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From the Helm
To all our valued members,
Spring is coming and the vaccine is here. Things are looking up. Can’t wait to get out on the lake.
Things are also looking up for your MRA association. We have signed a contract with Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines for our 49th Annual Educational Conference & Trade Show in San Diego. Mark your calendar for October 11th through the 13th of 2021. This year’s theme is Climate for Change. Information on the website will be available in April.
This month we have the California Boating Congress (CBC) on the 17th of March from 9AM to Noon. We will be addressing California’s bold initiative to limit gas and diesel powered engines. There will be discussion about the impact of such an initiative on the boating industry and how we can influence the effects of such of such an initiative. Our guest speakers, Frank Hugelmeyer and Robert Newsome will also be giving us an update on the state of marina industry. CBC is free and you can sign up for it at www.calboatingcongress.com.
We will be rolling out another Educational Series in late March and will continue to offer the webinars through the spring. If you have a topic that you would like to present or one that you would like to see, please contact Mariann Timms at mra@marina.org.
Sincerely,
Scott Robertson
President
5th annual 'California Boating Congress' Revived for 2021 Your Opportunity to Make a Difference!
Save the date . . . The past year has been a challenge to say the least, and the marine industry has experienced both pitfalls and opportunities. To meet these head-on the Marine Recreation Association is again sponsoring the
California Boating Congress, bringing toge ther the marine industry and boating community to advocate for this important part of our economy and culture. With COVID still impacting our ability to meet directly with our legislators and regulators, this year’s CBC will be held in a virtual format on March 17, 2021, from 9 AM to 12 Noon PDT . . . Planning for 2030 & Beyond.
Our legislators are developing new initiatives today to limit and ultimately eliminate gasoline and diesel engines in California, and having our voices heard will be critical at this time. The 2021 California Boating Congress will focus on understanding and responding to the potential impact of these measures on recreational boating and the marine industry, and more importantly, how we can influence those initiatives through our representatives and regulators.
This year’s Congress is being co-hosted by the MRA and ten other boating related groups, including the National Marine Manufacturers Association, California Marine Affairs and Navigation Conference, Boat U.S., Personal Watercraft Industry Association, California Delta Chambers & Visitors Bureau, Recreational Boaters of California, Sacramento Valley Marine Association, California Association of Harbor Masters & Port Captains, California Yacht Brokers Associations, and the American Boat Builders & Repairers Association.
Past California Boating Congress conferences have proven the value of communication between boaters, the marine industry, and California state legislators and regulators in effectively shaping future boating policy, funding, and regulation. In today’s world this effort is even more important to positively impact the planning and policies that affect recreational boating and other marine concerns in the state.
For information and to register for the 5th annual CBC, visit www.calboatingcongress.com or contact Mariann Timms at (209) 334-0661 . . . more information will be forthcoming as our conference planning continues.
 KKMI Awarded Coveted Clean Marine Boatyard Certification
Bay Area's First Clean Marine Boatyard
Keefe Kaplan Maritime, Inc (KKMI) boatyard in Pt Richmond, California was recently awarded a Clean Marine certification by the Clean Marine Program. This makes KKMI Pt Richmond the first Bay Area boatyard to receive this prestigious award. The certification process involves evaluation of over 150 requirements regarding company practices related to Emergencies, Fire Safety, Solid and Liquid Wastes, Hazardous Waste, Engine Maintenance/Repair, Painting, Storm Water Management, Landscaping for Storm Water, Used Petroleum Products, Used Antifreeze Waste, Soiled Rags, Battery Management, Refrigerants, Mercury Lamps/Bilge Switches, Boat Cleaning, Pressure Washing, Paint Removal, Sand Blasting, and Facility & Housekeeping.
The Clean Marine Program developed the certification program through an examination of many Best Management Practices (BMPs) in partnership with many stakeholders. This included groups such as California Environmental Protection Agency, California Department of Toxic Substances and their office of Pollution Prevention and Green Technology, California Coastal Commission, California Department of Boating and Waterways, California Department of Pesticides, City of San Francisco Health Department and San Francisco BayKeeper.
KKMI Pt Richmond has been providing boat maintenance and repair services on San Francisco Bay since 1996. Company founders Paul Kaplan, Ken Keefe and Cynthia Revel have consistently held strong safety and environmental practices as a benchmark not only for operational success, but also toward protecting their employees and the sensitive Bay environment. Paul Kaplan commented, “Since our founding nearly 25 years ago we have become recognized as leaders within the maritime industry in delivering superb craftsmanship in an environmentally friendly facility. From being named ‘Boat Yard of the Year’ by the American Boat Builder’s Association to ‘Small Industry of the Year’ by the California Water Environment Association and now ‘Clean Marine Certification,’ we are very proud of these accomplishments.”
