Tax Relief on the Horizon?

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), which represents the United States' recreational boating industry, has announced its plans to lead a 71-member coalition in petitioning Congress for the extension of the net operating loss (NOL) carryback period from two to five years. The hope, the association argues, is that in doing so, Congress will "help businesses suffering from tough economic times."

An NOL is a period of time during which a company's expenses exceed its revenues, thus resulting in a negative taxable income. According to a press release from the NMMA, a company can currently opt to use its NOL to offset the taxes it owes on profits from the previous two years. It would like to see that period extended by three years. The rationale behind providing such a carryback period is simple: Businesses are required to pay taxes when they earn money, therefore, they are also are deserving of some form of tax relief if they begin to lose it.

"Congress has used NOL carryback relief in the past to help manufacturers, retailers, and companies across all sectors," NMMA president Thom Dammrich has explained. "We encourage legislators to use this tool again to enable these companies to retain jobs and avoid going out of business."

To that end, the association states that in the coming weeks, it (and its coalition partners) will meet with leaders in Congress and members of President-elect Obama's transition team to press for the extension. An extension aimed, as the NMMA puts it, at "ensur[ing] that the appropriate tax relief is enacted in a timely manner."

Ballast Water Battle

On Thursday, Senators Barbara Boxer (D-California) and Bill Nelson (D-Florida) pledged to fight a ballast water permitting scheme that has been much maligned by many in the boating community. In a U.S. District Court case last fall, several environmental groups successfully argued in that ballast water should be government regulated, due to the fact that it introduces non-native species into the water. The ruling was intended to target big, commercial vessels that use and expel large amounts of ballast water. However, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, "The court's ruling also includes boat engine cooling water, bilge water, gray water and common deck runoff—none of which was considered by the court, as the case focused solely on commercial ship ballast water." They add, "The court has directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a new, complex and costly permitting scheme for the nation's estimated 18 million boats by September 2008."

Boxer and Nelson share a strong belief that recreational boaters should be exempt from such permitting, and are dedicated to resolving the issue before the 2008 deadline. The senators’ commitment has met with great support from many boating groups, and the NMMA has thrown its hat into the ring. "NMMA, leading a collation of boating and outdoor recreation partners, has created a grassroots website to mobilize the boating community on the ballast water permitting issue," the association said in a recent press release, "It's estimated spending by recreational boaters is responsible for some 855,000 U.S. jobs." For further information from the NMMA and BoatUS, check out BoatBlue.

Customer Service Awards

I don’t think I’ll be taking a particularly controversial stance by asserting that customer service is a big, big deal. No matter how great the product, if you’re dealing with lousy service, your buying experience is bound to be a painful one. That's particularly true when it comes to buying a boat or an engine—shoddy service can lead to a lot of hair pulling.

On the flip side, great service is, well, really great. Today, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) announced their 2007 Marine Industry CSI (Customer Service Index) award winners. The CSI awards recognize boatbuilders and engine manufacturers that maintained a customer satisfaction rating of 90 percent or higher in 2006-2007. This year, 64 boatbuilders and manufacturers were acknowledged and we salute them. Keeping customers happy isn’t always easy, but it sure is important.

Here are just a few of the big winners (see the 2007 CSI Award Recipients for a complete list).

Albemarle Boats
(Inboard Fishing Express Boats)

Carver Yachts
(Inboard Motor Yachts & Trawlers)

Grady-White Boats Inc.
(Fiberglass Outboard Boats)

Honda Marine
(Outboard Engines)

Regal Marine
(Sterndrive Cuddy Express Boats)

Hungry? Dock and Dine!

Imagine the following scenario: You've been out all day on your boat having a great time, when you start to get hungry. Naturally you head below decks to grab something from your galley’s fridge, only to discover there’s some cheese you probably should have thrown out last weekend and a couple of bottles of flat soda. There’s still a bag of unopened Doritos, but that’s just not gonna cut it. What do you do?

Never fear, Discover Boating is here! The program, a national awareness campaign created by the National Marine Manufacturers Association to promote boating, surveyed boaters and on-the-water dining enthusiasts to come up with a Top 10 list of dock-and-dine spots:

1. Bali Hai Restaurant, San Diego, CA. The South Pacific meets Southern California, complete with Mai Tai cocktails (only for your guests if you’re driving, of course).

2. Captain Dave’s Dockside Restaurant, Murrells Inlet, SC. Regional favorites like Low Country Shrimp & Grits have been keeping people coming back since 1975.

3. Carrol’s Creek, Annapolis, MD. Right on Chesapeake Bay, serving up Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes—what could be better?

4. Cousino’s Navy Bistro, Toledo, OH. On the Maumee River, the restaurant ages its own steaks. You can dock at The Docks, a “parking lot” serving Cousino’s and other waterfront spots.

5. Dockside Restaurant, Wilmington, NC. After you’re done eating seafood and Southern dishes, you can “feed” your boat, as the restaurant is at Dockside Marina, which offers fuel.

6. Finz Waterfront Grille, Stuart, FL. Twenty-three boats can fit at Finz’s dock. Make sure you pull in for the weekend “deck jams” and order the Tilapia Imperial.

7. Flatwater, Chicago, IL. Fusion cuisine featuring Asian, Spanish, and Indian flavors, in the shadows of the Windy City’s skyscrapers.

8. Rafferty’s Dockside Restaurant, Muskegon, MI. Yachts to 70 feet can tie up here. Dishes include Pretzel Crumb Walleye.

9. Rockafeller’s, Virginia Beach, VA. A private dock can accommodate you, but call the restaurant at least two days in advance to make sure you can get a spot. The grilled tuna is back on the menu due to popular demand.

10. Waterway Café, Palm Beach Gardens, FL. No time to stop? Radio in a pick-up order for Rajun Cajun Pasta or other dishes.

Have you been to any of these places? Tell us about your experience—or about your own favorite dock-and-dine spot.