EVINRUDE: THE FIRST 100 YEARS p. 10
®
INSIDE: Clogging,
overheating and other
marine engine problems
blamed on new fuel
formulations are
expanding the market
for protective additives.
p. 49
THE BOATING BUSINESS NEWSPAPER VOL. XLVI, NO. 2 AUGUST 2008
$5.00
www.tradeonlytoday.com
EPA boater permit plan draws skepticism
Devil may be in the details, say industry leaders, citing provision that would let states levy fees
By Beth Rosenberg / Staff Writer
b.rosenberg@tradeonlytoday.com
At first glance, the permit system proposed by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the
Clean Water Act may seem fairly simple for the average boater to follow.
There’s no permit fee. Boaters do not have to apply
for the permit, nor do they have to keep anything on
their boats to show record of the permit. Also, the
EPA says, many boaters already follow its proposed
best-management practices.
And according to the EPA, the cost to comply with
the permit, which would go into effect Oct. 1, would
be minimal to the nation’s estimated 18 million recreational boaters. There are two proposed permits: one
for recreational vessels under 79 feet and the other for
those 80 feet and above, which also encompasses
commercial vessels.
But dig a little deeper into the federal agency’s plan,
and those in the industry say implications of this proposal are more widespread and far-reaching than the
EPA says.
“When you first look at it, the specific requirements
don’t look that bad. The concern is the donkey is
ready to kick you,” said Margaret Podlich, vice president of government affairs for BoatU.S.
While the EPA’s requirements may be simple, 45
states and Puerto Rico may tack on their own requirements and fees to the federal permit. The federal
agency is required to seek what’s known as 401 certification from the states, meaning the states must certify that the permit meets their laws.
The EPA proposal, according to Podlich, says any
state can layer on additional requirements of boaters.
“And, frankly, we will not see those ahead of time,”
See EPA, page 8
Vegas area marina owner’s $10M bet Brunswick
Buys neighboring facility for expansion, despite economy and drought
dealers OK
By Melanie Winters / Associate Editor
m.winters@tradeonlytoday.com
Expanding a business in any environment can be difficult. Add in a
prolonged economic downturn and a
seven-year drought, and one might
wonder what Bob Gripentog was thinking when he recently bought a neighboring marina to enlarge his existing
operations.
“It’s a bit of a gamble,” he said, “but
isn’t life, anyway?”
Interesting choice of words when
you consider the two marinas are located on Lake Mead near Las Vegas, the
nation’s gambling Mecca.
“I do my gambling with the marina,
not at the casinos,” Gripentog said
jokingly.
This spring, Gripentog completed
the $10 million purchase of Lake Mead
Marina, a neighboring competitor of
his family-owned Las Vegas Boat
Harbor marina. The family bought
See Lake Mead, page 22
with cuts
Most in sampling say
action was necessary
By Soundings Trade Only staff
Bob Gripentog concedes his purchase of Lake Mead Marina in drought-stricken
Nevada was a gamble, but he thinks it’s one that will pay off.
Some Brunswick dealers are not sounding any alarms as a result of production
cutbacks, layoffs and plant closures announced by the boatbuilder earlier this
summer.
“We’re not concerned about it at all,”
said Warren Moulis, sales manager at Fox
Lake Harbor in Fox Lake, Ill.
“Brunswick is one of the largest boat
companies in the country, so I don’t
think there’s a problem,” Moulis added.
“I think they’re just trying to save a little
money with the production cutbacks.”
Tom Stidham, owner of Norris Ma-
See Brunswick, page 20
Navigation made easy
Technology
trickling
down from
the military is
reaching the
recreational
marine
market. p. 25
A business solutions special
A look at
products
and services
that will help
you better
manage your
business.
p. 35-44