KKMI’s Safety, Health and Environmental Director, Janis Johnson, was responsible for coordinating with Clean Marine and its certification judges who evaluated KKMI’s practices and toured the yard. She said, “The process of obtaining certification, although time consuming, represents so many things. Not only does it demonstrate KKMI’s compliance with the myriad of regulations that govern the maritime industry, but it also speaks to KKMI’s commitment in taking the additional steps to achieve the highest level of sound, environmentally friendly operations. Receiving one of the highest scores is a powerful testimony to the level of dedication that exists within our company and team members. We are very pleased with this accomplishment.”
KKMI has long supported the Clean Marine Certification Program and is proud to be recognized for management’s efforts to operate an environmentally sound boatyard business. KKMI management hopes that this industry recognition will inspire other boatyards in the Bay Area and beyond to apply for their own Clean Marine Certification.
For more information on the Clean Marine Program visit https://cleanmarina.org/.
NMMA's State of the Recreational Boating Industry & Awards Presentation Webinar
Join the NMMA for a state of the industry and awards presentation webinar on Thursday, March 4 at 11am ET. NMMA President Frank Hugelmeyer will outline the latest sales data and trends, as well as advocacy and market expansion priorities for the year ahead.
The webinar will also include an update from RBFF's Stephanie Vatalaro, and presentation of the Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Awards and the Alan J. Freedman Award. Click here to register
An Angler's Winter Chore Could Help Spark an Idea That Increases FIshing Line Recycling
$30,000 in cash prizes on the line for best solutions
Winter is annual maintenance time for many anglers, and respooling with new line and recycling the old is a common task. Ever thought about what happens once you dispose of the old line in a fishing line recycling tube?
It’s not pretty. Turning fishing line into new products is labor-intensive, requiring a series of workers to manually comb through, sort, clean, remove hooks and weights, and separate out miles of encrusted debris in entangled fishing line. So as you pile up a few reels of line to be recycled this winter, the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is asking for your ideas on how to help grow the volume of line recycled each year.
Teaming up with fishing tackle company Berkley, the BoatUS Foundation’s Recast & Recycle Contest seeks out new ideas and improvements to the process, new ideas for recycled products, or technology breakthroughs for the current process that will increase the volume of line and soft baits that are recycled. Entry is simple – all you have to do is send a short video or one-page summary explaining your idea. Thirty thousand dollars in prize money is at stake for the three best ideas submitted through May 14, 2021.
“It’s great that anglers recycle,” said BoatUS Foundation Director of Outreach Alanna Keating. “Now we need to ask for help with scaling up recycling with a greater volume of line, whether it’s a time- and labor-saving process improvement or creating a new market to fully sustain recycling efforts.”
Judges will add weight to contest submissions that actually work, are practical, innovative, and have the potential to have a significant impact.
The first-place prize is $15,000, second place receives $10,000, and $5,000 will be awarded for third place. Contest submissions can address any part of the process (or multiple parts) of taking discarded fishing line and soft plastics from end of life to a new beginning. Professionals, amateurs and students alike are encouraged to apply, as are school teams and groups. Contest entries can be submitted with as little as a link to a video demonstration of the idea or a one-page graphic summary. Videos are limited to 4 minutes.
Contest rules and conditions, details on the current recycling process and videos on how various plastics and soft baits are recycled can be found at the Recast & Recycle website BoatUS.org/Contest.
About Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS):
Celebrating more than 50 years, BoatUS is the nation’s largest organization of recreational boaters with more than 700,000 members. We are the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill and fight for their rights. We are The Boat Owners Auto Club and help ensure a roadside trailer breakdown doesn’t end a boating or fishing trip before it begins. When boats break down on the water, TowBoatUS brings them safely back to the launch ramp or dock, 24/7. BoatUS offers GEICO Marine Insurance policies that give boat owners affordable, specialized coverage and superior service they need. We help keep boaters safe and our waters clean with assistance from the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. Visit BoatUS.com.
Virtual Meeting You Don't Want to Miss Boating Topics That Matter to You
 Join the California Clean Boating Network, on Thursday, March 18th, 2021 (10 am to approx. 12:15 pm) for a free and exciting educational virtual meeting.
Learn directly from California experts about top tier subjects impacting our waterways, from preventing boat sewage pollution; marine debris management in our state; getting clear on the California Boater Card program from common misconceptions to frequently asked questions; and learning all about Marine Protected Areas designations and relevant resources available to you.
We look forward to sharing this knowledge with you and offering you plenty of time to ask questions.
Further information on this meeting’s topics are included below:
Date: Thursday, March 18th, 2021
Time: 10 am to approx. 12:15 pm
You must register in advance for this meeting here. Register today to secure your virtual spot, meeting capacity will be capped, secure it now.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from Zoom containing information about joining the meeting.
