Thursday, December 11, 2014

Progressive® Insurance & National Marine Manufacturers Association Announce 2015 Boat Show Lineup

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies® is continuing its longstanding partnership with the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) to sponsor 20 of the country’s premier boat shows. Progressive and NMMA are making boater education a top priority and bringing a completely new and interactive experience to the 2015 schedule.
 
The Progressive Marina experience includes the Progressive Boat School, developed with the Annapolis School of Seamanship to help consumers learn to boat confidently while having fun. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in engaging sessions on watersports safety and proper docking procedures, and have the opportunity to earn discounts on boat insurance as a result.
 
“We’ve teamed up with NMMA and the Annapolis School of Seamanship to create a new and engaging experience around boating education and safety, to maximize your experience on the water,” said Rick Stern, Progressive Boat Product Manager. “We feel so strongly about safety on the water that we’re offering a policy discount for visitors, new or current Progressive customers, who complete our onsite course and some supplemental online material.”
 
Progressive Boat School seminars include:
  • Gateway to Boating - get an overview of the styles and types of boats and how they fit various boating lifestyles.
  • Watersports Safety - gain the know-how needed to keep everyone safe on the water while having fun.
  • iNavigation - learn how to use the new innovations available to boaters—from traditional compass and paper charts, to onboard electronics and mobile devices.
  • Boat Systems - learn how to manage boat systems from stem to stern.
  • Docking & Line Handling – learn the ropes with tricks and techniques that can make docking easy.
The Progressive Marina will also include an interactive boat replica with an indoor pool for instructional demos, a boating simulator and a see-through motion sensor digital floor.
In addition to the Progressive Boat School, NMMA shows offer complimentary daily DIY maintenance seminars at Fred’s Shed Interactive Learning Center, fishing seminars, the Discover Boating Hands-On Skills Training series and more.
 
“An educated boater is a safe boater, and our goal as a boat show producer is to arm boaters with the knowledge needed to boat confidently and enjoy a lifetime on the water with family and friends,” said Ben Wold, NMMA Vice President. “We’re thrilled to further our partnership with Progressive and provide an educational area that will provide a solid foundation for new boaters and allow seasoned captains to polish their skills in a fun, interactive environment.”
 
The upcoming NMMA Progressive boat shows include:
 
DATE
SHOW
LOCATION
Jan 8-11
Nashville, TN
Jan 15-18
Atlanta, GA
Jan 14-18
Chicago, IL
Jan 21-25
New York, NY
Jan 21-25
Louisville, KY
Jan 22-25
Kansas City, MO
Jan 22-25
Minneapolis, MN
Jan 22-25
San Francisco, CA
Jan 29- Feb 1
Baltimore, MD
Feb 4-8
Atlantic City, NJ
Feb 12-15
Miami, FL
Feb 12-15
Miami, FL
Feb 14-22
Boston, MA
Feb 19-22
Los Angeles, CA
Mar 4-8
St. Louis, MO
Mar 25-29
Minneapolis, MN
June 18-21
San Diego, CA
 
To find out more about Progressive Boat Insurance, talk to your independent agent, visit http://www.progressive.com/boat/ or call 1-800-PROGRESSIVE.
 
About Progressive
The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies makes it easy to understand, buy and use auto insurance. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach it whenever, wherever and however it’s most convenient—online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, on a mobile device or in-person with a local agent.
 
Progressive also offers insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, as well as home insurance through select carriers. It’s the fourth largest auto insurer in the country, the largest seller ofmotorcycle insurance and a leader in commercial auto insurance. Progressive also offers car insurance online in Australia at http://www.progressiveonline.com.au.
 
Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price®, Snapshot® and Service Centers.
 
The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, trade publicly at NYSE:PGR.
 
About NMMA
National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry in North America. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy advocacy, market statistics and research, product quality assurance and promotion of the boating lifestyle. For more information, visit NMMA.org.
 

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Bass Pro to Acquire Ranger Boats, Stratos and Triton

 Iconic boat brands to come under same ownership

Bass Pro Group announced today an agreement to acquire Fishing Holdings, LLC, a manufacturer of fishing boats that include Ranger Boats and the Stratos and Triton boat brands from Platinum Equity.

