Genmar Holdings, Inc.Minneapolis, MN, United States

Sailboats Gain Momentum - Although unit sales have been declining for seven years, the sailboat industry started to see improvement in 2008, according to Sail America, a sailboat trade association. Improved sales are attributed to a trend toward larger, better equipped sailboats. High fuel prices and environmental awareness are also driving increased interest in sailboats.

Brunswick to Cease Bluewater Marine Brand - Citing a prolonged slowdown in boat demand, an uncertain economy, high fuel prices, and woes in the US housing market, Brunswick will shut its Bluewater Marine family of boat brands after the 2009 model year. Sea Pro, Sea Boss, Palmetto, and Laguna are among the brands in the Bluewater Marine group. The shutdown of the Bluewater Marine brand will include closing a manufacturing facility in Newberry, South Carolina.

Clean Boating Act Passed by Senate Committee - In May 2008, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the Clean Boating Act of 2008, a step toward decreasing federal and state permitting requirements for recreational boaters. The Clean Boating Act aims to permanently restore a recreational boat exemption to certain state and federal permitting requirements of the Clean Water Act. Based on a case involving a commercial vessel, the exemption was overturned in 2006 by a federal court, which may have hurt boat demand in recent years.