Detailed information about the MEETING TOPICS:
1 - Preventing Boat Sewage Pollution Through Partnerships -
Liz Juvera (San Francisco Estuary Partnership) and Andrea Carrassi (The Bay Foundation) The Clean Vessel Act (CVA) team is working to keep California’s waterways free of boater sewage by building regional partnerships and monitoring sewage pumpout units throughout California. Tune-in and learn how we provide our boating community with pollution prevention support, tools, and education, increase access to sewage disposal options, and help to save the waters you (and our aquatic wildlife) love!
2 - Trash (mis)management in California: Where is all this trash coming from?Eben Schwartz (Marine Debris Program Manager for the California Coastal Commission) will discuss results from the latest Coastal Cleanup and efforts in California to manage trash. Coastal Cleanup data has been an important factor in helping to develop new policies and regulations around plastic pollution in California. But additional efforts are needed to truly get a handle on this growing challenge. Eben will discuss what we currently know important factor in helping to develop new policies and regulations around plastic pollution in California. But additional efforts are needed to truly get a handle on this growing challenge. Eben will discuss what we currently know about plastic pollution, what the state is currently doing, and some new innovations that could help stem the tide of trash entering our oceans each year.
3 - California Boater Card – Get on Board!
Melissa Miranda (California State Parks, Boating Education and Outreach Manager). Meeting participants will learn about the California Boater Card program that is being phased in by age and is now required for all power boat operators 40 years of age and younger. By 2025, all operators of motorized boats, regardless of age, will be required to carry the card. Learn more about approved boating safety courses, how to apply for your card, and who may be exempt. Common misconceptions and frequently asked questions will also be covered.
4 - California’s Marine Protected Areas: From Design to Management
Stephen Wertz (California Department of Fish and Wildlife Senior Environmental Scientist Supervisor). In 2012, California completed planning and designing one of the largest ecologically connected networks of marine protected areas (MPA) in the world. This globally recognized network includes 124 MPAs and 14 special closures. This presentation will take you from planning to management with an emphasis on the different MPA designations and resources available to help you plan for your next boating activity.
This is a clean and green message and invitation from the California State Parks, the California Coastal Commission, The Bay Foundation. Partially funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Sports Fish Restoration (Clean Vessel Act Program), the California Ocean Protection Council, Coastal Quest.
Register for the meeting here
For the Marina Bulletin Board
Become a Partner Dockwalker, Connect and Learn From Home!
"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”~Jane Goodall
Become a 2021 Partner Dockwalker by taking one of our Virtual trainings!
As California continues to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, free three-hour virtual Dockwalker trainings (Saturdays from 10 am-12:45 pm starting March 6th to June12th) will be offered through the Zoom video conferencing system. This is a great alternative to an in-person training and in the best interest of everyone considering the current situation. Through the Zoom video conferencing system you will be able to see the instructor live and ask questions! Do not worry it is a very simple system and we are here to help walk you through it! Remember if you were trained 3 years ago, it is time to get recertified.
We will be offering the following virtual Dockwalker trainings:
Northern CA:
~ Saturday, March 6, 2021
10:00 AM - 12:45 PM
~ Saturday, April 24, 2021
10:00 AM - 12:45 PM
~ Saturday, May 8, 2021
10:00 AM - 12:45 PM
~ Saturday, June 12, 2021
10:00 AM - 12:45 PM
Southern CA:
~ Saturday, March 27, 2021
10:00 AM - 12:45 PM
~ Saturday, April 3, 2021
10:00 AM - 12:45 PM
~ Saturday, May 1, 2021
10:00 AM - 12:45 PM
~ Saturday, June 5, 2021
10:00 AM - 12:45 PM
Refresher Trainings:
If you have been trained in the last three years, you have the option to register for a refresher training, as follows:
Northern CA:
~ Saturday, April 10, 2021
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
~ Saturday, May 15, 2021
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Southern CA:
~ Saturday, March 20, 2021
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
~ Saturday, April 17, 2021
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
What you will need:
~ You will only need a computer with internet access and either a phone to call in or the computer’s speaker and microphone.
~ You do not have to have a Zoom account to attend a Zoom video conference meeting. You will be prompted to download the software, once you received the link from us.
What we need from you:
~ Based on where you live, please register to one of the virtual trainings mentioned above by emailing Vivian Matuk at vmatuk@coastal.ca.gov and let us know to which training you want to register. Please include your name, organization (if applicable), address and phone number.
~ Once we receive your registration, we will be sending you the Zoom registration link and some additional files and information.
PROGRAM INFORMATION:
Dockwalkers are trained to safely engage members of the public and the boating community to adopt clean boating practices. Dockwalkers share clean boating information with boaters and distribute educational 2020 California Boater Kits, while visiting marinas, launch ramps, marine supply stores, boat shows special events, or wherever boaters are. "Dockwalker" is only a general term because you are not limited to "walking the docks" in order to talk to boaters about safety and clean boating practices. Remember safety and the environment go hand in hand.
