April 5, 2004, Fort Lauderdale, FL: Marine University is launching a Pilot Program for its latest educational initiative in April 2004. The initiative will certify boat dealers to offer Marine University’s boating safety education program, Boater101, at their facilities. Beginning with a Pilot Program in South Florida, Boater101 will expand nationally, helping dealers around the country to promote their business and the marine industry by introducing consumers to boating through educational programming. Potential benefits of offering a point-of-sale educational program include increasing customer bases, building relationships with existing customers, meeting mandatory state boating education requirements and promoting the boating experience to new, existing, and former boaters.

The Pilot Program represents a noteworthy partnership between Marine University, boat manufacturers and dealers. Through the cooperative direction of its Dealer Committee, Marine University has designed a Pilot Program to create a model that will be easily reproduced in additional markets. The Dealer Committee includes Bruce Sargent of Glastron, Dave Taylor of US Marine, Matt Guilford of US Marine, George Sullivan of Genmar, Jim Antolik of Crestliner, Kimberly Bors of the OMC Foundation, Rick Fulmer of Four Winns, Scott Porter of Formula, Terry Dunagin of Boston Whaler and Peggy Nordeen of Starmark. The dealer outreach also represents a great opportunity for other boat manufacturers to get involved with the Boater101 Program.

Susan Engle, president of Marine University, said, “It’s great to see manufacturers and dealers coming together to increase the awareness and availability of boating education. Not only will dealerships assist in meeting mandatory state boating safety education requirements, but they are also the ideal location to reach a boating demographic that is currently excluded from these requirements.”

“Marine University, through its Boater 101 Program, is a Boating Industry led and supported, proactive approach to Boating Safety Education,” said Scott Porter, President of Formula Boats. “Our goal is to make it both fun and convenient, which has the ability to lead to a greater number of families involved in safer boating.”

Phil Keeter, president of the MRAA said, "The Boater 101 Dealer Pilot program will be a wonderful opportunity for dealers to put on their ‘White Hat’ for the consumers. With assistance from the manufacturing community and marketing/training materials from Marine University, dealers will be able to invite consumers into showrooms and educate them about recreational boating. Being able to enhance the boating experience from the inception of the sale will mean better, safer and happier boaters. Every dealer should get involved with this new effort to expand the boating customer base. Boaters starting out with Boater101 education should be great ambassadors for those dealers. It will certainly give participating dealers a ‘leg up’ on the competition!"

"The Boater 101 curriculum is an excellent resource that offers something for everyone. We hope that the program will remove anxiety and barriers for families new to boating, while also providing continuing guidance for seasoned boaters," said Dave Taylor, senior vice-president of sales and marketing for Bayliner, Maxum, Trophy Sportfishing Boats and Meridian Yachts.

Marine University is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote boating, water safety, environmental awareness, and marine careers to the public through educational programming. Marine University is funded by CEERI and its sponsors Brunswick, Formula, Genmar, INAMAR, KeyBank USA, MIASF, NMMA, OMC Foundation, Starmark, and Volvo Penta. These marine industry leaders have been supporting programs such as Boater101 in an effort to expose communities, families and students to the positive aspects of the marine industry.