple service and sales facilities in Palm Beach County, Fla.
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ABYC and U.S. Coast Guard Launch Recreational BoatRegulations Certification
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The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC), in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Recreational Boating Product Assurance Branch, has announced the launch of the USCG Recreational Boat Regulations Certification course. This program equips marine industry professionals with the knowledge to meet federal requirements for new recreational boats manufactured or imported for sale in the United States.
“Compliance with federal regulations is essential for safety, and we are pleased to announce the availability of this new course,” said Jeff Ludwig, chief of the Recreational Boating Product Assurance Branch at the U.S. Coast Guard. “Anyone involved in the manufacture of recreational boats should strongly consider taking it to ensure that they have the knowledge to build boats that are compliant with US Coast Guard requirements.”
The course guides participants through a typical USCG inspection at a boat manufacturer or dealer, providing practical guidance for compliance. Topics include certification labeling, hull identification numbers, capacity and loading requirements, flotation, electrical and ventilation systems, marine sanitation devices, engine cut-off switches, start-in-gear protection, navigation lights, and backfire flame arrestors. Upon passing the certification exam, candidates earn the Regulatory Specialist designation, demonstrating their expertise in federal recreational boating regulations.
“The launch of this course marks more than a year and a half of development,” said Tim Murphy, ABYC education director. “In December 2023 we gathered subject-matter experts—boatbuilders, compliance inspectors, standards developers, and US Coast Guard staff—to lay out the competencies required to certify a Recreational Boat Regulatory Specialist. This collaboration ensures the certification reflects both regulatory requirements and the real-world challenges faced by manufacturers.”
For more information or to register, visit: ABYC Online Learning: USCG Recreational Boat Regulations Certification
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Officials target illegal moorings to protect seagrass meadows in Lake Worth Lagoon
by Grace Bellinghausen
PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The Town of Palm Beach says it's targeting illegal mooring buoys and anchored devices to clean up Lake Worth Lagoon.
According to Palm Beach officials, the decision supports safer navigation and removes a threat to vital seagrass meadows, which are critical to the marine life ecosystem.
Officials say floating and anchored structures can sink, pollute, and damage sensitive habitats, and the program is taking action to fix that.
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With more consumers taking a wait-and-see approach to major discretionary purchases, new traditional powerboat sales declined by about 9% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. And an unusually high number of these boats were built more than a year ago.
When our industry is firing on all cylinders, about 75% of all powerboats purchased during the first half of the year are current model-year boats. During the first half of 2025, only 61% were current model-year -- the lowest level in fifteen years.
Thankfully, many manufacturers and dealers have been working together to address this temporary imbalance, but this is easier said than done because this varies by boat type and region. Fishing boats have been turning more quickly while general recreation boats, like runabouts, tow boats and pontoon boats have seen slower movement. Regionally, dealers along the east coast are selling more current-year inventory while their counterparts out west are still working through older stock (see map below).
We’re already seeing improvement, but it will likely take the rest of this season to regain stable footing from an aged inventory perspective.
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Below Deck Med star Captain Sandy launches innovative specialty plate designed to feature the spirit of the marine industry
Celebrate Florida’s vibrant maritime culture with the new Boating Capital of the World license plate, now available for pre-sale through Captain Sandy Charities.
Created by Below Deck Mediterranean star Captain Sandy Yawn, this limited edition plate is more than just a way to show your love for boating – it’s a way to give back.
Every purchase helps support Captain Sandy’s mission to expand marine employment opportunities and fund critical job training and education programs throughout Florida. Whether you’re a boating enthusiast or searching for the perfect gift, this plate is the ideal way to contribute to Florida’s maritime workforce while proudly showcasing the state’s boating legacy.
Captain Sandy is excited to see this initiative take off and hopes to spot the new plates on the road soon. “Anyone with a passion for the marine industry will love this plate,” she says. “It’s a powerful way to support a cause that impacts so many lives.”
Don’t miss out! Pre-register today and join the movement to strengthen Florida’s maritime industry. Pre-register now at: boatingplate.com
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Dealer Week: Boating Industry’s Only Event Focused on Dealer Growth December 7 to 10, 2025 | Tampa Convention Center | Tampa, FL
We’re proud to support Dealer Week, hosted by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), as the must-attend conference for marine dealers looking to Prepare For What’s Next.
This conference brings together top industry experts and solution providers to help dealers navigate today’s most pressing challenges. With educational sessions built around three key pathways: Leadership, Sales & Marketing, and Service & Parts. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to improve your operations, strengthen your team, and drive success into the next season.
As part of the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, you’re eligible for $50 off registration with the discount code: COHOST50
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MARINE ELECTRONIC SOLUTIONS & SERVICE, LLC
WEST PALM BEACH, FL
Full Time - Monday to Friday
Paid Holidays
Paid education for OEM Brands
This is a great opportunity for individuals who enjoy working with their hands and minds, have a strong attention to detail and thrive in a
collaborative team environment.
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Position Title: Project Manager
Brief Position Description: The Project Manager position is responsible for developing initial project plans and managing the service projects for Willis Custom Yachts (“WCY”). Job activities will include working with WCY business development department, WCY trade shops, WCY authorized outside contractors and WCY billing department. This position is also responsible for regular project status communication with WCY customers.
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MARINE HVAC Technician/Installer
The HVAC Technician/Installer will be responsible for performing routine maintenance and service repairs on heating, ventilating, air conditioning systems, and marine water maker units. This position will also be responsible for the installation according to specifications and established safety guidelines of new units or replacement parts for existing units. Candidate must be capable of working independently with high attention to detail, ability to troubleshoot and communicate equipment issues, have a plan of action, assess and order parts and supplies needed for each job to completion.
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Job Description: Sales Floor
No. Of Positions Available: 3
Job Type: Full-time
Schedule: Tuesday-Saturday and Sunday-Thursday 9:30am-6:00pm
Company Overview: Boat Owners Warehouse is a fast-growing, high-volume 60+ year established Marine Distributor and Retailer located in sunny South Florida, with locations throughout the Southeastern US. We are committed to providing exceptional customer service and high-quality products to our customers and community and strive to create a welcoming environment where customers can enjoy a seamless shopping experience.
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George Gentile
2GHO, Inc.
Rick Kozell
Law Office of Rick Kozell
Martin Murphy, Jr.
JAMCO, Inc.
Doug West
Westwind Marine Advisors
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Alyssa Freeman
Executive Director
Paola Pineros
Marketing & Membership Manager
Stephanie Button
Administrative Manager
Rena Blades
PBIBS Director of Community Relations and Government Affairs
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