Dockwalking is a fantastic way to interact with boaters to help keep California's marinas, waterways, and ocean clean and healthy. The training provides an overview of potential sources of boat pollution, federal and state laws, environmentally-sound boating practices, information on how to conduct Dockwalking, and an overview of the educational materials Dockwalkers will distribute.
Since 2000, more than a 1,000 Dockwalkers have taught 100,000 boaters about oil, fuel, sewage, trash and marine debris prevention. Participation in the program, including the training sessions, qualifies as community service.
Anyone from 15 to 100 years young with an interest in water quality and sharing clean boating information (regardless of your background) can become a Dockwalker!
This program provides tons of benefits to:
Boaters and Water Enthusiasts
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
Marinas, Harbors and Yacht Club Operators and Staff
United States Power Squadrons
Program implemented by the California State Parks, The California Coastal Commission and The Bay Foundation in partnership with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, the US Power Squadrons, Save Our Shores, Lake Berryessa Partnership and many more organizations.
Construction Corner
Dover Bay Marina Continues Long Relationship with Meeco Sullivan
Meeco Sullivan announces the recent completion of the “E Dock” at Dover Bay Resort Marina, located on Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho.
The Dover Bay Marina has become a popular destination for boaters, as it sits on 285 acres of waterfront access. This unique area has seen significant growth in recent years, hence the need for another Meeco Sullivan docking system; a summer of social distancing increased the demand for new marina facilities around the country.
Meeco Sullivan engineered and manufactured the Meeco Steel framed dock, adding fifty new slips for the eager boaters.
 To better accommodate guests, the slips size vary from 12’x26’ to 12’x28’ long. Meeco Sullivan delivered the dock in late March, while a typical early-spring Idaho snow storm raged on. All of the docks were preassembled at the Oklahoma factory in large sections, thus allowing for an easier installation by APEX Construction Services.. The “E Dock” phase was completed in May 2020.
 Dover Bay Marina and Meeco Sullivan have collaborated together over the last seven years on their five docking systems. Meeco Sullivan Regional Sales Manager, J Mills commented, “This project came together smoothly. Pend Oreille is a beautiful lake and the new docks with their bright blue covers demand attention to the marina.”
Trade Member Highlight
Elkhart Plastics Adds New PWC Port to Connect-A-Dock Line
Elkhart Plastics LLC, a Myers Industries, Inc. company (NYSE: MYE), expands its floating dock product line with the new Connect-A-Port XL6.
The Connect-A-Port XL6 is a 6-foot wide personal watercraft (PWC) floating dock that allows PWC users to easily roll off to launch and drive on to park. The new dock offers a universal hull designed with adjustable rollers that can be moved to better match the size and style of the user's PWC. Additionally, the new design has more walking surface around the edges, making it easier for riders to get on and off their PWC safely. The XL6 is available in five colors and can be attached to floating and stationary docks.
The rotationally-molded XL6 joins Elkhart Plastics’ Connect-A-Dock line as the second Connect-A-Port PWC floating dock model. The company also offers two series of rotomolded docks and the YAKport kayak launch under the Connect-A-Dock brand.
“As we see the outdoor recreation industry continue to grow, we’re excited to bring a new docking option to our customers,” says Jack Welter, president of Elkhart Plastics. “The XL6 is an update from the former 2XL model with enhancements that make docking a better experience for the end user.”
Connect-A-Port XL6 and other Connect-A-Dock products are available from dealers across the U.S. and international distributors around the globe. To find a dealer and to learn more about Connect-A-Port XL6, visit connectadock.com.
About Elkhart Plastics:
Elkhart Plastics creates rotationally molded plastic products in an almost endless variety of shapes, lengths, and thicknesses out of its six facilities. The company provides custom designs for clients in industries including recreational vehicles, marine, agriculture, commercial construction equipment, heavy truck equipment, material handling, and more. In addition to Connect-A-Dock, Elkhart Plastics manufactures TUFF Series Intermediate Bulk Containers and KONG Coolers. Visit www.epi-roto.com to learn more.
About Myers Industries:
Myers Industries, Inc. is a manufacturer of polymer products for industrial, agricultural, automotive, commercial, and consumer markets. The Company is also the largest distributor of tools, equipment and supplies for the tire, wheel and under vehicle service industry in the United States. Visit www.myersindustries.com to learn more.
Welcome New Members
With Marine Recreation Association being the largest professional organization of marina, boatyard, hospitality, and other marine industry owners and operators located throughout the western United States with additional members in Canada, Mexico, and Australia, our mission is to provide a united voice in representing the interests of the boating industry, and to help educate and inform in all areas of recreational boating. MRA would like to welcome the following companies to our association:
Jones Valley Resort
Silverthorn Resort
Sugarloaf Resort
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