| For 2004 boat dealers saw fewer boat sales than | | | | past year with the passage of three new state |
| any other time in the past 15 years. The boat | | | | boat dealer laws in Missouri, New York and eorgia. |
| dealer industry has been very careful to take | | | | These laws define the business relationships |
| many steps to correct problems on both the | | | | between manufacturers of boats and engines and |
| manufacturer and dealer ends. While | | | | the retailers who sell them. Among other things, |
| manufacturers and boat dealers are working | | | | boat dealer laws set boat sales territories, require |
| together to solve the problem, neither group is | | | | written cancellation well before contracts are |
| exactly in bed with each other. | | | | terminated, and require boat warranty payment. |
| Even though the NMMA has lobbied heavily, boat | | | | The idea is that stable dealers of boats will focus |
| dealers still managed to gain great ground by | | | | on customer service and improve the boat buying |
| winning new boat dealer laws in three states. The | | | | experience. However the National Marine |
| laws establish the business Vigorous lobbying by | | | | Manufacturers Association is contending that the |
| the National Marine Manufacturers Association | | | | state laws will inhibit competition between boat |
| against legislated dealer agreements did not stop | | | | dealers and ultimately the consumer will suffer. |
| dealers from scoring some major points in the | | | | |