The agreement combines popular fishing boat brands that are recognized internationally. It also creates another connection between two industry leaders, Bass Pro Shops founder/CEO Johnny Morris and Ranger Boats founder Forrest Wood, who are dedicated fishermen, conservationists and entrepreneurs. Years ago the iconic outdoorsmen both began fishing on the White River and White River Chain of Lakes in the Ozarks and even fished together in the first National BASS Tournaments.

“This partnership brings added long-term stability for both companies and for the dealer networks that provide customers with quality boats at exceptional values,” said Morris, who also is founder/CEO of Tracker Marine Group. “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Forrest Wood many years, and I deeply respect him and his family that founded and built a solid performing business with excellent products.”

Morris added that: “It’s also important that our companies share comparable cultures and values and are dedicated to manufacturing quality products in the USA.”

Following the closing of the transaction, Fishing Holdings will continue operating independently under its existing management at its headquarters in Flippin, Ark., located a two-hour drive from Bass Pro Shops headquarters in Springfield.

“We are impressed with the company’s leadership team and performance and look forward to welcoming them to the Bass Pro Shops family,” said Morris.

“We are fortunate to partner with Bass Pro Group, which understands the industry and our brands,” said Fishing Holdings President Randy Hopper. “This new alliance will provide synergies that will strengthen our independent dealer base and ensure our continued focus on fishing.”

Having grown the business since its origins, Wood also praised the transaction. “I’m excited for Ranger and the team at Fishing Holdings,” he said. “Johnny’s organization is deeply rooted in fishing and dedicated to conservation. He’s made a huge contribution to our sport, and I believe this is a real opportunity to better serve so many dealers and loyal customers around the country.”

Both Morris and Wood have for many years generously donated their time and financial resources to support conservation efforts that help ensure a future for fishing by future generations.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Financial terms of the transaction were not publicly disclosed.

About Bass Pro Shops®
Bass Pro Shops®, which specializes in outdoor fun, operates 90 retail stores and Tracker Marine Centers across America and Canada that are visited by more than 120 million people every year. Bass Pro Shops stores, many of which feature restaurants, offer hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor gear while their catalogs and website serve shoppers throughout the world. The company’s Tracker Marine Group® (http://www.trackermarine.com/), a leading brand of fishing boats for more than 36 years, manufactures and sells a variety of boats for fishing and cruising. Family fun is on tap at Bass Pro Shops resort Big Cedar Lodge® (http://www.bigcedar.com/) voted number six by Travel + Leisure Magazine as World's Best Hotels for Families. For more information, visit http://www.basspro.com/. To request a free catalog, call 1-800-BASS PRO. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/bassproshops.

About Fishing Holdings, LLC
Fishing Holdings LLC, headquartered in Flippin, Ark., is a leading manufacturer of fiberglass and aluminum fishing boats, including the legendary Ranger Boats brand, as well as the Stratos and Triton boat brands. More details, product information and specific offerings can be found by visiting www.rangerboats.com, www.stratosboats.com and www.tritonboats.com.
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Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Yamaha Marine Recognized Again for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction

NMMA's CSI Award is thirteenth consecutive for Yamaha Marine 

 

Yamaha Marine Group announced today that the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA®) has again recognized Yamaha with a CSI Award for excellence in customer satisfaction in the Outboard Engine category. This year’s award is the thirteenth consecutive, an achievement no other outboard manufacturer can claim. 

 

“Customer satisfaction is the result of great teamwork,” said Ben Speciale, President, Yamaha Marine Group. “The CSI Award is a great honor for Yamaha and we share this recognition with our boat builders and dealers and thank them for their diligence in keeping our customers consistently satisfied.” 

 

NMMA® launched its Marine Industry CSI Award Program in 2001 to provide boat and engine manufacturers with an independently measured, cost-effective tool to help improve customer satisfaction in the boating industry. The program allows participating manufacturer companies to monitor customer satisfaction on an ongoing basis and to create benchmarks in the industry.


The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA®) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA® member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters in the United States. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy, market research and data, product quality assurance and marketing communications.

Yamaha Marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha Marine Group, based in Kennesaw, Ga., supports its 2,000 U.S. dealers and boat builders with marketing, training and parts for Yamaha’s full line of products and strives to be the industry leader in reliability, technology and customer service. Yamaha Marine is the only outboard brand to have earned NMMA’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception. Visit www.yamahaoutboards.com.

 

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